Meet the Blogger

Where are you from?

Technically, I’m from New Hampshire, but I claim Boston when people ask (30 minute driving radius, right?). Being from Boston has become a conversation piece that I employ more than I care to admit. I’ve had stints in quite a few countries over the past four years, but Boston, you’re my home. 

What’s your academic and/or professional background?

In July 2025, I graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in French and Russian Studies. As part of my degree, my third year had to be spent abroad, split between a French-speaking place and a Russian-speaking one. I got to split my year between Strasbourg, France, and Riga, Latvia. It was awesome. 

I completed an internship with Education First (EF), working at their language campus in Boston. As a study abroad company with goals similar to CIEE, I like to think a lot of my duties there prepared me for my ETA role in Madrid. Outside of this, though, most of my professional career has centered around childcare. When I come home for the summers, I work at a local summer camp for children’s performing arts, at which I teach dance. Another side hustle of mine is working as a mermaid at a local amusement park (no, I’m not kidding). 

Why did you decide to teach abroad or get TEFL certified?

Being an English teaching assistant, or auxiliar, is kind of the perfect convergence of my passions– childcare, education, and language learning. I’ve spent so long learning other languages, so I’m excited to be on the other side of the classroom, for once– helping others learn my language instead of studying a new one. I feel pretty confident about the process and struggles of language learning, so I think I can be a useful addition to a classroom (hopefully). 

I love dissecting how languages work, and since living abroad, and meeting people who speak English as a second (or third, or fourth) language, the nuances, challenges, and quirks of English have become more and more pronounced to me. Languages reveal so much about how a culture and society function, so I’m hoping to learn things about my language and culture that I’d never considered before, all while helping students wanting to learn English. 

What are your goals?

Learning Spanish is a personal goal I’ve had for a very long time. Moving to a Spanish speaking country is, of course, the ideal way to achieve this, so I’m ready to really commit myself to the process. In fact, my flatmates and I are planning to enact a weekly Spanish Only Day, where we can only communicate in Spanish in the apartment. We’ll see how that goes– I’ll keep the public posted. 

What are you most excited or nervous about?

Honestly, I’m most nervous about working with high schoolers! I’ve never had a professional role where I’m teaching, or helping to teach, anyone over the age of maybe 12. This is an exciting and daunting task, but I can’t wait to see how it goes. Here's to the next 10 months!