EBC recently had the opportunity to get on a check-in call with Hoda, one of our Trinity CertTESOL graduates. In this interview, she tells us about her TEFL course journey with us. Read on to find out more about her journey.
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Her backstory
While some people know all their lives what they aspire to be, for Hoda, things were a little different. She shared with us that in her case, discovering what she really wanted to do was a beautiful journey in itself.
“I know that a lot of people have (had), like, their dream job since they were kids,” she told us. “I had no idea what I wanted to be or what I wanted to study. Like, I did my A levels and I still didn’t have a single clue of what to do, you know? I didn’t know what to do. So, I took a lot of gap years.”
“(Then) I decided that I wanted to do either something related to politics or something related to language because, for example, international relations, it didn’t work. So my second option was English studies. I had no idea about English studies. But when I got there, the first year of my university, I fell in love. Especially with the literature. And also because I’m a movie junkie, so I like watching movies and series and all of that. So I actually got to love English through movies, through having fun.
“And I was like, there is no way I’m going to watch a movie with subtitles. I need to hear the real thing, the real jokes in English. So, I know that when you (take) English studies, at the end, you have a lot of options and one should be open. Like you can teach, you can translate, you can do a lot of things. You can even work in customer service and (teach). I really like teaching. For example, I had a goal of completing my master’s degree and PhD and start teaching literature at university.”
Hoda’s story: Deciding to get certified
As Hoda found her path on her TEFL journey, she shared some stepping stones that she identified for herself.
“Meanwhile, what I wanted to do is get some certifications and teach English because I was always asked by people to teach them English,” she shared. “But I didn’t like taking on people because I didn’t want to freestyle. You know, I don’t want to freestyle randomly and give classes randomly. I don’t like that.
“So, this is the reason why I took this course. Thank God. I’m really grateful that I took it. I’m really happy with the results. So basically I really like teaching. The one thing I used to do when I was a kid was try to teach whatever I was studying and pretend. But I couldn’t remember that…I couldn’t relate to that memory. (But) I remembered once I got (older).”
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Her EBC Trinity CertTESOL course experience
Hoda also shared her EBC Trinity CertTESOL course experience with us as well, telling us how it played a crucial role in her TEFL course journey.
“My experience was really a rich one,” she said. “Really. I learned a lot. And I got equipped with a lot of useful techniques. Like right now, I don’t know, (if I were) given a class, and I (wouldn’t) think twice, you know. That kind of feeling. It gave me a lot of confidence.
“Overall, the course was like a (judgment-free) zone. So we could make mistakes and get like really constructive feedback. I think that that was the thing that I liked the most. The constructive feedback. And also the practice classes, (those were) amazing. And I always looked for the feedback at the end of the week.”
Hoda’s story: Her training
Hoda also talked to us about the training she received from EBC during her Trinity CertTESOL course. She included how it was a turning point in her TEFL journey.
“(It was) definitely an incredible experience,” she shared. “Top notch. I felt that the training was really beneficial. The course was really beneficial. Top notch. VIP. It was amazing. I(‘d) never (taken) any online courses, apart from COVID. That was catastrophic. Everyone was doing that transition online, so they didn’t have any idea on how to give classes and all of that.
“And even going to in-person classes, I never learned that much. (But) this course, like seriously, it was amazing. The level of professionalism and the knowledge. Overall, the experience was really positive. I learned a lot of things.”
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Biggest takeaways
As for her biggest takeaways from the course that she will take with her all along her TEFL journey, this is what Hoda had to say:
“Before starting the course,I had zero idea on how to teach kids and how to teach people. Starting from zero, you know…I would always say, ‘I prefer to deal with more complex questions. I’m sorry.’ But after those specific classes, it was a completely different experience.
“Like learning a new language at this age. With an adult’s mind. It’s really difficult, but it was so easy to get all those things here. Like, it was really amazing. And another, another thing I would say, teaching Spanish people.”
Hoda drew on her experience having Spanish learners in her teaching practice sessions, saying, “I had worked with a lot of Spanish students. And just the perspective that the course gave me changed how I even approached my Spanish students in class. Like the problems.You really become aware that the same teaching style would not work (all the time). Like you have to change it, depending on the nationality or even the people that you’re teaching.”
Hoda’s story: Teaching practice sessions
As for how the course met her expectations, Hoda said:
“Wow. It exceeded my expectations, to be honest. Like, right now, I know how to do everything. Thankfully (though), I’m not going to be writing lesson plans for every class.”
She also told us about her teaching practice sessions and how they helped her build the confidence she will take with her all along her TEFL journey. She spoke about how she learned to anticipate possible challenges that her students might face, saying:
“I kept preparing my classes, taking in consideration (what) might happen. I kind of, like, conditioned my mind to it. And by the end of TP4, I started giving myself some self-evaluations. And I was like, ‘Yeah, I did this wrong. Maybe next class I will do this and do that.’ Also the self-evaluation and the feedback matched. Like the same things that I had written down for (myself) matched my instructor’s feedback. So it was a really good experience.
“And like, I’m self-reflecting. Every day. On everything. I’m (even) using the same methods in my real life. Like, that’s right, what are the anticipated problems that might happen if I go out to do this and do that?”
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Why she chose EBC
As for why she chose EBC for her TEFL course journey, Hoda shared:
“Well, to be honest, I was actually looking online for a really long time. Since I was in university. And I was like, I need to get that teaching certification if I want to teach overseas. And I am obsessed with something certified. Like, it’s well known and accepted all over the world. Because people here, for example, I’m in Morocco and people here pay like 200 bucks for a TESOL or for a TEFL.
“And it just…I don’t know, I feel like it’s fake. It doesn’t have credibility, you know. Like, it’s not going to be valued. It’s not going to be recognized. For example, I wanted to do CELTA, but it appeared like it was really difficult.
“People were like, suffering to do the CELTA. So I was like, all right, for the things that I want to do, TEFL would be amazing. What are the companies that provide this type of course and (are) they are accredited…I opted for the EBC Madrid, because it was the only one providing the online course. And I wasn’t let down and it was amazing.”
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Why she would recommend the course
Would Hoda recommend this course to others who also want to go on their own TEFL course journey? Well, this is what she had to say:
“Definitely, I would recommend this course to everyone. I would pay good money for a course that is going to be beneficial. I don’t have any problem (with) that. People might (be) like, ‘Oh my God,’ that’s why they go for the cheapest option. But I definitely recommend this course to everyone.
“I learned a lot and in a short amount of time you get transformed into a teacher. You learn a lot of things. (And) I think that doesn’t have a price because it’s going to keep (going). Like, you’re a teacher for the rest of your life. You’re transformed completely, you have all the skills, you have (the foundation), you have all the techniques. You (even) know how to (make) lesson plans.”
Hoda’s TEFL course journey: Her future plans
Hoda’s TEFL journey is just getting started.
“I wanted to start here in Morocco (so) I started to apply,” she said. “Tita recommended me to apply for the British Council and I applied, so I’m waiting for the response. It’s to get that face-to-face experience and real life interaction. After that, I really want to go to the Middle East. It’s going to be really nice.”
From all of us at EBC, we are excited for you, Hoda! We have no doubt that you will definitely go places on this lifelong TEFL journey. Until the next graduate check-in!
If you want to get started on your TEFL journey like Hoda, talk to us today!
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- Information about EBC
Accredited TEFL Training Courses
- Accredited online TESOL certification course, a face-to-face live-streaming TEFL course
- TEFL course in Madrid Spain, accredited TEFL course, the Trinity CertTESOL
- Trinity CertPT CPD courses courses for practising teachers
- Accredited teaching Business English course, a Business English CPD course
- Accredited CLIL course – Content and Language Integrated Learning, a CLIL CPD course
- Accredited CLT course, Communicative Language Teaching, a CLT CPD course
- Accredited teaching English online course, a teaching English online CPD course
- Online TEFL certification course in TESOL & TEFL, a 200-hour course with trainer-marked assignments
- EBC short TEFL skills courses with certification
