Briana, a native of Tampa and graduate in Music Education at Clearwater Christian College, didnโt know that her future path included teaching English abroad in Beijing, China!
After teaching herself Mandarin with the help of Chinese movies (impressive!), she knew there was one destination for her: the Middle Kingdom itself. Learn more about Briโs journey to the life of an ESL teacher in Asia!
Tell us about your path to teaching abroadโDid you always know youโd end up in China?
As a teenager, I went to several different countries, volunteering and being a teacherโs assistant. I was always open to the thought of teaching abroad, but I never thought China would be the place Iโd end up. After college, I got married to a Chinese fella, which is another story for another time! My family is in Beijing, so Iโm there, too
Have you worked at the same company/school your entire stint as an English teacher in Beijing? Tell us about your career path in China, if it has varied over time.
My career path is a winding road of
I prefer online teaching or tutoring one-on-one. Iโve taught with multiple online education companies and learning more and more about what a futuristic classroom will look like. My dream career path/niche would be to get hired in a company which focuses on AI technology in the classroom.
What is your favorite age-group to work with and why? Would you consider teaching other age groups?
I love elementary aged children! They are so much fun and
My life right now is constantly adjusting and adapting (in busy China!) so Iโm always interested in new things. I wouldnโt mind teaching older students, but I feel fulfilled after teaching youngsters.
What was the most helpful portion of your TEFL certificate experience? Do you feel like you draw from your course experiences regularly in the classroom?
I chose Premier TEFL because they easily answered information I needed and clearly provided the most important things I need to get a teaching visa. I can relate well with the content and am excited to learn more.
After being a graduate for 5 years, itโs good to brush up on some things I had forgotten from college days! This TEFL course pushes me to be a better teacher, cultivates my experiences, and boosts my achievements. What more could I want?
What is one thing about the life of teaching abroad that you never expected/werenโt prepared for? Our readers love to get the inside scoop!
I am
If they donโt fight hard enough to get into good colleges and land good jobs, their future and family will suffer for it. Thereโs not much I can do to help, but Iโm forecasting that if my students have a sweet childhood memory of learning English, that is enough to help a little bit!
What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher abroad?
I am always amazed at how happy and excited every student is once they see my camera turn on at the beginning of class. Itโs like magic watching them light up and laugh and smile. Getting their attention is easy, but when I can find out what is their
To me, teaching is more about getting the student to express their hearts and minds and emotions in a safe and encouraging environment. When I see a student comfortably show their personality and creativity, I really feel like Iโm cultivating their future in the best and brightest of ways!
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The post America ๐บ๐ธ โก๏ธ China ๐จ๐ณ โ Briana Liu Interview appeared first on Premier TEFL.