Makkie Malyari

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Makkie is a full-time DELTA and CELTA trainer and is also an examiner for Trinity College as well as for the Cambridge Upper & Lower Main Suite Examinations. She has extensive teaching experience and has taught in different contexts both in the UK and abroad. Born and raised in North London, Makkie is originally of Greek origin and is bilingual. She has lived both in the UK and in Greece and has a B.A in English Language and Literature.

While studying at university, Makkie was offered a job as an EFL teacher where her teaching career began. She is an enthusiastic teacher and still gets a thrill out of teaching after 25 years and has taught in Europe as well as in the USA. Makkie has also delivered numerous workshops at local and international conferences. In her free time she enjoys jogging, reading, trekking, cooking and socialising with friends.

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How did you get into teaching English?

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To be honest, I got into this profession for survival purposes! My parents moved to Greece when I was in my late teens and my level of Greek was elementary at that time. My only hope of finding a job and getting through a Higher Education institution without having to use a pile of bilingual dictionaries was to do a B.A course in English Language & Literature.  After sitting gruelling university entry examinations in Greek I managed to gain entry into university where all the lectures were delivered in English- the rest is history!

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Where have you traveled (both for teaching and for fun)?

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I have travelled to a number of European countries including Spain, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, France and I’ve also been to the USA. I have taught in Greece, Spain, the USA and the UK to date and the experience in each country has been amazing! I hope to visit Australia, Japan and Canada in the near future.

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When did you realize English teaching had become a career for you (not just a means of travel)?

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I realised that this was the career for me from my first day of teaching! 25 years down the line I cannot consider doing anything else as I find it so rewarding and you meet the most amazing people! I haven’t regretted this career choice and as I always say to my close friends, I’ll never retire from this job– as long as I can walk into a classroom and as long as someone will employ me at the age of 80+ I’ll be in that classroom!

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How has travel changed you as a person?

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Travel has opened my mind to new cultures, new experiences and I have had the good fortune to meet some wonderful people from all over the world, which is another advantage of being an EFL teacher.

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What led you to become a CELTA teacher trainer?

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I had been teaching for 6 years post-DELTA and becoming a CELTA trainer was the next step forward. Working at the most vibrant school in London among a group of inspiring professionals – Teaching House (at Oxford House College)!- I leapt at the chance when the opportunity came up and was strongly encouraged to train up and become a trainer.

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What advice would you give people looking to travel abroad for the first time?

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Travel will change your life! You need to keep an open mind and embrace other cultures and try to immerse yourself fully in them. Read up on your place of destination so that you know where you stand when it comes to working conditions and cultural expectations. Make friends with locals and just….smile! You’ll never go wrong!

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