A certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language helped Kevin get an immediate increase in pay
鈥淵ou鈥檙e the one,鈥� the job interviewer told him. At that moment, Kevin Barros del Duca became the newest technology teacher at a local private school in Colombia. His friend had told him that the school was looking for a teacher who was fluent in English, and Kevin鈥檚 confident response 鈥� 鈥淥kay, I can do it鈥� 鈥� paved his way through the interview.
Discovering talents through service
Kevin first began practicing English for fun with mission companions during his full-time mission in Argentina. After returning home, he saw how the private school that employed him valued his English skills, even while he just worked as a technology teacher. Kevin also quickly realized how much he enjoyed teaching. He had recently completed
This newfound passion for teaching encouraged Kevin to continue pursuing his degree. In BYU鈥慞athway鈥檚 model, a bachelor鈥檚 degree is built by stacking together three marketable certificates and an associate degree that can lead to improved employment long before a student completes their full degree program.
Finding the perfect certificate
As Kevin considered his certificate options, he wanted to pick one that could help him improve his teaching skills. So he selected the Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate, commonly known as
Soon after beginning his certificate courses, the school Kevin worked at offered him an improved position as a language teacher. 鈥淚 started studying to know how to teach a second language and, at that very moment, I got a job to work as a [language] teacher,鈥� Kevin said. 鈥淚 was working at a real job, applying what I was learning.鈥�
Earning course credits while simultaneously working as a teacher was valuable, but it was only the beginning of the blessings from his certificate. Kevin saw an immediate increase in pay after completing his certificate, as well as new opportunities to teach. He felt especially grateful that he was able to receive the blessings of higher education without having to pay a large amount of money.
鈥淚f you want to study TEFL here in Colombia, you will pay a lot of money,鈥� Kevin explained. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even have to pay half of what I need to pay here to get a TEFL certification through BYU鈥慞athway.鈥�
Exercising faith greater than challenges
Kevin鈥檚 experience with certificates and as a service missionary gave him valuable skills and helped him understand students鈥� experiences better. Kevin knows firsthand the challenges of learning another language. As a native-Spanish speaker, he often felt intimidated or inadequate as he first practiced his English language skills. However, Kevin saw his efforts pay off, and now he can testify that learning another language is possible!
鈥淒on鈥檛 worry about your accent or about your culture,鈥� Kevin advised students learning a new language. 鈥淛ust trust yourself, trust God, and you will get it.鈥�
Taking things one step at a time helped Kevin identify the Lord鈥檚 hand in his education. Each step in faith opened a new opportunity. Since earning his TEFL certificate, Kevin has identified an interest in teaching science and is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in applied health from BYU鈥慖daho, supported by BYU鈥慞athway. Additionally, he is working on receiving 麻豆精品在线播放 in microbiology from a school in Colombia. Juggling work, multiple courses, friends, and family often feels like too much to handle, but Kevin is a firm believer in taking steps toward higher education 鈥� no matter the challenge. 鈥淕o ahead. Do it,鈥� he encourages. 鈥淭here will be help if you keep walking.鈥�
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Article contributor: Kayloa Gurr