TEFL Teacher: Silean Shortle
Hometown: Co. Dublin
Teaching Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Silean decided to get TEFL qualified after accepting a job offer in Saudi Arabia for a year to work as an administrator in a hospital, she said.

“As I will be living in a foreign country I thought it would be a good idea and very useful,” she said. “I will be learning Arabic, so thought I could recoup any outlay by teaching English.”

With employment already set up, she hopes to use her TEFL qualification to gain additional experience and an additional source of income, she said.

Silean first heard about teaching abroad when she was travelling through hostels in the 80’s and has been meaning to do it ever since, she said.

“Personally, one feels more equipped to teach with TEFL,” Silean said. “And an employer is always easier to find with a recognized qualification.”

While Silean hasn’t actually started teaching yet, she would recommend the course to anyone thinking about going abroad, she said.

“I found the course excellent,” she said, “and have since bought some literature which is very helpful also.”

Silean is looking forward to the adventure of living and travelling abroad she said, and hopes to move to Spain with TEFL after her Saudi Arabia experience.

“I was an intrepid traveller before and this just adds another string to my bow!” she said.

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© i-to-i, 2009