Avi Gordon
Recruiting Coordinator
Avi will be the first to tell you that teaching has changed his life
I was born and went to college in upstate New York. I majored in Human Development at Binghamton University. For a time I had internships with engineering firms, but soon realized that line of work was not for me. I’ve worked at overnight camps for two summers and it was there that I found how much I enjoy working with children. Working with people and impacting people as best I can is where I know my passions lie!
Still, for a while in University I panicked about my career path. The pressure to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life was overwhelming. I knew I wanted to do something different but I wasn’t sure what. I decided I needed some time to explore the world a bit and just think. I decided to teach English in Taiwan and hoped it would be an experience which would give me some direction. It ended up being that and much, much more. Establishing a life for myself in another country was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life. It was hard to be away from my home and everything I was used to. I come from a big family and have always been lucky enough to have many friends around me. To be honest, I was not used to being totally independent. At times, I felt like I was going through some culture shock in Taiwan. As my year in Taiwan went on I made many great friends from Taiwan and all over the world. They had different perspectives and ideas which intrigued me. As well as making new friends, I also began to value the time I had to myself. I wandered around the streets of Taiwan observing all the differences from back home, found café’s where I could sit with a good book, and came to understand what I was capable of. I became independent and realized the importance of sitting back and reflecting on life by yourself. I enjoyed the food, the people and most of all the teaching.
Avi with a class of younger students
At first I was quite nervous teaching students who couldn’t speak very much English. Of course, I also couldn’t speak Chinese! Being a teacher is overwhelming even if you speak the same language. In the beginning teaching was difficult and I’m not sure I always did a great job! I continued to work hard at improving myself as a teacher observed other more experienced teachers and learned how to transcend language barriers. Often a big smile and other facial expressions were more important that any words I could have used! Soon I was up in front of the classroom making a real difference. I started thinking about my students all the time and was excited to go to school everyday. I went home at night feeling as though I had a positive impact on the world in my own small way.
Above all, my experience in Taiwan has given me a renewed sense of personal strength and confidence. I know the rewards of a good challenge. It’s not an easy thing to create a new life for yourself in a foreign place, halfway across the world, but it makes the success that much sweeter. I know I made a different in my students’ lives. Likewise, living and teaching abroad has made a huge and lasting impact on me. I don’t panic about my career path anymore. I know I have many new adventures ahead of me and look forward to new and different challenges.
Avi really enjoys spending time with his students!
Seeing new things, meeting new people, challenging your self everyday, learning about a different culture, making a positive difference, learning about yourself and what you’re capable of. It’s all a part of living abroad and what this experience is all about!
Avi Gordon
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