Year(s) and Subject(s) Taught
I have taught English, Maths, Science and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) to Year 2, 3, 5 and 6 students.
How long have you been teaching?
I’ve been teaching for over 8 years, 4 of which were in Thailand and 4 here in Malaysia.
Why did you become a teacher? Why did you choose teaching as a profession?
I always wanted to work closely with people so decided to try a year teaching English in Thailand. I loved the rapport with the students and the pride in seeing their language skills improve all whilst living in a beautiful part of the world.
Tell us about your own education journey.
I completed a basic TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course in order to secure my first job in Thailand. Two years later, I continued my development via the University of Nottingham’s PGCEi course. It gave me an excellent foundation in teaching pedagogies whilst opening doors to international schools.
What is the most memorable moment in your teaching career so far?
My most memorable moment is from my first year of teaching in Thailand. After learning idioms, I would overhear students use these in their conversations with friends: ‘Under the weather’ if they weren’t feeling great or ‘break a leg’ before a Loy Krathong dance performance. It may not be world changing, but I knew that I had, in some small way, impacted the lives of these young people.
What do you like most about teaching?
For me, it is the chance to have an impact not only on the academic but the personal development of young people. We spend 20 hours a week with a group of children when they are at their most impressionable. The privilege of this position has never diminished.
What is the best thing about teaching at your school?
HELP International School has grown exponentially over the past 6 years. But despite this rapid growth, it has always maintained the most familial of working environments. Teachers, students, admin staff and parents work closely together for the betterment of the whole community no matter how busy the school year gets.
Who or what inspires you?
I am surrounded by inspiration: the teachers I work with, the wonderful work shared on Twitter, and of course, my students. Whether it’s a surprising fact they read about at the weekend or, on a deeper level, giving me cause to stop and reflect about how I do my job or handle a dispute, I am constantly inspired by the young people I work with.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for educators today?
I think the speed at which our society is developing is our biggest challenge. The pastoral role and responsibility has grown and in order to effectively fulfil this, empathy and a firm finger on the cultural pulse is required to understand the complex challenges young people are faced with today.
