A lifetime of personal and professional experiences led me to pursue certificate in the TESOL field. My 12 weeks in this course have helped me contextualize my past experiences while formally learning the pedagogy and practices I knew I needed to elevate my teaching practice. 

 

My time in this program has solidified my inclination to want to pursue a master’s degree in TESOL. In the months to come, I will begin applications to master’s programs for the 2021-2022 academic year. My acceptance to a program, hopefully paired with one or two outside teaching opportunities, will help me to further grow, reflect, and improve my teaching practice. 

 

One of the reasons a career in TESOL interests me is because of the multitude of paths one can take to help people achieve English language fluency. As a daughter of immigrants, a product of an underserved community and nonprofit professional, the communities I would like to immediately serve are the under-resourced and those in need of accessibility to language instruction. More long term, I would like to work in higher education with international student populations, perhaps as an English instructor or study abroad coordinator/academic services administrator. My restless nature will undoubtedly lead me back abroad at some point in my future and I would like to teach English wherever that adventure may take me. 

 

My ultimate goal and lifelong dream is to work in publishing. The TESOL field has introduced me to the world of academic publishing, specifically English Language Teaching publications. After accumulating years of teaching experiences, I would like to re-channel all I have learned by developing teaching materials for generations of future educators to come.