I was made aware of an opportunity by the lecturers that DMU Global was offering a massive reduction in the price of TEFL courses to 20 or so students. I initially expressed that I would never get a place since I am not on the right kind of course, or because other people will have better applications.
After reflection on the idea I realised that if it was something I was interested in I should pursue it as far as I can and not defeat myself before I have even thrown my hat in the ring. In the end I decided to apply and asked for some feedback from staff when writing my short application. After waiting a week or two I received the surprising but welcome news that my application had been successful, and for the 120 hour course, which I thought would be more competitive; it is more favourable since some roles require 100+ hours of training and the other available course was 50 hours.
I am glad that I was successful as this is a great opportunity for me to gain some great skills that will allow me to travel as well as understand my own language much better. It will also be a good example of teaching skills and knowledge if I decide to pursue teaching more full time at a later date.
Having a TEFL qualification will also allow me to travel around the world, absorbing different cultures along the way and learning from their varied and unique perspectives. This opportunity will also enable me to further my understanding of our world and hopefully allow me to connect with different communities, a theme that has become more common in my recent work.
Update: Having worked somewhat on the course now I can say that it is definitely a challenge, especially when taken alongside my degree and other commitments. That being said I have managed to stay mostly on top of it whilst still prioritising my degree. I may end up needing to extend the course for a small fee, but frankly the cost will be worth it if I can create a more realised degree show experience and finish TEFL during the summer whilst seeking work etc.
I am still glad I applied and grateful for the opportunity, it has also sparked ideas in me regarding a more community engaged practice; one I could take with me to any community whilst also being able to fund myself via teaching English as a foreign language. I think this kind of global experience would give me a greater understanding of our world and reality. An understanding that I can then channel into my practice, perhaps creating connections to the audience by sharing universal connections like dance or music.
(Below is my application for any who are interested in my motivations)
TEFL application
Why do you want to take part in this DMU global opportunity? Give three reasons why, may refer to academic, professional or personal motivations:
My professional motivations are to pursue teaching post-graduate, this course will enable me to teach English and travel meaning I can develop a portfolio of experience in a range of education settings around the world. I also want to develop my career as a practicing artist, absorbing the richness of cultures outside the UK will give me both professional and personal opportunities to interact with people from around the world, hear their experiences and translate this into my practice as a visual artist. It would also enable me to experience art, culture and galleries on a global scale as well as network, promote and develop my work in conjunction with a diverse global audience.
I plan to complete a Masters at DMU after travelling and taking the opportunity to add extra value to my degree. I want to accomplish this by interacting with the local communities I visit but also with the artistic communities, perhaps blending these two worlds by holding interactive community focused workshops and exhibitions. This means that when I return I will have a better understanding of the world generally and can then build on the learning from my degree and my experiences abroad in order to make the most of my Masters course.
My personal motivations are to broaden my own perspective and have diverse experiences made possible by the TEFL course, I also want to use this richness of experience to help me make sense of the world, personally and in my creative practice. Having studied Nursing at degree level in the past I also have a desire to care for others and give back to communities, the TEFL course will allow me to do this through teaching English and hopefully enriching the lives of others with art and education. I have also lived my whole life in the UK and feel I have a limited view of the true global picture, teaching English abroad would let me expand this view and become a more comprehensive individual.
What skills or knowledge do you hope to develop as a result of participating in this DMU global opportunity? Enriching subject knowledge, enhancing intercultural awareness, develop communication skills
Enhancing my communication skills is something I hope to develop especially communicating in other languages and bridging communication barriers, I am already learning Portuguese as visiting Brazil is a long term goal of mine. I also want to develop my interpersonal skills further in a range of settings, this would be done through teaching English but also through the opportunity to live and work in a totally different culture. Being able to have lived experiences in another country is a unique opportunity and I intend to make the most of it by talking to the people, learning the language as best I can, absorbing the culture as well as drawing on the perspectives and experiences of people from different walks of life.
I also want to challenge myself to go to places where I will be forced to adapt and think differently to overcome barriers and achieve my goals. Learning about working abroad, entry visas, flights, insurance etc. will all help me to develop a range of practical skills that will translate to my problem solving generally. These enhanced problem solving skills will in turn make me a better fine art practitioner, an improved future educator, a more comprehensive individual and an understanding member of society.
I hope to develop a wider, more open and well-rounded understanding of the world we live in, not just to develop my Fine Art practice but also to develop myself as a person. I want my experiences to guide me and in the internet age misinformation and misrepresentation are prevalent; the ability to teach English abroad, cultivate connections in a different community and learn from diverse ways of living would improve my communication and understanding from my firsthand experiences.
Having this primary experience will enable me to think and comprehend in a more varied way and also relay that understanding more coherently, which is a valuable skill for art and for life. This intercultural awareness will also allow me to get the most out of my future endeavours in art, and if I pursue a career in teaching being able to draw on this wide range of unique experiences will make me a better educator and allow me to teach these diverse skills to the next generation.