This month we feature five of our teachers, who have recently arrived in January to our Teaching Centre in Alexandria.
Pictured from left to right: Katherine Jaiteh, Adam Baker, Michael Birch, David Stansfeld, Ashleigh Durkan.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Ashleigh: I’d worked in training before and liked it, and before here I was teaching children and wanted the opportunity to teach adults.
Adam: I used to do mentoring in my previous job and I really enjoyed helping people…and so I did the the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) course, and then I really enjoyed just helping people, letting them get on with their lives.
Why did you join the British Council?
David: Faye (Head of Adult Programmes at British Council Egypt Teaching Centre) came to speak at my CELTA course at International House, and I’d heard about them before and knew that they were a reputable organisation. Then I heard about the British Council Egypt’s Teacher Support Programme (TSP) and decided to go for it.
What were your first impressions of Egypt?
Adam: The first thing I noticed was the car horns…always beeping.
Katherine: It's cold!
Ashleigh: The people. Everybody’s really friendly and helpful and approachable. That’s the best thing.
Michael: I’d been before and wanted to return.
On reflection, were those impressions accurate?
Katherine: Yes. (laughter – it’s still cold)
Adam: Yes (re the horns), but now I understand that it’s a language, not that they’re angry, but saying “I’m here” or ‘thank you’
Ashleigh: There’s no road rage. (laughter)
Interviewer: Give it a few days.
Which of you has done the most adventurous thing since arriving? What was it?
Katherine: I rode a horse around the pyramids.
Ashleigh: I think, generally, just getting from Cairo to Alex with all our luggage was pretty adventurous.
Who is the most helpful member of your group? Why?
Michael: Ashleigh’s husband, Ayoub, because he speaks Arabic.
Ashleigh: Yes and he looks after us all and feeds us.
Katherine: Yes, he’s a fixer.
Ashleigh: So does that make me the most helpful?
David: By proxy, yes. (laughter)
What has surprised you most about Alexandria?
David: it’s bigger than I thought it would be…and more densely populated as well. I thought there would be high-rises, but not kind of continuous, all the way through. Bigger and busier, I think.
What do you think about Egyptian food?
Michael: It's excellent! I like Middle Eastern food in general, but I suppose Mulukhiyah would be fairly unique to Egypt, and I enjoy that. And in Alexandria we have seafood. Ha ha!
Adam: But if you want to be on a diet, Egyptian food is difficult.
Katherine: Or if you’re a vegetarian.
What do you think the main differences between Cairo and Alexandria are?
Katherine: It's definitely less polluted. You can feel the sea air.
Adam: It’s easier to cross the road in Alex.
Katherine: It depends where you’re crossing. (laughter)
Michael: People are more laid back here.
If you were going to be stranded together on a desert island, what three things would you take?
Michael: Not a lesson plan.
Ashleigh: Earplugs. for when you need your private space.
Katherine: My glasses, so I can enjoy the view.
Michael: A fishing rod.
Adam: A book in English and a book in French…then I can follow the words and practise…pick up my French again.
David: Rum.
Katherine: My duvet.
What top tips would you give to a foreign teacher about to arrive in Egypt?
Adam: Make sure you’ve got lots of small change in Egyptian money, because it’s very difficult. 200 LE notes…people don’t like that in Egypt.
Katherine: Jumpers, bring jumpers!
Adam: An umbrella, because it does rain here, which you don't expect.
Ashleigh: A sense of humour. Some patience. Some Arabic!