Brigitte’s Story
Tell us more about your (current or previous) position. Describe your role.
I am a language (German and English) teacher, currently working online. I have private students, semi-private groups and larger groups. Due to online work, I am able to teach students from all over the world, i.e. California, Romania, Colombia. We use a text book, CDs and a workbook with practice exercises. Due to the usually smaller groups, everyone gets a chance to use the language.
How does a day at work look like?
Since I teach part-time, this can be in the mornings, afternoons or evenings. Students sign in into their Zoom account and we usually go over the homework. Then we have a chat about the sort of week the students had, I answer questions, and then we continue with the lesson plans, i.e. the text book. I try and tailor the lessons to the students’ abilities and interests, while still maintaining a structure.
What gives you meaning and fulfillment in your work?
The students, who are mostly adults, have a vested interest in learning the language, either for work, travel or for the ability to communicate in the target language with friends or family (in the case of German). It gives me great pleasure to see the students progress, their ability to converse, and their growing knowledge about the culture, conventions and traditions of the target country (Germany, Austria, Switzerland for example).
What are some of the challenges you have faced?
Teaching online can have technical glitches, such as Zoom being overloaded, or the power going off due to a storm. Other challenges are, of course, not being in a real classroom with the students, which limits the inter-active activities one can plan.
What are some accomplishments or highlights that you are most proud of?
Starting the Sichuan Proverbs School of Management for the Blue Sword Group (3000+ employees) and served as its Dean for the past 9 years. Planted the Chengdu Thanksgiving (Protestant)Church and served as it Elder-Teacher since 2008. Also initiated a solid Christian Education program in this church.
What are some accomplishments or highlights that you are most proud of?
Students who have gained acceptance to a German university and are able to function in the target language. Also, when students at end of a course opt to continue and sign up again for more advanced sessions.
Tell us a bit about your path leading to your graduate degree. Why did you decide to pursue graduate studies?
I already had a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from Leicester U. in the UK, when I discovered the UBC program in Adult Learning and Global Change. Since I teach adults, this seemed relevant, and the fact that the program is an international one, made it doubly interesting.
How has what you learned in your graduate program informed your work?
What comes to mind immediately are the various approaches to teaching, and I embraced the Constructivist approach, which in my mind is the best one when working with adults who have life experience as well as language skills. This allows them to build on existing knowledge which usually cements the new knowledge better than being told what the rules, etc. are.
How does your area of work relate to your dissertation?
My degree at UBC did not require a dissertation; however my time at Leicester did. I wrote about Critical Discourse Analysis, comparing an international event from the perspective of newspapers in two different countries. This work emphasized to me how language can be used to influence readers and guide them (or manipulate them) towards a certain mind-set. I use this knowledge to inform students how certain words or phrases, or even headlines, can be a subtle push towards towards forming a certain opinion.
What is your most memorable experience from your time in EDST?
I took the program remotely, but was able to attend the last course in person on campus. This was a wonderful experience, being able to meet class mates face-to-face, work together in person, and celebrate the successful outcome of the program.
What is something that you needed to learn (beyond your degree) or unlearn to be able to work in your sector?
Practice in teaching and how to utilize what I learned during my studies. There was nothing I had to unlearn, thankfully.
Tell us a little about your career journey. Are there any transitions in your career path or any key moments that led to a change in direction?
I used to work in health care and in insurance. When 9/11 happened, we lived in Dubai, and this changed everything. To cut a long story short, I embarked on a teaching career by first taking the CELTA course, administered by the university of Cambridge, UK. I was then able to work both at Berlitz Language Centre and in the evenings at a branch of Wollongong U. in Australia. These experiences cemented my love for teaching and upon returning to Canada, I continued teaching until today.
How did you envision your career journey when you started your EDST program? And how did your career journey actually take off?
When I embarked on the EDST program, I was already teaching, and this course of study only re-inforced that teaching was right for me.
Did your expectations for your career trajectories after graduation align with what really ended up happening? in what ways did they differ?
Once I finished the program at UBC, I continued teaching and was able to use the knowledge to inform my teaching.
What is next for you, or do you know?
While I am now semi-retired, I hope I can continue teaching for a while yet. It gives me great pleasure to meet new students, welcome back old ones, and see their joy and satisfaction when they progress.