Kristin Reimer Rojas, MA ’09

Profession: ESL teacher in adult education

Location: Simi Valley, California

Worked in or travelled professionally to: China

It’s the relationships with my students that keeps me going in my career. There is nothing like watching your students grow and succeed as you teach them.

What drew you to English language teaching?

During my undergraduate studies, one of my professors had taught English in Beijing, China, and he often shared his experiences with us in class. This sparked my interest in teaching English in China, and after graduation I joined ELIC, a Christian language teaching organization. From the very beginning, I enjoyed language teaching. I loved being with my Chinese students and the variety of topics and activities I could do in class made each day of teaching interesting and exciting for me. I also love to see my students empowered through learning English and being able to access better opportunities for themselves by knowing English.

What have your professional travel experiences been like?

I spent almost 11 years teaching in China. It was such an amazing experience being able to interact on a daily basis in such a unique and fascinating culture. I grew so much as a person during my time in China and made some incredible friendships with students and colleagues.

What did you enjoy most about your studies at APU?

In the TESOL master’s program, it was great to be able to get to know my classmates who were teaching all over the world. Also, the professors were great, and because our classes were so small, I really felt like I got to know my professors and that I was a part of a very special community.