TEFL Teacher: Laura Graham
Hometown: Co. Dublin
Teaching Location: Ecuador

Laura Graham’s days are now filled with last minute work, ‘goodbyes’ from family and friends, malaria tablets and the never ending packing during her limited number of days before jetting off to Ecuador to teach English, she said.

“Its only 11 days now till me and Michelle are off,” Laura said. “It’s all becoming very real but it’s so exciting and we’re both itching to get going!”

Laura heard about Teaching English as a Foreign Language abroad and thought it was a good way for her to be able to earn whilst travelling, she said. She had no plans lined up before the TEFL course but knew she wanted to travel.

Laura booked onto i-to-i’s comprehensive TEFL combination course and then used the free job placement service to secure a paid job contract in Ecuador through the company’s contacts, she said.

“We've been in regular touch with the school in Loja and they are so friendly and helpful, it has really made us think we're going to fit right in!” Laura said.

With no prior teaching experience, a TEFL qualification has enabled Laura to travel and earn in countries that she never thought she would visit for extended periods purely due to not being able to work, she said.

“I would definitely recommend TEFL,” Laura said. “As I feel the course was a bit difficult at times, it is very rewarding and interesting.”

For her first experience, Laura is looking forward to her upcoming experience in Ecuador and can see herself using her TEFL qualification in the future, she said.

“(I’m looking forward to) learning about a new culture and way of living,” she said. “I’m also looking forward to the challenge that teaching will present.”

Feeling very prepared with the in depth TEFL course, Laura said she is confident about travelling further now that she has a job that is very useful in many countries.

“If it goes well, I will certainly look to travel some more, perhaps to Indonesia or maybe back to South America,” she said.

Being able to take her TEFL course and apply for her paid placement through the same company made her experience run smoothly, she said.

“I have had such a positive experience with dealing with i-to-i,” Laura said. “I would not only highly recommend them, but I imagine I’d find it hard to go through the whole process without them.”
© i-to-i, 2009
*See updated information below from Laura while in Ecuador

UPDATE: November 2009

In August, Laura headed overseas to Ecuador with her TEFL certificate to teach English for five months with no prior experience.

“I couldn’t wait to start exploring a new country, new way of life along with my new job,” she said.

While getting a chance to travel the Spanish country, the Galapagos and watch a World Cup Qualifying match, Laura also teaches three English classes to help support her travels, she said.

“I love teaching!” Laura said. “Teaching here has definitely confirmed my ambitions that I want to continue teaching and travelling.”

The school placed Laura teaching a mix of different levels including a 7-8 year old class, a 9-11 year old class, in addition to an adult level class, she said.

“Each class has such a different personality and presents its own challenges,” she said. “But the one thing which they all have in common is their warmth and openness to foreigners which is really touching.”

Laura found the lesson planning part of her TEFL training from the face-to-face weekend course and online course to be of valuable knowledge now that she is in Ecuador, she said.

“Lesson plans are the most important part of my job – knowing what I’m going to teach and how to teach it is paramount to me,” she said.

While living in subsidised accommodation right next to her school, Laura lives in Loja with about 22 TEFL teachers doing the same thing, she said.

“We’ve all made firm friendships and get on really well,” she said. “My nerves were alleviated by the incredibly beautiful surroundings I’d been fortunate to land myself into.”

However, even halfway around the world Laura managed to find her Irish roots sitting in a Spanish bar one night while out celebrating a colleague’s birthday, she said.

“It’s true what they say – you can’t go anywhere in the world without meeting the Irish,” she said. “We have travelling in our roots!”

Teaching in Ecuador has opened up a new door of opportunity for Laura, who wants to continue to use TEFL in the future, she said.

“Teaching here in Ecuador has definitely confirmed my ambitions that I want to continue teaching and travelling – I’m looking into Spain for when I return home next year already!” she said.

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© i-to-i, 2009