From a Manchester office to Malta: Rachael McGettigan’s story

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." Alan Watts

Life is full of unexpected changes, and sometimes it takes a leap of faith to discover your true calling. For me, that leap meant leaving behind my comfortable corporate job in an engineering office and embarking on an adventure to become an English language teacher.

My journey into the world of TEFL began with a simple realisation: I wanted a change. One cloudy morning in Manchester, as I stood at Oxford Station, I mindlessly pressed play on an episode of the I Taught English Abroad podcast, which the algorithm had suggested on my Spotify homepage. I had bought a TEFL course almost 3 months prior on a recommendation from a friend but hadn’t thought about it since.

Daniel Gillard’s interview about teaching English in Cambodia was truly eye-opening and ignited a spark inside that I believe had always existed deep down. Listening to him talk about the profound impact English teachers were making on the lives of Cambodian students resonated deeply, and hearing about the transformative power of education in a country that has faced its share of challenges filled me with a newfound sense of purpose. It was in those moments that I felt an overwhelming desire to embark on my journey as an English language teacher, eager to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others while also being able to travel the world.

By then, I had been living in Manchester for just over two years, and while my job in an engineering office had provided financial stability, it left me feeling unfulfilled and bored. The monotony of office life, endless meetings, and rigid schedules drained my enthusiasm for life. I longed for a career that allowed me to connect with people on a deeper level and make a difference in their lives while having the freedom to travel the world. I reached out to David online and told him how much the podcast had inspired me, and he insisted I follow my heart and complete the course. I started my TEFL course that night.

Where now?

Once I completed the course and got my certificate, I started researching various teaching destinations in Europe . Malta stood out for several reasons:

1. Malta is a bilingual country, with both Maltese and English as official languages. This makes it an ideal destination for those aspiring to teach and, of course, learn English.

2. With its 300 days of sun, stunning landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and rich history, working in such a beautiful country sounded like a dream come true.

3. Malta attracts students from all over the world who come to learn English and therefore has a very diverse student population. This diversity ensures that teaching here is never boring, as you interact with people from various cultures and backgrounds every day.

As I scrolled through job opportunities in Malta’s many language schools, one requirement consistently caught my attention: 'ELT Permit required.' It was then that I realised Malta is the only country in Europe (and, as far as I know, in the world) where it’s necessary to hold a permit to teach English as a second language and that to obtain a permit I would need a Level 5 TEFL certificate . At first, the idea of completing another course seemed like a huge hurdle, but I quickly understood the importance of the permit. It signified not only the legal requirement to teach but also Malta’s commitment to maintaining high standards of English language education in the country, and this made me even more determined. 

New beginnings

After attending a few online interviews , I received a job offer to work at a well-established language school, under the condition that I would secure my permit before starting in July. I had a really good feeling about the role, and Keith, the Director of Studies, assured me that they would do everything they could to help with my application.

In the same week, a friend told me she was leaving to work as an activity leader at an English language camp in Italy for 3 weeks in June. The company was looking for one more person to join their team, and I decided what better way to start my TEFL journey than working in the Italian countryside. Within a month, I handed in my notice, sold almost everything I owned (thanks to Vinted ), packed what I had left into a backpack, visited my family in Ireland for a few days, and jumped on a flight to Bologna to start my job at Speak Teens Italy.

My time in Italy was brief but incredible. Speak Teens is the only full-immersion English summer camp in Italy with a 1:1 ratio between students and native English-speaking teens. It offers Italian teenagers a unique opportunity to develop their English language skills by making friends with peers from all over the world. My job there consisted of running activities, leading dance workshops, overseeing the coordination and safety of students on and off-site, and, of course, making sure everyone was speaking English (or at least trying their best). We stayed in a beautiful tourist centre called Valbonella, where we were given three authentic Italian meals a day (lots of pasta) and always had a few afternoons or mornings off in a week to relax, or in my case, to study.

Next stop: Malta

After an exhausting but fulfilling few weeks, I packed up my bags once again and took a flight to sunny Malta to start my new Job at EC Malta. My first day as a teacher was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Stepping into a classroom filled with eager students from different corners of the world, I realised the huge responsibility I had undertaken. However, over time, I found my footing, and the experience has been so rewarding and well worth the extra weeks of study.

During my first two months, I worked at Embassy Summer, a summer camp organised by EC Malta where teenagers come from around the world to improve their English language skills. I worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, which gave me plenty of free time to explore the picturesque, Mediterranean island. Life was good and I was getting more and more confident in my teaching skills every day. I made friends with some amazing teachers who provided me with a wealth of knowledge and made the experience even better.

When the summer camp ended I found myself lost and missing home. I picked up a few hours working at a smaller language school teaching adult classes, mostly substituting for teachers who were ill. Although the students were great, I struggled to form meaningful connections with them in such a limited timeframe. Unlike full-time teachers who have the luxury of time to nurture relationships over the course of a school year, teaching in short-term courses meant I had to navigate a constantly changing classroom dynamic. But I was determined to see the summer through.

A better now, an exciting tomorrow

As I write this blog my sense of direction and purpose has been restored. I have been lucky enough to be asked by EC to spend my last two weeks in Malta teaching classes to a group of teenagers from Austria who have come here for a language exchange organised by their school. Their enthusiasm and curiosity have rekindled my passion for teaching English and as my time on the island draws to a close, I find myself eagerly looking forward to the prospect of forging connections with my future students in Cambodia.

From exploring the traditional town of Mdina (shout out to all my Game of Thrones fans) to snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of Markasala, sunrise yoga in Sliema to admiring Caravaggio paintings in Valetta, life in Malta has been truly unforgettable. However, it’s almost time to head off on my next adventure. My plans over the next few months include yoga teacher training in India, meeting up with friends in Vietnam, scuba diving in Thailand, and, if all goes to plan, finally making it to Cambodia to take the next step in my teaching career. 

Teaching English in Malta has been an exhilarating experience filled with laughter, learning and the infectious enthusiasm of young minds from all over the world and the opportunity to witness my students’ growth over a short period has been immensely rewarding. Until next time, Malta. Ciao!

Listen to I Taught English Abroad and get inspired to TEFL like Rachael did!