International Women’s Day or not, EBC recognises the vital role women play in the world of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). From classroom instructors to curriculum designers and administrators, the space women fill is essential to the success of TEFL programs all around the world.
International Women’s Day or not, EBC recognises the vital role women play in the world of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). From classroom instructors to curriculum designers and administrators, the space women fill is essential to the success of TEFL programs all around the world.
International Women’s Day: What women bring to TEFL
Women bring something unique to the TEFL table. Their unique perspectives, approaches, and skill sets are invaluable to the English teaching profession. Furthermore, their ability to understand culture and take in social norms of the countries where they teach gives them an edge. Not to mention, their passion and dedication to the TEFL profession have a direct impact on their students.
Despite there still being limits placed on the role women play in the working world, they know how to turn any disadvantage into their own advantage. After all, women are more in tune with their ability to provide a sense of comfort and safety for students in their TEFL classrooms. This, in turn, creates a learning environment that is open, engaging, and respectful.
International Women’s Day: Women in TEFL have a unique set of abilities
Furthermore, more often than not, women are better able to understand the needs of their students. Because of this, they are also more inclined to developing teaching methods that are effective and fit the learning styles of their students.
Not to mention, their unique capability to be more patient and understanding. These TEFL secret weapons are qualities that are especially important when dealing with shy and timid students. Women are also very in tune with their creativity, which is a great quality for designing materials and activities.
International Women’s Day: Women in TEFL are leaders
Aside from the unique qualities that women bring to the TEFL table, there is another aspect of womanhood that gives women an edge in the English teaching profession. That is–women are leaders.
Women provide invaluable mentorship and advice to those who are just beginning their TEFL careers. They are the perfect role models, who lead by example. They are also a source of guidance when it comes to navigating the TEFL world, which can be complex at times. Not to mention, women are great at giving comprehensive advice, which helps anyone who wants to be successful in TEFL.
Furthermore, women can support you in a way that makes you feel genuinely seen and understood. Because of these qualities, women make great mentors who can help you achieve success in your TEFL career.
Overall, the unique skill set and perspective that women bring to the TEFL world are indispensable. Furthermore, the contribution of women in TEFL is essential to the success of English teaching programmes all around the world.
International Women’s Day: Women break stereotypes in TEFL
Contrary to the outdated “sit still, look pretty” stereotype of women in the workplace, women in TEFL are breaking stereotypes–especially ones where they are expected to be complacent and quiet.
No–women take charge, and they don’t need to ask for permission. EBC is proud to have many graduates who are go-getter women. While they are capable of delivering effective lessons and creating a great learning environment, do not forget–they are not your maids.
EBC women know how to be approachable yet professional. This means that they do not socialise with students outside the classroom. While women in TEFL may be considered a friend within the context of education, they still hold the boundary as educators.
International Women’s Day: Women are leaders while also being inherent carers
Besides being perfectly capable of taking charge and leading by example, women have another superpower to add to the TEFL team of superheroes. Women teachers bring a unique approach to the English learning environment.
According to many studies, women are capable of focusing on the academic side of learning yet are also inclined to create caring and nurturing learning environments. On the other hand, male educators tend to limit their focus on the academic side of teaching.
Because of the inherent caring nature of women in TEFL, students are more likely to see them as role models. Women are also quite likely to take a more hands-on approach when it comes to teaching. This includes giving students emotional support and guidance.
Women in TEFL also tend to have more patience and understanding for their students. Their teaching approach also includes acceptance and inclusion. Not to mention, organisation.
Ultimately, women in TEFL play an important role in classrooms all around the world, as they have an inherent caregiving nature.
Take it from Tyler, a woman in TEFL, living her dreams in South Korea
In celebration of International Women’s Day, EBC would like to showcase some of our graduates who are women making their mark in TEFL from all around the world.
Tyler is an EBC Trinity CertTESOL graduate who recently just moved to South Korea where she is teaching English under the EPIK programme, which is highly competitive. In a recent interview with EBC, the young woman in TEFL spoke about her experience taking the course as well as her mindset on living a life with purpose.
Everyone has a dream. Sadly, however, many people put it on the shelf. Tyler, however, chose to do the exact opposite. “For me, I always knew my whole entire life that I wanted to teach in another country.,” she said. “I feel like maybe it’s different for most people where they’re like ‘I just wanna go be in Paris…I love France.’ You know, something like that. For me, I was like…this is what I feel like I was made for…so I knew my whole life I was going to go do it. So, when I found out the correct route to go, I took that step.”
Tyler on purpose and stereotypes
Tyler also shared that she had many failures and that it was through perseverance that she found her path. “I had many failures,” she shared with EBC. “I would try this one thing to go, and it didn’t work out…I would try another thing, and it didn’t work out. Then when I found–like, okay–teach English. Trinity’s a good course. I’m going to take that. And I made it through that. (Then), I applied for the next thing I was going to do and I got that. It’s something I always knew that I wanted to do my whole life. And honestly, if I wasn’t doing it, I don’t know what I’d be doing…so that’s why I chose to do it.
“Historically, we’re in one spot and that’s where we stay,” Tyler said. “My dad was telling me, “Do I wish that you just stayed here and married some guy and had kids here in the city? Yes. But I’m excited for you too…”
She also told us about what helped her shut out the doubts she faced. After all, there were many, considering that her dream involved moving halfway around the world. “I was like, ‘Okay.’ So I think we feel a lot of pressure from everybody in the society around us cause most people around us don’t really have that drive to be like, ‘Yep, I’m going to go out and do something different.’”
Tyler also mentioned that she reminded herself of her childhood dream. “Like I said, I always wanted to do this thing–even when I was little. I had a binder, from when I was like maybe in the fifth grade, talking about how I was going to go to school in Ireland.
International Women’s Day: Women in TEFL have minds of their own
“For me, I just kind of didn’t really let what other people were doing get to me,” Tyler said. She even mentioned that some people were intimidated by what she was doing. “They would even tell me ‘You’re not going to do that.’ And I was just kind of like, ‘Yeah, I really want to do that.’ So I think it really just takes you being like, ‘Yeah that’s what I’m going to do.’
According to Tyler, forging your own path is worth it. “It’s different,” she said. “It’s challenging. And a lot of people around me probably don’t understand it, but it’s well worth it. It’s just a different path in life.”
Tyler’s strength, courage, and boldness to follow her dreams is a great example of why we celebrate International Women’s Day. Great job, Tyler–you go, girl!
Helga, another woman in TEFL shares her insights
On International Women’s Day, we also celebrate the profound nature of women. Not only that but also women’s grit and tenacity–especially when it comes to achieving their goals.
Helga is also an EBC Trinity CertTESOL graduate who took the Road2Spain programme. A go-getter indeed, she decided to add official TEFL certification to her skill set. Prior to taking the course, she had already worked as a copywriter and travel writer–not to mention, she had a background in advertising and experience working with a multinational agency.
In a recent interview, she told EBC about the valuable things she learned in the course. While she learned important things about teaching English, most importantly, she learned powerful things about herself.
International Women’s Day: Women in TEFL raise each other up
Helga told us how taking the course taught her how to…stay the course. She recalled the moment she realised just how intensive it was. “It’s a lot of work condensed into one month,” she told us. She also mentioned that she got to the point where she wanted to quit.
However, when we asked her what it was that made her stick to the course, she answered, “To tell you the truth…it was Tita.” Tita Ashton is EBC’s leading woman, as she is the owner and CEO. Helga told us of how Tita, a fellow woman in TEFL, talked her out of giving up.
“Twice,” Helga said. “Twice. She had to coax me into staying, and I completed the programme. (Then), when the moderator came…I ended up getting the highest score in my group. She reminded me when I told her I’m working full time now in Colombia, how I wanted to quit twice. I really said ‘No. No, I can’t. I can’t do this.’”
Helga never forgot the words of Tita, a great mentor: “Yes, you can. Don’t drop out.’”
“I’m really thankful to her,” Helga told us. She also said that she is certain that if it had not been for Tita, she would have quit. “It also taught me to stay the course, which I can now pass on to my students because I’ve had that experience.”
This just goes to show that women raise each other up–especially women in TEFL. This sense of camaraderie and support is the essence of International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day: Women in TEFL are overcomers
Not only did Helga persevere through her challenges while taking the course, but she also proved herself to be an overcomer. She graduated with the highest score among her group. “I felt a sense of gratification that I hadn’t felt in a long time,” she told us. “And as somebody that’s older…cause I’m 58 now–I was 56 when I took it–it gave me the confidence that I can still study and learn things.”
Truly a testament to the term “Age is but a number,” Helga came out a winner. “It’s a sense of achievement that I didn’t have with my other accomplishments in life,” she shared. “This, was actually, for me, the most fulfilling.”
In her recent interview with us, she shared that when she was younger, she would give up easily. “When I was younger, I quit a lot,” she said. “Usually, if I (didn’t) get something right the first couple of times, I (wouldn’t) stick around. And now, when I think of quitting, I don’t. And truly, when you have that sense of failure before you actually accomplish something, the accomplishment means more, and it’s a personal growth experience.”
Celebrate women in TEFL with us
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women in TEFL. Brave women like Tyler, who are bold and daring enough to go after their dreams and forge their own path. Strong women like Helga, who discover that their inner strength goes deeper than they know and that age is just a number. Inspiring women like Tita Ashton, who work to equip and empower other women, mentoring them as they make their mark on the TEFL world.
Women like Tyler, Helga, and Tita hold the essence of this special profession. After all, women in TEFL have made remarkable strides in the English teaching field, especially over the past few decades. They bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, innovation, skills, and perspectives to the TEFL profession. From teaching English in classrooms all over the world to spearheading English language education initiatives, there is no denying the impact women have on the global TEFL scene.
As we continue to work towards equipping more women in TEFL, we look forward to seeing more of them take up their spaces in the TEFL world. After all, TEFL would not be the same without women.
If you want to make a mark on the TEFL world too, the best place to start is getting a Trinity CertTESOL certificate. It is accepted and recognised by the British Council. Furthermore, you get access to EBC’s lifetime worldwide job placement programme–which is free. Enrol with us today and make your mark in TEFL.
