TEFL in Cardiff: an interview with a teacher based in the capital of Wales

Have you ever considered teaching in the UK?  Here, teflhub interviews Robin, a Welsh instructor who has been teaching at the Celtic English Academy in Wales’ vibrant capital, Cardiff. We discuss some of the most common questions raised about life for TEFL teachers and students in this increasingly popular destination over a cup of coffee in the fantastic Saint David’s Shopping Center.

1              What drew you to Cardiff?

I’m actually from Cardiff so when returning to the UK it was an easy decision – especially as family and friends are still here.  Another aspect is the fact that Cardiff is one of the more affordable places in the UK to get on the property ladder.  If I say so myself, Cardiff is a great and dynamic city .

2              Did you also train to be a TEFL teacher here?

I completed an online course while I was still in Cardiff – that involved 120 online studies and 20 hours of contact time…

How was that?

… it was good.  I think it was very informative and an ideal way to give a student teacher an awareness of the TEFL world.  However, I did a full-time CELTA with International House in Bristol which was excellent and really prepared the foundations for a TEFL career.  [Note: many institutions will only hire teachers who have completed a full-time face-to-face TEFL course.] 

3              Have you taught in any other countries?

Yes, I spent three years in South Korea which was great and then I taught for Westgate in Tokyo for a three-month contract – an excellent way to experience Japan.

4              What are the main benefits of teaching here rather than your experience overseas?

Well, the main benefit of teaching here in Cardiff, especially with the Celtic English Academy, is that I get a lot more opportunities for professional development – an increasingly important area in the field of TEFL.

5              What are the challenges of teaching in the UK? 

There seem to be more jobs abroad while in the UK there are more teachers than jobs.  The classes here tend to be polylingual so a teacher has to deal with lots of different language challenges and adapt to meet a variety of student needs.   But the same diversity in the classroom can create a great dynamic learning environment.

6              What are your favourite aspects of living and teaching in Wales?

Obviously being back with family and friends.  But also the fact that Wales is a great place to enjoy the outdoors with lots to do.  Cardiff itself is a very green city with a vibrant atmosphere. 

7              Do you have any advice for someone considering studying here?

For students here I would recommend that they take full advantage of the immersive English environment – the best students are the ones who insist ob speaking English at every opportunity – with their host families, at speaking clubs, and just out and about in the city.

For teachers I would recommend that they research the schools offering TEFL courses and select one that offers a face-to-face course.

8              Do you have any hints on how to save money when living in Cardiff? 

If you want to travel around the country use the Megabus.  If you want to get around Cardiff get a bicycle – Cardiff is really making a concerted effort to improve the cycling paths around the city.  Shop at Lidl or Aldi.  If you like to go out on the town, Wednesday night is student night so drinks are cheaper.  Try and get shared accommodation – this will save you a lot of money.

9              What challenges do students face in Cardiff?

The weather!  It’s very changeable here and so students sometimes get caught out and need time to adjust to the climate.  Most students have a preconceived idea about British food – it’s sometimes difficult to persuade them that British cuisine has really got much better than the stereotypical image of British food they have in their minds.

10           What do students like about studying in Cardiff?

Students find it a really easy place to live and love the friendly way of life here in Cardiff.  They also enjoy the greenery we mentioned before as well as the mix of old and new architecture.

Diolch yn fawr ('Thank you very much' in Welsh)

Find out more about the Celtic English Academy by clicking here.  For more information on Cardiff, click here.