Terry Yearley: BA Hons Linguistics with TEFL

Terry Yearley

BA Hons Linguistics with TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), 2000

"I went on to teach English in Japan"

Terry is currently working in two English schools in Tokyo - yet before he came to Luton he was working in a factory and wondering what he should do with his life.

A careers adviser suggested he should do a degree and consider a career (such as teaching) where his age would be in his favour. Terry says teaching didn't hold much appeal for him, until he realised a TEFL skill could take him around the world.

In addition to his linguistics degree, Terry also wanted to learn a language, to help him understand what his students were going through. He took six Japanese modules during his time at University and, after a year spent teaching at a university in Beijing, took his skill to Tokyo.

Terry says his time at Luton was excellent preparation for his current job. "I was able to tailor my degree to suit exactly what I wanted to do," he said. He is also in touch with many of the Japanese people he met at Luton, which has been a great help, he says.

Interview took place in 2002.