University of Plymouth TESOL course graduate Ewelina updates us on her recent teaching experiences…
Hello Ewelina – Great to see you again, can you tell us what you have been up to since you completed the UoP TESOL Course?
It’s great to catch up! Since finishing the course, I’ve been keeping busy with a mix of teaching and mentoring. I’ve been working as a college lecturer in tourism, leading my own units and creating teaching resources. Alongside that, I’m offering study skills support at the university. I haven’t done anything related to teaching English, however looking ahead, I’m planning to start this summer!
Wow – it sounds like you’ve have been busy working in some interesting roles – have you enjoyed the teaching?
Yes, I enjoyed it a lot, it’s been a mixed and rewarding experience. I have been solely focused on this for a year now, however mainly in my subject specialisms rather than English – it is still on my radar however!
What’s did you find most rewarding about the role?
Supporting the students, helping them achieve their goals but also being someone friendly and approachable always willing to be there for them.
Did you face any challenges when you took on this new role?
New people, new protocols, heavy workload at times. However, the role is very rewarding so it’s worth the occasional stress. With time, once I figured things out and got used to the environments, I built up my confidence a lot. I have gained a lot of valuable experience.
Do you feel the UoP TESOL course prepared you well for your role?
For sure! The course gave me a solid foundation in lesson planning, student engagement, and creative teaching techniques. It also really helped me refine my questioning skills and how I communicate with students, which has been invaluable. I feel confident about going away abroad to teach.
That’s great – so tell us, what’s up next for Ewelina?
Right now, I’m planning for Summer 2025, where I hope to focus more on English teaching. I’m excited to see where this next step takes me! I really want to travel to Southern Europe and enjoy the sun.
Thanks, and do stay in touch, it’s so great to hear your interesting stories.