After many years spent helping adults learn, Paula Quigley-Walker knows what it feels like to encourage someone through a challenge, celebrate their progress and remind them to keep going when things get difficult.
More recently, she has found herself needing some of that same encouragement.
Alongside her role as a trainer at VERTO’s Charlestown site, Paula has returned to study to complete a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification, putting herself back in the learner’s seat while continuing to support the people in her classroom.
“Becoming a learner again has been really rewarding and very humbling,” Paula said.
“Like many adult learners, I’ve had moments when competing priorities made study feel overwhelming.”
Paula has been fitting study around full-time work, family, sport, a second job and everyday life. The experience has given her a renewed appreciation for what adult learners can face when trying to fit study around an already busy life, and reinforced the importance of flexibility and realistic expectations.
But Paula’s decision to study TESOL wasn’t simply about adding another qualification to her name.
Through VERTO’s Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, Paula supports adults to build practical English language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills they can use in everyday life, the workplace or further study.
As Paula began supporting more participants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, she wanted to better understand the experience of learning English as an additional language.
“I could see how motivated they were to improve their English,” Paula said. “Their determination inspired me to undertake TESOL so I could tailor my teaching more effectively.”
Her studies have encouraged Paula to think differently about how English is taught, including breaking language down into manageable parts and creating more opportunities for participants to practise communication they are likely to use beyond the classroom.
For one participant nervous about an upcoming job interview, that meant going beyond traditional language exercises.
Concerned she might struggle with informal Australian language, the participant worked with Paula to practise interview questions, workplace conversations and common phrases she might encounter. She later told Paula she had been able to communicate successfully during the interview.
For Paula, moments like that reinforce the importance of making language learning relevant to real-life situations.
But while Paula is helping her participants develop new skills, she is quick to point out that she is learning from them too.
“My participants have taught me the value of resilience, persistence and adaptability. Many have overcome significant barriers, yet they continue to show up and invest in improving their future,” she said.
That willingness to keep learning extends beyond TESOL. Paula regularly takes part in webinars, industry conferences and other professional development to keep building her knowledge across adult education, foundation skills and learner support.
Celebrated each year, Adult Learners Week recognises the many ways adults continue to learn, develop new skills and embrace new opportunities throughout their lives. It’s a message that resonates from both sides of Paula’s classroom, as she supports others to learn while continuing to develop her own skills and knowledge.
For Paula, lifelong learning goes beyond gaining qualifications. It is about remaining curious and being willing to grow, regardless of how much experience you already have.
Studying TESOL has also helped her rediscover something that can sometimes be forgotten after years away from formal education: learning can be genuinely enjoyable.
“There is something rewarding about challenging yourself, keeping your mind active and stepping outside your comfort zone,” Paula said.
And while being a student again hasn’t always been easy, Paula’s advice to anyone thinking about learning something new is reassuringly simple.
“Don’t underestimate yourself. It is normal to feel nervous about starting something new, but you don’t have to be perfect,” she said.
“Take the first step and focus on progress rather than perfection.”
For more information about the Skills for Education and Employment program, contact VERTO on 1300 483 786 or visit www.verto.org.au/skills-for-education-and-employment.
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
