Trainers
Jenny Bartholomew
I always wanted to be a teacher, so I got my Bachelor's
degree in Education. However, I found the public
system not quite what I wanted. So I decided
(as we do) to backpack all over Asia and that
included another five trips back to different
parts. I did a little teaching of English in
Thailand, then came back to Australia. Really
I am an Australian with an international heart.
After several years of studying and working in creative fields, I started teaching foreign immigrants and did that for 6 years. It was very rewarding!
So the gypsy in me took me off again to faraway places. Asia had been amazing - the richness of each culture, the history and architecture and all the visual contrasts of a world so different to mine! This time it was London where I decided to travel so I did a TEFL course and decided to take the first offer that came my way. (I wasn’t nearly as informed as I am today!) So I went off to Southern Italy and worked for the Italian Military, putting in place the first English programmes, then went to work in both the public and private school system.
A great experience - more foreign than I had ever imagined. I wanted to stay 3 months but I ended up staying 3 years and had the opportunity to travel all over Europe. When I reluctantly returned to Australia, I started teaching multicultural classes. It was a really great experience - I felt like I was travelling the world each day in my classroom! I encouraged my students to be free to express themselves. I loved seeing all those nations together as one. Friends today; yesterday maybe enemies.
Then I came across Teach International’s great program. I thought that wow, this would be a great job - which it is and here I am now! I love sharing the experiences that I have had and that everyone has had with people that want to fulfill a similar dream. My philosophy in life: there are no boundaries - only the one you place in front of yourself.
