Testimonials - TEFL Certification Students in Vancouver

Diego de Merich, M.A.

The TEFL certification offered by Hess Education Canada is exactly the type of course I was looking for! While it was definitely intensive, it allowed me to complete all elements of the certification without forcing me to miss work or other obligations. I had originally considered taking a certification program online but after having completed the Hess course, I am certain that there would be no comparison. The information provided to us included not only the tools and techniques needed for teaching English in a foreign country but also practical knowledge on everything from resumé writing to accepting a contract abroad. I now feel much more confident that I will be able to “hit the ground running” when I go away to teach.

Classes were structured very clearly and the accompanying binder, study materials and textbook allowed students to understand key pedagogical concepts while also providing avenues for further study. I found the teaching staff to be extremely knowledgeable and well-prepared. Their wealth of experience from teaching ESL students as well as ESL teachers was also very clear. The staff at the Centre created a very inviting atmosphere and it was a pleasure to participate in the various course modules and activities. A great deal of effort was made on the part of the instructors to involve all students and we were given ample opportunity to prepare and practice our lesson plans – individually, in pairs and in groups – before presenting our final projects.

In short, given the skills and knowledge imparted to us, the clearly structured nature of the course and the friendly, professional environment that Hess provides, I definitely recommend this program to anybody who is considering going abroad to teach English.

Cal Dunlop

As a teacher currently working in a school district, I took the Hess TEFL course to broaden my knowledge and to gain greater insight into EFL teaching strategies. I was impressed both by the quality of teaching, and by the curriculum. The lessons were interesting, and the instructors made the course practical by modeling the lessons on research-based best practices. The format is very hands-on, with abundant opportunity for practice teaching, and the variety of activities and topics made the course enjoyable. I benefited greatly by the thoughtful input and critique of the instructors. Overall it was an inspiring experience. I have taught English in summer programs in the past, but now I feel much more confident and prepared for such experiences in the future. I would definitely recommend this course, and I will definitely be using the notes and the textbook as a reference the next time I teach EFL!

Leo Chiang 
Awarded Kwantlen Scholarship

I travelled to Taiwan at the age of twenty-two with a mission to learn Mandarin. I spent two years in Taiwan and it was during them that I got familiar with Hess Educational Organization. At that time, I had planned to do a teacher training program, but never had the opportunity. Now, I feel really fortunate to be a recipient of the Scholarship for the TEFL certification offered by Hess Education Canada.

Although it was an intensive program, I was given the care and opportunity to successfully complete it, in spite of my busy work schedule. I received the greatest support and consideration from the instructors in grasping the knowledge and skills part of training program. The tools and techniques provided were not only informational but also an eye-opener of different cultures. 

I would like to thank all my instructors and the staff members for making this experience not only educational, but an enjoyable one too. I would highly recommend the TEFL certification to anyone wanting to upgrade their English teaching skills and/or to newcomers in this field.

Nancy Valiquette

I was interested in taking the TEFL course because my boyfriend and I were considering travelling overseas to teach English. We are both Canadian, but with different backgrounds. Kevin is part Croatian and my mom is from Montreal.

I just wanted to say that I had lots of fun and found this course to be a wake up call as well as a helpful experience. I met some really awesome students and teachers who helped harvest in me an even greater desire to travel and teach than before. I was sad that the course was over, but this motivated me to keep teaching and learning new skills.

Thank you for the experience and help.

Maria

I lived in Tokyo, Japan for a year as an exchange student from the University of British Columbia during my 3rd year of university. I discovered many teaching opportunities in Japan while I was there, so I decided to take the TEFL Certificate Program to get the qualification to teach and to build skills and confidence in teaching. I was quite worried prior to taking this course because I work during the day and this is an intensive course. I was relieved as I stepped into the classroom because the instructors, as well as my peers, were very warm and welcoming. I really enjoyed the interaction in the classroom and the things we learn in class will be very useful when we go off to teach. I definitely recommend this program to anyone who is considering going abroad to teach English.

Stephanie Thomaston

My name is Stephanie I am a first year linguistic major at Trinity Western University. I heard about the Hess Education Canada TEFL program at a career fair that was hosted at my school. I was interested right away because I enjoy traveling, I love languages, and I feel that teaching abroad will help me use my passions to help others. At the career fair, the representatives of Hess were kind and they gave me lots of helpful information.

...The program was fast paced but it provided lots of advice, information and instruction on Teaching English as a Foreign Language. I have learned so much about teaching English and I feel prepared to work with students that want to learn English. The other benefit of this program is that the course material is helpful with the subjects that I am learning as a linguistic major.

In the future I want to teach English around the world. Overall, I feel that this course is extremely helpful and that being certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language will open doors and provide opportunities for anyone [who takes the course]. 

Catherine MacAskill RN, BScN
Awarded Kwantlen Scholarship

I have just successfully completed the Hess TEFL program ('Pass with Distinction'!) and I would like to thank you very much for granting me the Kwantlen Scholarship funding to attend this very informative and interesting course. I look forward to applying many of the strategies I learned from this program towards my Master of Science in Nursing program that commences in September at UBC. It is the Educator Pathway - Level 4 program and I am hoping to teach RN students upon completion of this program. Again, my sincerest appreciation for being allowed the opportunity through Kwantlen to attend the Hess program.