Teaching OpportunitiesWhat type of job are you looking for? A teaching job What nationality are you? American What languages do you speak (and at what level)? English - Native French - Proficient Mandarin - Beginner What country or area are you looking to work in and why? I am open to opportunities in all countries but I'm most interested in Ghana and Ethiopia. What countries have you worked in? USA and China. What countries do you have a visa to work in? USA and China What field do you currently work in? English teaching What fields have you worked in before? Legal and Education What qualifications do you hold? BA in History and International Relations MA International Relations TEFL Certificate CELTA Certificate Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? In the global market, formal education can be an indication to potential employers that you are serious about your field and to that end you are willing to invest in yourself to better your career prospects. That being said, knowing theory does not always translate to excelling in a particular field. With anything, you have to take formal knowledge and use it to acquire the skills necessary to do a job well. There are things that you cannot know until you are in a particular situation and learn to work your way through it practically. I can read books about how to swim but I can't actually say that I'm a swimmer until I get into the pool and put what I've learned into action. Describe the benefits of working with others We all are the sum total of our life experiences and the more people you work with, the more experiences you have to draw from. The more eyes you have to see a situation through. This will lead to an increase in creativity, provide more ideas on how to approach a particular situation and lead to a sense of unity on the team. Describe the benefits of working alone Working alone creates a sense of ownership and this can lead to increased productivity. It can also help a person to become more well rounded as most projects have many different aspects and if you are responsible for all them, you learn more than if the project was divided among many different people. You also improve your time management abilities and it can ready you for more responsible roles in a company depending on the projects you're given. What was your worst working experience? I've worked in some conditions that were less than ideal but I wouldn't say that I've ever had a 'bad' working experience. I've been able to gain experience and take something away from every position I've had. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? There are very few bad bosses and it's possible to work with just about anyone as long as you communicate, understand and accept their expectations and work to meet them for the duration of your employment contract. There is also something to be gained from every experience if you keep an open mind and seek the opportunities that are around you. What unique skills do you have? Even in the US, I worked with a very diverse group of people and have learned how to get along with many different types of people from any different walks of life. I'm quite good at organizing people, projects and events and seeing them through to the end. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? I quite enjoy teaching and would like to stay in the field of education for the duration of my career. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? Teaching has given me to the opportunity to travel (through work and further education) and see different cultures at a deeper level than would be afforded through tourism. It's been great seeing how other people live and learning to see the world through eyes that are not culturally the same. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? I think teaching is a pretty interesting profession - you never know what you're going to do from day to day and even when teaching the same classes there is always a different result. You also have to do significant research before presenting a topic to the students so you're always learning something new. Paperwork can, however, get a bit mundane but outside of that I find it all pretty interesting. How can potential employers contact you? The best way to contact me is via email: reneem0214@yahoo.com | 
