How Cupid led me from Hungary to a Miami classroom: Andrea Kövesdi’s story 

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be writing an article about my teaching experiences in the United States! To tell you the truth, I never aspired to be a teacher, but as the saying goes, life had other plans.

I mean, I love writing and I used to play being a teacher when I was 12, but that’s it. I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason, and now, it’s easier to understand all the things in my life. For instance, the two weeks I spent with a family attending an English course in the hilly, rural English countryside during high school or the time I had to conduct English-language workouts for my Chinese client while working as a personal trainer.

First of all, I’ve done a lot of things in my life. I believe that if someone is open-minded and well-educated, they can adapt to any rules or jobs. As a college student, I had to pretend that I was really into market economy to graduate as an economist in the tourism-hospitality field. However, it has never been my cup of tea. 

As a photojournalist, I’ve been on call for eight years. When something happened, I had to be ready immediately. You all know how the media works. This period not only gifted me unforgettable memories, like meeting world-famous celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Johnny Depp, Helen Mirren, etc., but it also gave me a bunch of valuable skills - reacting fast, being open and comfortable in any social setting, tolerating, accepting all the creatures of the world (except spiders) and being curious with no bounds.

Contrasting ideas

I could talk 24/7. My dad wanted me to be a lawyer, but I didn’t want to learn that much. Considering myself a lifelong learner, now it sounds funny, but at that time I was more into photography, travelling, or sports. Becoming a personal trainer, I realized one of my most important skills: understanding and communicating with people the moment I met them and being sensitive about their current mood, and their behind-the-scenes problems. It wasn’t only about teaching; I became their guide, coach, nutritionist, and their psychologist sometimes… 

Even though I had clients from different ages, I was an integral part of all their lives helping them not only in their weight loss journey but also in their personal growth - and I loved it! Influencing people and making a positive impact, even a tiny one, filled my heart with joy.

Looking back on my whole life, I’ve been seeking this since I was a child. At elementary school, I created a newspaper with my best friend, wrote poems and articles stored away in my drawer. My dream was to be the first woman presenting soccer , and later I really wanted to travel to Afghanistan during the war , capturing photos and showing them to the world, making an impact on all of those couch potatoes who live in a bubble and have no idea what can happen at the same time in the other side of the world. Now I know, I’ve always tried to connect with people and make a difference in their lives.

Leaving Hungary was never part of my plan, but Cupid had other ideas

During university, I taught children English . I’ve almost forgotten this experience even though it was my first teaching role ever. I clearly remember it was more like worrying about the schedule and being able to manage and force my own rules than actual teaching. They were always late, turning my days into chaos. 

Surprisingly, what changed everything for me was not COVID. In a nutshell, I met the love of my life during my Florida vacation before the pandemic and later I decided to move to the United States to restart our life together. Born and raised in beautiful Budapest , speaking Hungarian as my native language, I started learning English at the age of seven. Leaving my country was never part of my plan, but once again, life (or Cupid) had different plans. 

Looking back, this was the best choice I could have made.

My greatest motivation has always been to challenge myself

Arriving in the United States and facing a diverse community was something new for me. Besides the fact that I was taught British English earlier, I wasn’t prepared for all the accents and pronunciation differences in South Florida. My journey to improve my English began in a local language school, where I spent a year attending classes with the best teacher one could hope for. I learned not only about English grammar and idioms from her but also about different cultures, and, most importantly, the art of being unconditionally open to the world. I looked up to her – independent yet socialized, smart yet humble. I was good at school. 

However, I could never envision myself as a teacher until one day when the school director unexpectedly inquired about my teaching experiences. I did have a bit, so the challenge was accepted.

I knew I’d almost met all the requirements (university degree, work permit, etc.) except for the TEFL certification . After each chapter of my life, I would declare “Enough is enough, no more”, but after a year or so, I sat in another school, learning something entirely new. I wasn't ready or self-confident enough to be a non-native ESL teacher, but on the other hand (as many times before in my life) I was grateful for the opportunity. There was no room for refusal. I considered the whole thing like another, new role in my professional life. 

The journey to becoming TEFL qualified was a rollercoaster with its highs and lows. I was enjoying every step of the learning process, but I have to admit that I was also a bit terrified. As soon as I earned the TEFL qualification, I started working as a non-native English teacher. I had doubts, of course, but I wanted to prove that I could do it. My biggest motivation is to challenge myself, and it has been challenging every day. Working with absolute beginner students from all over the world - Russia, Ukraine, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey - turned out to be a success. As soon as I got more self-confidence, I started loving it. I still love it.

More than teaching a language

In my second week, students caught me off guard with their general questions about life. At that moment, I genuinely felt that teaching students from different countries is something more than teaching English language and grammar rules. I loved being well-informed about their cultures and creating a comfortable atmosphere in the classroom. Although the situation was totally new for me, I became their guide, their coach, their psychologist… again!

I’ve always loved combining all my skills to help people. Could this be my superpower? I don’t know, but I understand my students because I walked in their shoes before. Recalling my own studies, I loved teachers who were interesting and served as role models for various reasons. I found my place in the classroom realizing that speaking English and delivering the language with its grammar rules are two different things. As a non-native speaker, my linguistic knowledge is similar to my students (on a higher level of course) and it definitely helps them to understand all the rules better. Every individual brings a unique story to share, ensuring that there is never a shortage of interesting topics to explore together.

My journey has evolved from storytelling through photography to storytelling through words. I believe in praise and personal appreciation, and I’d like to treat every student as a fragile, unique soul. Through my different roles, I’ve discovered my passion for guiding and empowering others. Whether it's through photography, fitness, or teaching, I find joy in helping people become the best versions of themselves. Working with international students in the United States has completed my professional life, far away from my home, which I am really grateful for. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

About Andrea: I’m Andrea Kovesdi and I work as an ESL Teacher in Miami, Florida. I’m also a photojournalist, a content creator and a personal trainer with a tourism economics degree who loves travelling and telling stories through images and words. I have over 15 years of experience working with people and multitasking. I'm always on the go, whether I'm exploring a new city, capturing the beauty of nature or telling a story. I’m passionate about using all my skills to help people reach their physical and mental goals and be the best versions of themselves. I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself and learn new things. Follow my journey on Instagram @happyandi

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