One of the newest members of our English program team and a former Na’atik scholarship student herself, Talicia has recently returned to teach English with us. Talicia is from Felipe Carrillo Puerto and has just graduated from the University of Quintana Roo with an English language teaching degree. Here at Na’atik she’s teaching all ages from the energetic Big Tots, to the more challenging young adult classes, and says that she is learning lots every step of the way.We are very proud to have Talicia on board so we caught up with her to see how she’s getting on.

So tell us Talicia, how do you feel about teaching at Na’atik?I’m really happy. When I studied there, I learned a lot so I am happy to teach others, to help them learn English.

What was your motivation to become an English teacher?When I started to study at Na’atik, I really liked the language and how the teachers used to teach me there, so I said “I want to motivate others to learn this language”. That was my motivation, that I was going to help others learn a new language.

How many years did you study at Na’atik in total?I studied there for 9 years, from when I was 12 to 21 years old.

Can you tell us about your time as a scholarship student at the school?I was a scholarship student for six or seven years. For two years I could pay, but then I had to have an expensive medical procedure and my parents could no longer support me to study at Na’atik. They didn’t have the money. My mother and father worked a lot, I remember, and they couldn’t pay for Na’atik anymore.I spoke to Catherine and she really helped me with the scholarship. I found out that my English teacher’s grandmother was the person who donated. I was so happy. So proud. She helped me a lot, teacher Molly. She was really helpful in every sense and one day she said her grandmother wanted to give me a scholarship at Na’atik. I cannot explain the feeling. I was really grateful.

How did the scholarship help you?The scholarship meant that I had to pay only 90 pesos a month, which was not a lot. So that helped me.When my parents said I couldn’t continue at Na’atik, I was sad because I wanted to be an English teacher. I knew that if I couldn’t continue, I wouldn’t be able to learn more English. I wanted to learn more because it makes me happy to learn new things every day. Thinking about not going to Na’atik and not having contact with my teachers made me feel sad.At university I also studied English, but I think it was Na’atik that helped with the pronunciation a lot because I had native English teachers to improve my speaking skills.During my time at university, I decided to work to support myself. I worked in a hotel in Tulum. English was everything for me; it opened so many doors. Just by having English, they gave me the opportunity to work for them, so I could help my parents pay the university fees and everything. I really enjoyed it – I met many people from every part of the world there. I could develop my speaking skills, my confidence. It was a really good experience.I’m so thankful to Catherine and to Na’atik. Na’atik was the best English school and now I have many doors open because of it. You cannot imagine.

And where did you go to study your degree?I studied in Chetumal at the University of Quintana Roo. The degree is called English Language Major and it’s to teach – to teach English. I studied there for 5 years and now I’m writing my thesis.

So you’re still partly studying while you’re teaching?Yes, in the mornings I write my thesis and in the afternoons I teach.

You must be so busy!Yes, I have to plan and prepare my classes. Then I have to do research for my thesis. Read a lot. Write.

But you enjoy it, right?I do like it! I’m enjoying this experience because I’m learning. You don’t stop learning. You learn a new thing every day. So, I’m learning so many things with my students. I teach Big Tots, they’re from 4 to 7 years old. I have to sing with them and to dance – to motivate them – because I know it’s difficult to learn through technology. I try to be really enthusiastic with them and obviously I have to be passionate because they’re kids. I also teach teenagers, from 10 to 15 years old. On Saturdays I give classes too – they’re from 21, I think, to 37 years old. I’m learning many new things. The way I give classes is different in every group.

That must be a good experience for you.Yes, I’m enjoying it.

What do you enjoy the most about being an English teacher at Na’atik?I enjoy that my students are learning. For example, when I teach a topic and in the next class I ask them “what did you learn last class?”, they start to tell me and I realise they’re learning! That makes me feel really good, that they’re learning. That’s the part I enjoy the most.

Do you know what you want to do in the future? Would you stay teaching in Carrillo, teach abroad, or move somewhere else in Mexico?Well, one of my plans is to travel to the United States, maybe for a year. There is a scholarship at my university to travel there. They offer you a house, food and they pay you to take care of children, but right now I want to keep teaching.

Are you finding it difficult to teach online at the moment?I would like to see my students and would love to be in the same place as them, so I can do more activities. Now it’s kind of hard because I want to play different games or teach them with other tools, but as it’s through technology, it makes it more difficult. I’m doing my best. I have challenges every day but I try to find the way, to help students and make it easy for them.

It sounds like you’re doing a really good job. I know Na’atik is very happy to have you!Thank you.

Finally, if you could give anyone one piece of advice about learning a language, what would it be?I would tell them to practice. Practice even though they don’t have another person. When I was learning English, I used to speak to myself out loud in my house. I tried to practice, to search for tools on the internet. I also think it’s a good idea to practice with songs, because you can learn new vocabulary and listen to how to pronounce the words. Keep practicing, because if you don’t practice, you’re going to forget the things you learned. That’s my advice.

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The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.