In January, Nina Ligman, a senior studying English with a focus on creative writing, received an email with an interesting opportunity.
It was a chance to earn a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
Nina Ligman poses in front of the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain, where she spent her summer educating students in a second language and earning a teaching certificate in the process.
“There was an email blast sent to the entire English department,” Ligman said. “It was a forward from TEFL Iberia and they were advertising their one-month program to get certified in Barcelona.”
TEFL Iberia is an academy that specializes in the training of English teachers based in Barcelona, Spain, training teachers from all over the world in TEFL.
“I had been planning on doing an online course for that over the summer,” Ligman said. “But as soon as I saw that email, I knew I would much rather do it in Barcelona than on my couch at home.”
Ligman traveled solo from her hometown in Toledo to Barcelona, Spain, away from her friends and family.
“I was really nervous about it ahead of time, being alone in a new place and whatnot, but now that it’s over, I know the trip was worth it,” she said. “I learned a lot about being independent, and I think it will help me go forward not only on trips abroad but also here in the U.S.”
Once in Spain, Ligman delved into the program. While attending classes for her certification, she also began teaching students.
“The program was really interesting in that we began teaching the students in the first week we were there,” she said. “It was so nice getting to know the students and figuring out the best ways to connect with them despite the obvious language barrier, and getting teaching practice like that was great for hopefully one day having a career in the field.
“It was so rewarding for them to be able to read or watch something that was intended for native speakers and seeing them so excited.”
Ligman, who works as a tutor in the Writing Center, aspires to become a teacher someday, either in the U.S. or abroad teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).
“I really want to go into teaching because of all of the teachers I have had over the years. They really inspired me and encouraged me to follow my dreams, and I want to be that for the next generation of students,” she said. “As for ESL teaching, it combines my love for traveling and learning about other cultures with my passion for teaching and my love of English. Work doesn’t feel so much like work when you’re in a new place.”
Nina Ligman said the trip was an amazing experience that taught her a lot about independence and being a better teacher.
One teacher who helped Ligman along the way was Dr. Ben Stroud, an associate professor and advisor in the Department of English Language and Literature.
“Nina is a go-getter student,” Stroud said. “She found this program and took part in it in pursuit of her larger goal of teaching ESL abroad and here in the U.S. The skills she’s learned and the experience itself will prepare her for embarking on an exciting career after graduation.”
Ligman said the trip was an amazing experience that taught her a lot about independence and being a better teacher.
“I think students who are really interested in traveling but want a way to do it where they are still earning money should look into this certification,” she said. “The biggest reason they should do a program like this is that they would get valuable in-person teaching practice and live feedback from experienced teachers. They can sit in on classes being taught by other teachers and make observations on techniques and apply it to their own strategies, and they can also get live feedback from the students.
“If going abroad and teaching is something they’re interested in, this is definitely a more rewarding experience than taking an online course.”
