#flsuccessfulclassroom

“I have been teaching English as a foreign language for over 11 years. Teaching is really one of my passions, but some time ago I started to feel tired, and maybe a bit bored. It was always pretty much the same, wherever I worked, I was starting to lose the feeling of challenge I used to enjoy so much. In 2014 I decided to stop teaching, I worked for about 3 months as a Seasonal Youth Counselor on board a cruise, I loved travelling, but I was not using all the knowledge I had gained after so many years of teacher training. So I came back to Argentina and started teaching again. I taught at bilingual schools, companies and language schools most of the times, but I definitely needed something different.

In my search for new things, I started to study to be a secretary, I loved the training, but it was not something I wanted to do for a living. In one of the courses, the teacher talked about Community Management, and she suggested that we should have a go at it because it would be very useful for us to expand our job possibilities. I found out what it was about, I liked it and in 2016 I took part in a course. This led me to think about delivering online lessons, so I started to do some research on that matter. It was at that moment that I came across FutureLearn.

In my search for a change, I decided that if I wanted something new, perhaps I needed new skills. I started to surf the Internet for some courses and FutureLearn appeared with all its options. One of them was Teaching for Success: The Classroom and the World, delivered by the British Council. I read what the course was about and joined it. It looked interesting and it was for free (I couldn’t believe it!). I was fascinated by the quality of the course, the engagement other students showed, the teachers’ responses and the material provided. The course opened my eyes as regards to students’ needs nowadays, and I felt there was so much to improve and include in my teaching practice.

From that moment on, I’ve been having a look at FutureLearn courses whenever I can. Other courses I took were Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started (I have already joined the second part, Embedding Practice), Teaching Literacy Through Film and English in Early Childhood. The good thing about FutureLearn is that you can take the courses at your own pace, wherever you are, and it’s so easy to read and participate. I am really curious and love learning, so having access to the courses at any moment was really important for me.

These experiences motivated me to take other online courses and now I am thinking of my own online project, that’s why I keep on training and I am taking part in other courses. During the year it was a bit difficult because I want to enjoy the courses and I didn’t have that much time. I have recently joined the Starting a Business series in order to plan my business and have already joined other teaching courses which start in January and February. I’m really anxious to start because I know I’ll learn a lot more.

Apart from being an enjoyable learning experience, FutureLearn gives me tools to grow. I was feeling stuck, I felt I was always going to be a teacher inside a classroom and couldn’t bear to see me doing the same thing all my life. Now I have found a twist and being my own boss is a great challenge that will take time, might be hard, but my love for teaching is still here, renewed, and waiting to see new results.”

Inspired by Cintia’s story?

Take a look at the courses that she values most:

Teaching for Success: The Classroom and the World

Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started

Blended Learning Essentials: Embedding Practice

Teaching Literacy Through Film

English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development

Starting a Business 1: Vision and Opportunity

Starting a Business 3: Customers and Competitors

“I have always been interested in innovation, e-learning, educational technology, language learning and technology and Teachers’ Professional Development. I’m also trying to explore all the situations in which English can be taught, in presence and online. I’m doing whatever I can to increase and update my skills and my competence.

I don’t remember exactly when I discovered FutureLearn, maybe on Twitter, being a follower of the British Council. Discovering a MOOC delivered by the British Council has been a surprise for me and so I attended the first of the series of three courses Teaching for Success: Practices for English Language Teaching program. Its name was Teaching for Success: the Classroom and the World, a professional development course for English language teachers around the world intended to develop the skills and practices for continuing professional development (CPD). I hope to go on and attend Teaching for Success: Lessons and Teaching and Teaching for Success: Learning and Learners. At the moment I have upgraded and I am in possession of the certificate of the first course but I think to complete the whole series. I’m also attending a course delivered by Cambridge English Language Assessment that belongs to Cambridge Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge, Exploring the World of English Language Teaching to learn (revise in my case) what teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) involves and to explore the opportunities of English language teaching and learning.

Effrosyni, 22, is from Greece and has been working as an English teacher for almost 5 years. Also a keen learner, Effrosyni studies with The Open University, where she was introduced to FutureLearn.

“I am registered at The Open University, having an ardent desire to acquire my BA English Literature And Language certificate. However, this year I didn’t find a course available to continue my studies so the OU suggested I try FutureLearn.”

FutureLearn program paving the way to success

Effrosyni completed the course Teaching for Success: Lessons and Teaching which sparked her motivation to take her studies further.

“The first course of the program really fascinated me and gave me the motivation to decide to complete the whole program because I am sure that all the courses it consists of have many things to offer to me in order to develop as a teacher.”

She is now underway to complete the Teaching for Success: Practices for English Language Teaching where she plans to upgrade.  

“I strongly believe that upgrading the “Teaching for Success” program will be a significant qualification for my CV. In addition to this, my success on this program will give me more confidence to keep trying to make the difference in the domain of English education and contribute to the welfare of our society.”

Passion and dedication for teaching

Effrosyni is enthusiastic about teaching and has a very clear vision of what it means to be a teacher.

“My strong belief is that teachers should be the driving force behind students' dreams. So, I try not only to enrich my students' knowledge but also to disseminate to them virtues in order to become responsible adults in the future.”

She has already applied many of the things she’s been learning within the courses.

“I have already tried with my own student's many new activities I learnt throughout this course and in this way, I have enriched my courses in such degree that my learners’ development is apparent.”

FutureLearn has played an important role in Effrosyni’s professional development and she is keen to encourage others to explore the platform.

“Undoubtedly, I would suggest the course I attended as well as the whole program to other colleagues who aspire to develop as teachers and I would advise them to enjoy every aspect because every part has really something positive to offer. All in all, using FutureLearn is a decision developing you not only as a teacher but also as a person.”

Setting goals for the future

Effrosyni is a forward thinker and has a passionate dream for her future in education.

“My far-reaching purpose is to establish my own English Language Centre where teachers and learners will cooperate harmoniously having a purpose not only to the success on the examinations but also to the acquisition of virtues and ideals.”

She has plenty of ambition for her career and is dedicated to achieving success.

“I have many new ideas and I am focused on my goal, So, I intend to fulfill my target whatever the cost!”

Inspired by Effrosyni’s story?

Then join the courses she took:

Teaching for Success: the Classroom and the World

Teaching for Success: Lessons and Teaching

Teaching for Success: Learning and Learners

Join the program:

Teaching for Success: Practices for English Language Teaching