{"id":13550,"date":"2021-04-27T07:43:01","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T13:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=13550"},"modified":"2026-02-06T18:32:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T01:32:32","slug":"dieko-from-the-uk-teaching-english-in-brussels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/dieko-from-the-uk-teaching-english-in-brussels\/","title":{"rendered":"Dieko, From the U.K., Teaching at an Academy in Brussels"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Moving on from media work was what led Bridge grad Dieko Adewole, from the U.K., to start anew and build a career in TEFL abroad. Currently, she\u2019s an English teacher to kids at an academy and to adult professionals as a freelancer in Brussels, Belgium. She discusses how a series of jobs led her to land an ESL teaching position, her favorite class activities for children, and how she has adjusted to teaching English online<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hi, Dieko! Can you share a bit about yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m from the U.K. I studied Media Arts, specializing in Documentary Filmmaking for Radio and Television. I worked in television for a few years; I started out as a runner and eventually began working in Africa as a TV producer. I also did a lot of red carpet shows with Nigerian celebrities and some international ones \u2014 it was a lot of fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was also an au pair<\/em> in Toulouse, France when I was still in university. It was one of the best experiences I\u2019ve had. The family was lovely, and although I had no formal teacher training, the children were able to pick up so much from the few weeks I spent there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you switch to the English teaching field?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was in television and although I loved it, I also knew in the back of my mind that I couldn\u2019t carry on like that for much longer \u2014 the fast-paced lifestyle and odd hours. I wanted something fulfilling but wasn\u2019t sure what. I was an au pair<\/em> one summer and it was great, but I still wasn\u2019t sure about it as a career. A childhood friend of mine whose father was an ambassador had finally returned to Belgium after many years living abroad. She advised me to come over and that Belgium was a nice place to start something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a lot of convincing, I took the plunge and initially started waitressing. I met many people from all over the world, and they would always ask me to explain things to them in English or help them correct something. People would tell me, \u201cYour English is very good!\u201d After a few months, I finally decided to take it seriously and applied for my CELTA teacher training at the LTTB Centre<\/a> here in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dieko<\/a>
Dieko when she was still working in the TV industry<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which part of Belgium are you currently living in and what is it like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I currently live in Belgium\u2019s capital, which is Brussels, the land of frittes<\/em> (Belgian fries) and waffles. You haven\u2019t lived if you haven\u2019t eaten Belgian waffles! It\u2019s an amazing city and a melting pot of different cultures. The average person speaks at least two or three languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How strong is the demand for English teachers in Belgium?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although the demand is not as high as in some Asian countries, there is still a place for it. Many parents recognize that it\u2019s important for their children to speak English and so it\u2019s a good niche, especially as an after-school activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out how to get ESL jobs by region.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us more about your ESL teaching jobs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I do a bit of freelance work where I teach professionals, often businesspeople who need extra help in the workplace. But I mainly work part-time at a language academy here in Brussels for children. It\u2019s considered an after-school activity, where the children can pick up English in a natural way, much different from how it\u2019s taught in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The academy has its very own methodology and so there are lesson plans provided. However, they also cater to clients who like a more traditional method of teaching, and so I also create my own lesson plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is my second year at the academy, and it\u2019s been very rewarding. We only taught face to face when I first started, but due to the pandemic, the company had to re-strategize and we began teaching partially online (I still go in twice a week to teach at the school in person).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to be your own boss? Take a Specialized Course in Teaching English Online as a Freelancer!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dieko<\/a>
Dieko teaching English online<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did you adapt to online teaching?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Teaching online was challenging at first because the adjustment wasn\u2019t easy for some children. Many were shy to speak on camera, and a lot of tasks, such as warm-ups or grammar points, had to be amended in order to give the same effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about how to teach English to kids online.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you like to do when you\u2019re not working?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I really miss traveling! Before the pandemic, I had plans to work in South Korea to teach. I definitely have plans in the future to teach around the world. I also love to relax and spend time with my friends and loved ones. I love reading, baking, and traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the best thing about teaching kids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It sounds very clich\u00e9, but teaching children is one the most rewarding things you\u2019ll ever do. At the end of the year, you can see how much progress they\u2019ve made in English, and just knowing you were a part of that is the best feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover the differences between teaching English to kids vs. adults.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about its biggest challenge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The challenging part, I would say, is that often most children come in hating English and have no motivation to learn, so as a teacher you have to prove to them that learning English can be fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about common challenges ESL students face and how to handle them.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your favorite teaching strategies or activities for teaching kids?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n