Author Martin Hajek talks about the importance of role models and access to information to make informed decisions about our careers in the English Language Teaching industry. Martin shares three stories from his latest book More Than A Gap Year Adventure that demonstrate the wide range of career paths that are possible.

Watch with closed captions here.

Inspiration Behind the Book

Martin shares how his training as a journalist inspired him to start researching and compiling various essays from educators around the world for More Than A Gap Year Adventure.

Challenging Negative Narratives

Part of the inspiration for the title of the book was to challenge the perception that work in the industry is temporary and lacking in professional training and roles. He goes on to talk about the role click-through TEFL certificate course providers have to play in perpetuating this misconception.

Three Different Stories

Martin shares three very different essays featured in More Than A Gap Year Adventure that sheds light on work in assessment and material design as just a few examples of what is possible in the ELT field.

ABOUT

Martin Hajek is a freelance ELT professional based in Colombia. Originally a journalist, he decided to sign up for a CELTA course at the age of 30. Martin immediately fell in love with teaching English and started looking for a way to move beyond entry-level jobs, which led him to complete a DELTA. Martin focuses on career development, language assessment, phonology, and teaching listening skills. In February 2024, he self-published More Than a Gap Year Adventure, a collaborative book aimed at those who wish to have a long-term career in the ELT profession.

REFERENCES

Hajek, M. (2024) More Than a Gap Year Adventure: How to Make a Long-Term Career out of TEFL. Independent

FOLLOW

• Blog TEFL in Columbia
• LinkedIn

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CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our inspiring guest, Martin Hajek.

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