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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Jessica: Hi, I’m Coach Jessica, and today I’m interviewing Coach Lele, who is from, I think … Where are you from?
Lele: From South Africa. Hi.
Jessica: Hi. And she’s been working at VivaLing for a long time I understand. How long has it been?
Lele: I think almost 9 years or 8 years?
Jessica: Oh, my goodness!
Lele: In that range, yeah.
Jessica: Is that like from the very beginning of VivaLing?
Lele: Yeah, yeah. I think VivaLing was basically operating for a year or two at that point. I’m not quite sure, but yeah, it’s been since the beginning.
Jessica: And how did you learn about online teaching, or why did you get into it so early, before it was so popular, you know?
Lele: Interesting. I was living in Vietnam at that point teaching English in school centers in Hội An in Vietnam, and I don’t know. I just… I found out about VivaLing, and I was applying, and I never really thought that I would get in, but they contacted me. It was just some means of extra income at that point, and I didn’t realize how important VivaLing would become … at that point, and, you know, 9 years later or 8 years later and here I am.
Jessica: Have you always been teaching, or have you had jobs before that?
Lele: Yes, before I moved to Vietnam, I worked as a sales consultant at a gym and then later became a sales manager, and I did that for about two years. And before that, I studied at university, so yeah. I did that for a while, and then I decided that I wanted to move to Vietnam, and yeah. My life completely changed at that point.
Jessica: So that leads me to the next question, which is that I think a lot of VivaLing coaches tend to come from all over the world and also have a lot of interesting backgrounds. Can you tell me about which cultures throughout your life have been a strong influence on you, either when you were a child or later as an adult?
Lele: I think I’ve always been more connected to my culture as a South African, but when I moved to Vietnam, my eyes kind of opened up for the first time. I think entering a European culture would be very similar to the South African culture, but going to the Asian culture was completely different. So, I realized the difference in family values and religion and all those types of things. So, during my time in Vietnam, and going to Thailand, Cambodia, visiting all these different countries, I kind of explored the similarities and the differences between all of these cultures. And then later on I lived in Argentina and Brazil and saw the differences and similarities there, as well. But I think there’s nothing like home. The culture in South Africa is very strong, very family oriented, and being a little older now, I’ve realized, I think, that universally people just want to be with family and be happy. I think that’s very universal. But yes, there are vast differences, as well, around the world.
Jessica: So, you traveled the world quite a bit, and now you’re back in South Africa?
Lele: Yes. Yes, for the time being. I’ve got some plan to set roots here a little bit first before traveling again. I think, like I said, it came to a point where I do miss being with my family. So, for the moment, I think I’m done for traveling.
Jessica: If you were to travel again, where would you like to go?
Lele: Europe. I would like to spend some months in Portugal and in Spain. Definitely visit some friends in France and in Sweden. Yeah, go travel there a little bit, but that will be plans perhaps for next year, but yeah.
Jessica: So, I already know from you, from messages we exchange, you do some horseback riding or horse riding, I suppose is the other term. Can you tell me, what are your hobbies or interests when you’re not teaching?
Lele: That’s definitely … I’m an outdoorsy girl. Hiking, swimming, horse riding. I grew up on a farm, so I’ve always been surrounded by animals and nature. And when I traveled and lived in the cities, I realized how important it is for me to get that escape and be in nature. So, yeah. Hiking. I tried surfing, biking. So, very active, very outdoorsy. And yeah. Horse riding. These are just my passions, I think. I’m not artsy and artistic, creative in that way. I think where my creativity kind of begins and ends is perhaps gardening. I’m quite into gardening.
Jessica: So, it sounds like you have a lot of skills, a lot of talents, but if you, if you … because my next question is if you could learn a new skill, and time and money were no restraint, what are you interested in? What would you be interested in learning?
Lele: Interesting. That’s a very good question. I think pottery. I’ve always thought about pottery. I always find myself thinking about that. Start something new. I’ve actually looked into something like that, but it’s not really available where I come from, where I live. I live in a small town. But yeah, pottery and creating things. I think creatively, and me not being so creative, that would be something fun to do and to be able to do at home.
Jessica: Yeah. Well, it’s like something useful and something you do with your hands. You don’t have to have like the biggest imagination, you know, to like draw something visually, you know? I totally understand. I’ve done that, and I really enjoyed it, as well. Okay, finally. I tried to make a list of qualities that I think are universal with VivaLing coaches, if you’ve been following my questions. My last question and final question, well that’s the same thing, is that I think VivaLing coaches are, you tend to be genuinely kind, caring people who are concerned with helping others. Tell me about a person who is special to you, and tell me what you like about them.
Lele: All right. I don’t even have to think about this one. It’s my mom. She is my best friend, and I don’t think that she’s ever disappointed me. I think I’ve disappointed her sometimes in my life, but there’s just nothing like the love of a mother. And the older I get, the more I realize that. Oh, my God. It makes me want to cry.
Jessica: I’m sorry.
Lele: No. She’s a wonderful, caring person, and the qualities I have today is very much what she taught me. Yeah. Very thankful for her.
Jessica: Sorry to make the last question so emotional, but I appreciate your very genuine response.