English Teacher

You are never quite prepared for the impact that teaching students will have on your life. I find it an absolute honor to have the opportunity to teach and be part of a student’s learning journey.

My metamorphosis from being a professional sailor in Europe to teaching English in South Korea has been quite a journey. From the age of 19, I left my childhood home in somewhat suburbanized Johannesburg to hitchhike through the rough and unconquered terrains of Africa—from Kenya back home. Ever since then, it has been my life’s passion to continue to see and immerse myself in this incredible planet and the kaleidoscopic world of cultures and nature that flow from it.

Consequently, my love for education, volunteering, and languages emerged from these experiences abroad. It became abundantly clear that, to make the world a better, more peaceful place, education needs to play a key and pivotal role in uplifting disadvantaged and displaced communities. In addition to this, it also became evident that, to achieve the above, clear communication and understanding between cultures are essential.

Having worked in four well-known hagwons in South Korea and volunteered at an orphanage teaching English after work for just about five years, I have gained significant experience in implementing and personalizing lessons based on students’ learning needs and capabilities. In addition to this, having worked with such a broad variety of students, I have been exposed to multiple techniques and tools that work for each particular group based on their specific needs and learning aptitudes. I have also learned the key cultural norms and difficulties (pronunciation and grammar) that South Korean students face in learning English, particularly in verbal and non-verbal communication. I am aware of the key role this plays in a student’s ability to understand and learn English.

In addition, I worked as a tutor/examiner for one of the country’s top universities, being responsible for 11 tutorial classes and 169 students. I am aware of the fundamental pressures and demands of managing and coordinating multiple classes simultaneously, from lesson preparation to marking and assessing students’ progress within set deadlines, all while communicating and coordinating with the heads of each relevant department and adhering to the objectives set by them.

I also acquired a degree at a research-based university, in addition to working in a fast-paced, evolving, and dynamic environment (super yachting). I have developed a strong orientation toward continuous learning and development, which has conditioned me to embrace new challenges and opportunities for future growth and has allowed me to adapt to new environments relatively easily.

In the next two years, I intend to complete my Master’s in Education, which will allow me to become a licensed teacher.

Finally, having worked in Europe for five to six years after completing my degree, together with my extended travels through Africa, Australia, Mauritius, and East Asia (India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka), I have come to realize the value and impact that verbal and non-verbal communication have on cross-cultural interactions with individuals from all walks of life. My work and travel experiences have also highlighted the importance of implementing the correct communication techniques across cultural boundaries to successfully convey and understand messages accurately.

In addition to this, my experiences have allowed me to understand the significance of being culturally aware, respectful, and tolerant of other cultures, as well as being sensitive to my own actions and how they may be interpreted in various situations.