The art of language has always been a fascinating concept to me as it gives others access to the inner workings of your mind and heart (your thoughts, feelings and opinions) in an understandable manner. I believe language and communication are not an achievement of human evolution. It is an inherent gift placed within each of us just waiting to be uncovered and developed. Thus the prospect of helping others unbox that gift is a remarkable opportunity that I could not resist, which is why I want to teach abroad.
As a proudly South African individual hailing from the beautiful city of Cape Town, I am honoured to be a Meddeas 2024-25 participant. Upon graduating in May of this year obtaining my Bachelor of Business Administration, I yearned for a purpose beyond the confinements of an office cubicle. The desire to enrich individuals on a macro-scale coupled with my wanderlust led me to research for projects beyond my country’s borders.
Why I Want to Teach Abroad and Why I Chose Meddeas
I’ve always described myself as an individual with a passion for people and a heart for service. I want to teach abroad because I love connecting with diverse groups, learning more about different cultures, and sharing my life experiences with others whilst being of assistance to those in need. You can only imagine the joyful discovery of stumbling upon Meddeas and realising how aligned I am to the ethos of the program. Of course, there were other language assistant programs I noted online, however, I decided on Meddeas because it affords me (as a South African) the opportunity to teach abroad and study towards a TEFL certificate with no “penalty” fees because of my nationality. Often, international developmental opportunities either exclude Africans entirely or place an additional cost on them, so I deeply fell in love with the program as it gives way to multinationals to further develop themselves.
What I’ve Been Up To and What I Hope to Achieve
Before applying to the program, I was a fresh graduate working full-time as a fashion and commercial model (one of my greatest passions) with my former work experience tallying to that of being a Sunday school teacher, a fine dining server and a sales representative. This exposure to varied occupations led me to desire a fixed program that would help me better comprehend my professional goals.
The Meddeas program will help elevate my CV whilst simultaneously advancing my educational background through the TEFL course I’ll be pursuing. My goals as a young professional include diversifying my portfolio, gaining international work experience and gaining a competitive edge through taking on leadership roles, which is exactly what I will be achieving with my bubbly personality at the forefront of inspiring young children to have fun learning a new language.
My expectations for the program include having the time of my life whilst making new friends. I will be creating memorable experiences for the children I’ll be teaching. I suppose it’s not every day that they are met with a South African woman. I’m looking forward to sharing my culture and country’s heritage with the people of the Basque Country, likewise, am I open to learning from them.
Saying Goodbye
With just 2 weeks left until I depart for Spain, I write this post with great eagerness for my trip. However, riddled with an undertone of sombreness as I reflect on the community, culture, and family I will be leaving behind. Oh how I will miss the glorious Summer sunsets of Cape Town, the home that is the heartbeats of my parents and loved ones, my delightful local church, and the bond shared between myself and the modelling industry. With tears in my eyes and my arms wide open I joyfully embrace all the beauty, food, connections, language, and culture that España offers me. How great of a companion is metamorphosis. I look forward to introducing you to the Athi at the end of this life-changing experience – South Africa to the world.
