Career Satisfaction

My career history prior to teaching was a varied one to say the least. Before joining the MFL PGCE course at the UEA, I had worked as a retail manager, volunteer at a charity shop and an advertising executive.

My decision to join the course however related to the satisfaction I had found when I taught English as a foreign language in Mexico and my great love of my subject specialism, the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.

Like many people, I decided to enter the profession with a noble but hazy desire to positively influence the next generation. The course offered by the UEA, excellent tutoring and fantastic peer group support not only helped to develop the practical skills needed in the classroom but channelled my enthusiasm in the right direction - as is perhaps reflected by the University's outstanding OfSTED report.

The PGCE year is demanding and can be challenging in every possible way - from testing organisational skills and self-confidence in the classroom, to your sheer resilience to keep up the pace of work! Even so, the rewards that teaching brings certainly outweigh this. I can still vividly remember the delight I experienced when the Head of Year 9 in my placement school told me that two boys in bottom set had reported that they felt that they had learnt so much in my classes that they were considering taking the subject for GCSE. Hopefully though this is just the beginning.

From September I am very much looking forward to setting up the Spanish Department in a small 11-16 school in Norfolk. I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly nervous at the prospect but coupled with this, I believe that the constructive advice and encouragement from UEA, together with the invaluable tips from my school mentors has enhanced my determination to succeed and to face fresh challenges.