Yes, It’s Possible With Our Teaching English Abroad Programs!
Several Testimonials of our Alumni
Maria Luisa Fernandez-Llanio
Dear Potential TEFL Students,
I must admit that the way I found Canterbury’s TEFL course was not orthodox. I am Spanish so, technically speaking, I could work in Madrid in a job related to my profession (Project Management in Financial Services). Unfortunately, the labor market in Spain is rather inflexible and I did not want to be absent from my home 12 hours a day having just moved my children from London to Madrid.
When I came across Canterbury TEFL, I just thought, why not? This could work for me. I was unsure at the start as I am not a linguist and had zero teaching experience, but I can speak English like a native so I gave it a go.
John Bouse’s TEFL course was absolutely amazing and fun. It covers all aspects of instruction of English as a foreign language in a very hands-on manner. You get to practice as you learn which I believe is the best instruction approach. John makes you feel welcome, capable and valuable from the start. He illustrates his teaching with myriad examples and anecdotes.
He also likes to put you on the spot and gets you out of your comfort zone so that you experience how it feels to learn and teach a new language. For example, a friend of his gave us two lessons in a foreign language that none of us spoke. What an eye-opener!
Although I knew from the start that I wanted to use my professional background to focus on instruction professionals to improve their ability to speak in meetings, conference calls, whilst traveling, etc., I enjoyed all aspects of the course.
I do not teach grammar but concentrate on speaking and listening skills which are really sought after. Many adult Spaniards have a good command of grammar and a sizeable vocabulary but they will really struggle to communicate in English. I am honored to be able to help them communicate in a foreign language which, after all, is what a language is for. Best of all, I have managed to reinvent myself whilst keeping a healthy work-life balance and, most importantly, whilst meeting very interesting people and enjoying myself. I truly recommend it.
Why don’t you give it a go like I did?
Maria Luisa Fernandez-Llanio TEFL Class of December
Jason Shelley
Dear Potential TEFL Teachers,
There are not many things in life that are more stressful than moving to a new country and looking for a way to make a living when you get there. I had searched for months for work and a legitimate way to live in Spain, but I kept running into dead ends. Then, I happened upon the Canterbury TEFL website. I was skeptical at first; it seemed too good to be true. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome though!
Everything that was stated on their website is true. The people of Canterbury TEFL made this process very easy for me. After being denied so many times and jumping through some hoops, it was nice to find a group of people that followed through on what they said they were going to do. They were quick when responding to my emails and sending me all of the information that I requested to complete my visa process.
The professionalism did not stop there though. When I arrived in Madrid for my orientation they had information on apartments, banks, cell phones, and other things that anyone moving would need help with. The TEFL course is well taught and gives you the exact skills you need to successfully teach English. I am not a teacher by profession so I was very unsure how all this was going to play out. Canterbury TEFL has followed through on providing instruction hours, materials, and a good working environment. Now I am now making enough money to truly enjoy my time here in Spain.
You have the flexibility to decide what classes you want to teach or not teach, which allows you to customize your schedule and how you spend your time overseas. I highly recommend Canterbury TEFL to anyone interested in a very straightforward way to travel and work overseas. Teaching is something that I never knew I would enjoy, but thanks to Canterbury TEFL I do, and now I am certified to teach English as a foreign language almost anywhere I want.
Sincerely,
Jason Shelley TEFL Class of January
Kerrie Holloway
Dear Future TEFL Students:
I participated in the TEFL summer course with Canterbury Consulting Spain in the summer of 2013, and it was one of the best summers of my life. Unlike ordinary TEFL courses, this course provided the opportunity to receive real-life experience (and paid!) at a summer camp in Spain. The TEFL coursework in Madrid was greatly intensified, with classes lasting 8 hours a day and homework and projects due every day. While those two weeks were tough, I would not have been able to work at the camp without the knowledge and skills gained in those modules. Plus, the TEFL certificate earned from those modules and the subsequent internship give me the opportunity to travel and teach English anywhere in the world for the rest of my life.
Once we arrived at camp, I feel like my summer really began. I was placed at La Granja outside of Barcelona and quickly fell in love with the camp and the people who worked there. The first week the other Americans and I shadowed other counsellors to become familiar with the layout and the philosophy of the camp. La Granja focuses on emotional education, so we received several quick lessons on what emotional education is and how to incorporate it into all of the camp activities.
The second week was a planning week in which we received the names and ages of our young learners, the themes for every week, and the location of our classrooms. This week was dedicated to preparing lesson plans as we would be instructing English classes for an hour and a half every day. Although this was difficult as we did not know the level of English to prepare for, the preparations I made during this week were a lifesaver once camp started and life got hectic! The last five weeks of the summer I was a monitor for the English immersion day camp.
I was responsible for 14 young learners between the ages of 11 and 13, and I led those students through their daily activities and taught an English class everyday. While this may seem intimidating because of the language barrier (even if you know Spanish, they speak Catalan and you’re not allowed to speak in a language other than English to encourage the children to speak English), we all had an assistant who spoke English, Spanish and Catalan. The summer flew by and I continue to keep in touch with many of my former students through Twitter and Facebook.
More than just the typical camp experience, I also gained lifelong friendships with many of the other monitors who work there and my assistant. Furthermore, I gained an appreciation for the region and the culture and was able to experience a part of the world in a real, non-touristy way. I would definitely recommend the summer program to anyone who is looking to immerse yourself in a new culture and gain TEFL experience working with young learners.
Kerrie Holloway TEFL Class of June
Margaret Infantino
Dear Potential TEFL Teachers,
The Canterbury TEFL summer (June) course was a memorable one. This course gives you the best of both worlds, the class and then the experience. It is a two-week course, approx. 8 hour days of classes. This may seem like a long time but after these two weeks, you are given the opportunity to receive your teaching experience at summer camps in Spain.
During the two weeks, you are taught the entire curriculum that will help you write lesson plans and then teach in a classroom. I felt 100% prepared to teach after two weeks. We worked hard and learned a lot! My professor, John Bouse will always be someone to remember. He is a very inspirational and approachable person. He wants to make sure you have your best experience and become the teacher you want to be.
I was very impressed with the everyday schedule of the class, steady breaks, and movement within the class. You are able to interact with people you have never met in a foreign place. There is nothing more life changing than taking yourself outside of your comfort zone. Not only meeting new people but also interacting with people of a different language. The class was well organized and we were given hand outs that I still use when I tutor here in the United States.
At Canterbury TEFL, you are welcomed kindly and any questions you have are answered right away. After the two-week classes are complete Canterbury places everyone in different camps which best fits you. After two weeks I moved to Barcelona with four other English teachers. We started our new journey at a summer camp, 40 minutes outside of the city in the beautiful mountains.
The first two weeks you are training or doing student instruction. You are given this time period to become comfortable before the camp starts. You prepare for your classes, your students and write two weeks worth of lesson plans to hand in for the completion of the course.
La Granja was one of the best experiences of my life. I spent 12 weeks with fifteen, 9-10-year-olds. This camp was not only English class but also activities. We had two hours of English class daily and the other hours were spent instructing the students in different outdoor/indoor activities in English. We were given assistants who spoke both English and Spanish that helped us throughout the challenges.
The English teachers I went with are four individuals I still keep in touch today. After learning many creative ways to teach English as a Second Language we had awesome ideas to teach and interact with the students every day. I have never been happier with an experience in my life. Two weeks in a classroom, working hard and learning everything you need to and then receiving the experience at the same time in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I am very pleased with Canterbury TEFL and would be willing to speak with anyone who is ever interested in joining this summer program. I am thankful for what they taught me and I plan on using my certification in the near future.
Margaret Infantino Class of June
Roopa Radhakrishnan – Bangalore, India
Dear TEFL students,
Moving to a new country is a very exciting experience that involves learning a new language, experiencing a new culture, eating strange foods and so much more. However, it can also be very nerve-wracking at first because there’s always that big “what if” hanging over your head. You are unsure about what to expect because you have to find a place to stay, make new friends, meet new people you can trust, find a job that pays enough for you to be able to go out and enjoy a night on the town, and all of this can take the excitement out of what should be an exciting time for you.
When I first moved to Madrid I didn’t know what to expect. I had no friends or contacts and I was quite worried about finding a job. However, through a random stroke of luck, I was fortunate enough to meet a girl who told me about Canterbury TEFL. I wasted no time, I got online, sent in an application and I haven’t looked back since.
Canterbury TEFL offers a one-month intensive training programme for those who want to teach English as a foreign language. You will be provided with everything you need to get started… knowledge, material and most importantly confidence. The teachers are very friendly and approachable; you can go to them for just about any kind of assistance you should require.
Canterbury will advise and assist you to find a place to stay and give you valuable information about what to expect in Spain. Once you are part of the Canterbury community you will also enjoy the fun outings and getaways they plan for students and teachers, this is a great time to socialize and meet new people and possibly make new friends for life. With Canterbury, you can begin instruction while you are studying, you can choose the kind of classes you want to teach and the timings are very flexible because it all depends on you.
You can choose the timings that are most convenient for you. If you are not a morning person like me, you can choose to take afternoon or evening classes. This is great because it gives you the time to do the things that you want to do.
All in all being part of Canterbury TEFL has been a great experience for me as I’ve met some great people, made some great friends, and I have a great time teaching English to them. Oh, and yes, living in Spain is not so bad either!
Roopa Radhakrishnan TEFL Class of December
Devon Loback – Paradise Valley, Arizona
To all TEFL candidates,
It gives me great pleasure to write about Canterbury TEFL and my overall experience in Spain as I reflect back on the program and my subsequent six months of instruction. My experience has been intense yet completely rewarding. I came to Spain with my husband who was pursuing an MBA. I wanted to make my time in Spain productive, fun, and professionally rewarding. I am now happy to write that at Canterbury TEFL, I have found them all.
Before Canterbury, I had no prior teaching experience nor did I major in English at university so I was very worried about my suitability as a teacher. However, I found the TEFL course to be both intensive and comprehensive. Between mock lessons, student teaching, and a thorough grammar review, I felt entirely confident with my newly acquired skills to embark on my career as a teacher.
Perhaps the greatest asset Canterbury TEFL has to offer is guaranteed work upon completion of the course. In fact, I was offered so many classes that I had to turn some down! Moreover, Canterbury offers both flexibility and variety. I have the freedom to control my schedule so I can ensure I still have time to enjoy the city. Additionally, among my children, adult, and business classes, there is always something new to teach.
Socially Canterbury offers you the best of both worlds. The Canterbury Club enables you to socialize with a network of people from diverse backgrounds. With their bi-monthly events, there is always something to look forward to. Alternatively, there is never any pressure to attend events, giving you the freedom to explore Spain and the rest of Europe on your own time.
In closing, I must say that instruction can be a demanding job; between the travel, preparation, and non-traditional working hours. However, the hard work has made the experience all the more gratifying. In fact, the greatest personal reward for teaching has been learning from my students. They are always enthusiastic about giving recommendations on where to go, what to do, and they provide a unique experience for me to learn about the real culture of Spain. In short, I have enjoyed my time with Canterbury TEFL and highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for a demanding yet rewarding experience in Spain.
Devon Loback TEFL Class of December