What position do you hold at Uni-prep? What has been your career path so far?
I am the Operations Manager at UNI-Prep in charge of all our online courses and international operations. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science and worked for several years as an Analyst and Consultant before traveling to Dubai, UAE. In Dubai, one of the many projects I worked on was teaching English to students of various ages, including corporate clients and CEOs.
The culmination of my international work experience eventually led me to the world of online learning, along with TESOL teacher training. I really enjoy helping to develop new courses and finding new ways to make the online learning process more interactive and enjoyable!
Did YOU teach abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?
Yes, I taught in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for 3 years where I was involved in the education industry in a number of ways. I had the privilege of teaching English at their police academy and to members of the army, along with corporate clients and C-level executives.
My family has always put an importance on traveling, so after graduating from university and gaining some work experience, I found myself seeking something different and exciting. I received a job offer to work as a Consultant in Dubai and basically ‘lucked-into’ the world of English teachers and online learning. I haven’t left since!
What does the future hold for Uni-prep?
The best part of my job is developing new courses and improving the features of our online courses – and that’s the future of UNI-Prep. We already offer a number of courses aside from TESOL in the areas of business and management, and we will be developing more. Right now, UNI-Prep is forming partnerships with job boards to give our students and graduates premium access to job search tools.
We are also in the process of creating internships and teaching opportunities with our organization and partner schools around the world. When it comes to our courses, some of our future features will include a mobile app to study from your phone, classroom chats and discussion boards.
What about the future of the teach abroad industry? How do you think education will change over the next 10 years?
English is likely to grow as the international language over the next 10 years, which will double the need for English language teachers around the world. In addition, we are seeing that online learning is becoming more popular and accepted as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to traditional classes.
With the combination of these, we not only expect an increase in the need for classroom teachers, but also virtual teachers. To give one example, English lessons through Skype is becoming a popular method of learning English, something already offered by UNI-Prep.
Which teach abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?
South America is the most underrated destination as the lower pay discourages a lot of teachers from otherwise going there. However, most individuals don’t realize the cost of living is so cheap that their salary can afford them a better experience with more spending money than a higher salary in other parts of the world.
I think parts of the Middle East can be overrated. The high pay attracts lots of candidates, but many of these countries have strict rules that may impact your ability to fully enjoy the experience. It’s very important to keep in mind the culture of the destination country when you are deciding where to work.
