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Anne Hu (June ’03) has returned to her native Taiwan: "After I finished the program, I came back to Taiwan and started working for an English kindergarten right away. After a few days of working, I realized how much the TEFL program prepared me!!
And on another note, if anyone wants to teach in Taiwan, my school will be looking for teachers in a little while. If anyone is interested, please let me know. I am not sure how many are needed yet, but I just wanted to pass the word ASAP." gorillajj@yahoo.com
Hannah Treworgy (August ’03) knowing what suckers we are for pictures of children, tells us: "I want to show you how cute my class is. They are 5 in Korean age, which is 4 in western age (Koreans are 1 on the day they are born.) We made the headbands
today. I couldn't stand how cute they were; I had to document it." Here are "Hannah and her children."
Jessica Pulver (August ‘02): "I went on to teach English in the Czech Republic for a year, and now I'm teaching advanced ESL at the Wilbraham Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA. I just wanted to let you know how helpful BLI was for me, how much confidence it gave me, and how much it's directed my career in the past couple years. I'd love to be involved in any way I can in BLI; you can give students my contact info for advice and if I'm in the area I'll definitely let you know." jessicapulver@yahoo.com
Tina Schmid (November ‘02) reports that she has returned home to Switzerland, and keeps quite busy: "I teach English part-time at an English School in Winterthur called "Wall Street Institute." Further, I teach the local police force, have a class with children and a beginners class. I teach in my own home once a week. Besides that I work in a travel agency in the mornings. So, if you need to know anything about teaching in Switzerland, please feel free to contact me anytime."
Tina can be reached at: Untermattstrasse 24a, 8370 Sirnach, Switzerland. tina_schmid@hotmail.com
Andrew Richards (August ’00) writes: "It is so good to hear that BLI is doing so well and expanding. I wanted you to know that my experiences learning TESL there are among my most cherished ones. Although I don't teach ESL now, I still practice yoga, another skill I first learned there. I have gone on to teach ESL for the Red Cross but now am a tour guide for Boston Duck Tours. And I've given at least one tour for a BLI class!! If you don't remember me, I tried teaching the Russians how to dance the merengue one day. I hope the Institute continues to flourish."
Gwen Atkinson (Fall ’02 Part-time) writes from Korea: "Just thinking of you all & wanting to wish you a happy Spring! The forsythias, azaleas & magnolias are all blooming in the mountains surrounding Seoul. Since I often hike on an easy trail near my house, I am enjoying it a lot!! When I return from hiking, I usually do an hour of yoga. My school is quite reliable & pleasant! Please feel free to recommend teachers & I will be happy to be a contact. You can give them my email address, but please ask them to identify themselves in the subject line, as I delete unrecognized mail (without reading it). "Life if great, having the mornings free! (I work at 1.30, m-f.). I started a once-a-week Korean class yesterday. I already taught myself the script--which is brilliantly straightforward, with mostly a one-to-one correspondence between the symbol and the sound."
Here is a picture of Gwen after a day of mountain climbing near Seoul.
Matt Dexter (October ’03) says: "Hola! Spain is treating me great. I'm working for the agency over here that Joy McFarland got me in touch with Language Activities International. Joy is a real sweetheart, and very helpful. The company is just as great as she says it is. They really do treat their teachers well. Right now I'm teaching at two schools and a Dutch Bank, ABN. This is great experience, because I get to see all the different aspects of teaching here. Even the schools are soo different. One is a private all-girls Catholic school, and the other is a public. Can you guess which one is easier?? Public school is a toughie. The kids are all different ages (from 9-13), and way too cool for school, if ya know what I mean. I guess it's just payback for what I put my teachers through. The Bank is great. I only have one student four days a week. He's very easy going and loves to talk, so that's really nice. I'm very pleased I began teaching here in Madrid. It's given me a new "inside" look at Spanish life. If there is anyone who needs some help or has any questions about Spain, feel free to give them my email (matthewedexter@yahoo.com). I'd love to help out. My cell number is +34 690 12 39 71."
Matt would like to teach in Turkey next. Can any grads help him out with contacts or ideas?
Joy Mc Farland (June ’03), our pioneering "Spain Contact," has requested a bit of patience from the last few TEFLers to write her: "I just wanted to write and tell you to please tell everyone I WILL write them back within the month. I have been writing my thesis and going on job interviews, etc, and have been crazy busy. I want to give the requests my full attention, so that's why I haven't responded to the last three people yet. Just hang in there, and I WILL get back to everyone ok!?!? Thank you!!!! Besos, Joy
Tim Roberge (October ’02) informed us that: "I am now teaching English in Quito, Ecuador, and I believe I will be
going to Algiers, Algeria this summer to teach. Thanks so much to the trainers. I haven't forgotten my time there in Boston."
Steve Kemnitzer (October ’02) has returned to the US from China: "I am currently running a large construction company in San Francisco. I am making a lot of money but the true happiness that I have had is teaching English in China. You and your school were a big part of that. I do appreciate the opportunity that you helped me with. It would not surprise me if I return to China soon."
Shannon O'Dwyer (Winter ’03 Part-time) sends us greetings from the Philippines: "I am doing great! I finished a year in Coron, Palwan setting up the 1st ever English school, a one room school with a nipa roof! I am now In Cebu, as a curriculum writer for an American based company called Cleverlearn Inc. it's an online ESL program...I am also Head Trainer for the American Accent Training Program, which is mandatory for all the employees here at Bigfoot, Asia/Cleverlearn. Needless to say I am putting my TEFL Certificate to good use! I will finally complete my Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice by January 2005. I plan to move to Hawaii, to work on a Masters in Education. I think fondly of all of you at BLI, and miss the fun environment, and yes, even the hard work and stressful lesson planning! :) The hands-on, excellent and dedicated training I received from the BLI staff is something I carry with me. I could proudly and easily recommend The Boston Language Institute to anyone who wants to pursue teaching English."
Constantina Grafakos (Fall ’01 Part-time) would be happy to hear from other grads: "I'd be more than happy to talk to anyone heading overseas, especially Germany since I taught there for a year and a half. I've been back for about a year. My parents were nervous about me being overseas during wartime so I came back earlier than planned. I currently work for an environmental engineering company doing customer service and some translation. I mainly work with Greek- and German-speaking countries (fancy talk for getting yelled at in foreign languages). I'm also pursuing my masters in secondary education." Constantina can be reached at: cgrafakos@hotmail.com
Editor's note: Constantina has undergone training to be an observer for TEFL practice teaching, and will soon be serving in this role on a part-time basis.
Sandrine Ost (November ’03) sent this update: "Things for me are still in the Bostonish area. I work out of Burlington, in an international software company. It isn't quite the teaching I had originally hoped for, and that hasn't disappeared from my mind, but it's nice because I get to use my three languages. On a regular basis I am involved in business in both South and Central America, France, and Canada in addition to the US. I am currently a marketing coordinator for them. The thought of taking me abroad has been brought up a few times, so we'll see what happens there... As the company grows, I'm hoping the whole teaching part could come in handy!! All in all, it is an interesting experience, and I'm ready for what's to come..."
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