Stavroula Agakidou: BA Hons Modern English Studies and MA TEFL

Stavroula Agakidou

BA Hons Modern English Studies, 2000 and MA TEFL, 2001

"I have just qualified as an English teacher."

Stavroula Agakidou started working in South Luton High school as a Learning Support Assistant for a year after finishing her studies at Luton.

Then she moved to Leeds where she successfully completed the Graduate Teacher Programme last year and this year she completes her training as a newly qualified English teacher in a secondary school.

She said: "This is a valuable experience as it's what I wanted to do before going back to Greece."

" I have gained significant experience in the English educational system since I worked in an environment that seemed really challenging - but it has proved to be very rewarding as well."

"Studying in Luton proved to be an excellent experience. Both teaching and non-teaching staff were really helpful. Most lecturers from my degree had really good subject knowledge and explained everything fully - they didn't just deliver lessons."

"A few of them were actually some of the people I could really trust and talk to if there was something wrong - regardless of it being related to University or not."

"My studies and especially my Masters degree proved to be very helpful in my work. I left the University having gained all the necessary knowledge required and as soon as I started working as an English teacher I was able to put all those years of studying and learning into practice."

"I have made some of my best friends while I was studying in Luton and whenever we meet, we always talk about our great years there."

" Everybody agrees that even if we could turn back time, we would never change a thing."

"I would encourage any potential student to register straight away because everyone at the University is very helpful and willing to make everybody's life easier."

Interview took place in 2004.