Karen Sara Gaches
My qualifications
I have a B.A. Hons. in Applied Language Studies (Spanish and Russian), a RSA/University of Cambridge Diploma for Overseas Teachers of English and an M.Ed. in Educational Technology and ELT. I’ve also done several short courses related to teaching, teacher training and translating.
My experience
I got into teaching quite by accident really. I originally studied languages at university as I wanted to travel. When I graduated I got a scholarship as an English language assistant in Morelia, Mexico.
I really wish I had taken an i-to-i course as I started out with no teacher training at all and very little idea of what I was doing! I must have done OK though as I ended up staying in Mexico for 5 years. It was also during this time in Mexico that I realised just how much I enjoyed teaching and teacher training, and so I decided to finally study how to teach EFL.
I&rsquove since taught in England, Japan and Russia. I’m now back Mexico based near the small town of Atlacomulco in the country up in the mountains west of Mexico City. These days I work as a language consultant doing a variety of work related to TEFL; I do both teaching and teacher training. I’m an oral examiner, seminar presenter and materials writer for the University of Cambridge ESOL exams. I also work on writing projects related to teaching, such as summer courses for primary school children and a series of exams for children and teenagers.
My interests
In my free time I enjoy doing yoga and going for long walks in the country with my husband and our dogs. That said I don’t have much free time at the moment as I’m writing my dissertation, to complete an MA in Primary Education from the University of Leicester. I’m also doing an online course for e-tutors run by the British Council, Mexico.
