Meet Neil! He is part of our team of trainers and he will share his story with you. Read on!
Where are you from?
I’m from a lovely little town Called Elgin in the north of Scotland famed for it’s whisky distilleries and beautiful coastal beaches.
How did you end up in Prague?
I met and married a beautiful Czech girl who wasn’t too keen on the rain so we decided to give Prague a try for a year and it’s now eleven years later.
What do you love the most about Prague?
It has many things going for it for people at all stages in their life. For the young there is a really vibrant expat community, great pubs, live music and it’s easy to meet new people, for those of us who are a little older it is a really safe, peaceful city full of beautiful parks, stunning architecture and a nice slower pace from many other capital cities.
What made you want to become a TEFL trainer?
At the time I was mentoring new teachers and I really like helping people get better at new skills so becoming a TEFL trainer was a really practical way for me to impart that knowledge and help teachers from the very beginning of their career.
Do you teach any other courses apart from TEFL?
I teach a really fun and practical “Young Learners” course that covers all ages and really goes in depth with how children and young adults differ from adults in terms of needs, abilities and motivation. This gives teachers tools and tips on how to get the best out of their students and create a real difference in youth education.
What is it like being on the TEFL team?
I love it! Each person brings a different dimension to what they do in terms of personality and approach. To create a beautiful harmony in music you need different notes that work well together and I think that’s what we do.
Since being a trainer, what has surprised you the most?
The fact that you never stop learning and improving no matter where you are in your teaching career.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love spending time with my kids at the play park, meditating/doing chi kung, and writing/performing music.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
The voice I use at work isn’t my original voice as I speak Scots Doric.
(If A’ wis tae spik hoo, Ah spik fahn ‘m at hame in ma hoose naeb’dy wid ken fit ah’m blethrin aboot min!)
