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Kelly Savin

Kelly Savin

Career Roadmap

Kelly's work combines: Education, Acting & Theatre, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

English Teacher

I help people learn English.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    International/Globalization Studies

    University of California-Irvine

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an English Language & Literature Teachers, Postsecondary:

High School

Bachelor's Degree: Thai Language and Literature

Certification: CELTA

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Had passion for languages, but didn't know what to do with it.

  • 2.

    Took all the language classes possible at university, although they didn't count towards my major.

  • 3.

    Studied abroad in Germany for a year.

  • 4.

    After college, got a job as an English teacher in Bordeaux, France.

  • 5.

    Decided teaching wasn't for me and I got a desk job.

  • 6.

    Hated sitting in a chair all day, so I did a course to learn how to teach.

  • 7.

    Taught English in California, London, and Singapore.

  • 8.

    Started teaching English in San Sebastian, Spain in 2012.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    You should find a job that earns more money.

  • How I responded:

    It's true you can't make an amazing living as an English teacher, but not everyone needs to be a Rockefeller. I think "the noise" is the pressure to get a career where you earn big bucks, even if it means working 12 hour days, chained to your chair. This isn't a life. Earning the money is one thing, but if you don't have time to enjoy it, what's the point? The rewards of being an English teacher are the real deal: Living in foreign countries, helping others, time for your side projects...

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • Teaching in France, I wasn't paid much, so I had to learn to cook meals on a tight budget. I don't think I went to the cinema for a year because I couldn't afford it. I found entertainment the old-fashioned way: hanging out with friends.