Beyond a TEFL: Nikiwe Khambule’s International Teaching Journey
| by Kyle Freelander
When Nikiwe Khambule graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a degree in Geography and Environmental Management, she already knew that field wasn’t for her. “I didn’t like what I was studying,” she recalls with a laugh.
A casual conversation with her cousin changed everything. “My cousin told me there was an opportunity to teach English in China, and I thought, ‘Oh, okay, that’s where I’m going!’”
By the time she graduated in April 2019, Nikiwe was already applying for jobs in China, doing whatever it took to get there — including working as a waitress to cover expenses. “I just decided to work and do whatever I needed,” she explains.
That determination paid off. With a job offer in hand, Nikiwe headed to China just a few months later.
Thrown into Teaching — and Loving It
Teaching in a foreign country was a whirlwind, especially at first. “The first day, they just threw me in the deep end!” she remembers.
Armed with only her TEFL certificate, she had to learn on the job, figuring out classroom management and teaching strategies as she went along. At the beginning, she admits, it was all about the travel and financial benefits: “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to be a role model and impart knowledge.’ It was like, ‘Job, travel, go to China!’”
But everything changed when Nikiwe started working with younger kids in a kindergarten setting. It was more structured and “a little more formal,” she says. “You start trying to find ways to improve in your teaching. You realize, to be better in this job market, you need something more.”
Finding Moreland University: A “Game-Changer”
Nikiwe learned about Moreland University from friends already enrolled in the program. Friends made it sound doable and appealing, especially since Moreland’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program could be completed in nine months entirely online. “It was just straight to the point, broken down, and easy,” Nikiwe says. “So, I was like, ‘okay, I can do this!’”
“[Moreland’s] application process was easy. I just made sure I gave them everything needed, and I got accepted. The communication with the support was easy. Everything moves swiftly.” — Nikiwe Khambule, International Teacher & TEACH-NOW graduate
Nikiwe appreciated Moreland’s flexible structure. Unlike traditional universities back home, where, she explains, “it was just assignment after assignment, headaches, and no support,” Moreland was different. The program was “practical” and designed to make sure the learning connected directly to her day-to-day teaching.
Just as notably for Nikiwe, the program is designed with the working teacher in mind. “The cohorts are so nice,” she says. “The lecturers are so supportive. The lecturers are real. They understand. It’s not scary.”
“[The program] is very good because it’s efficient for someone who’s working, you know? You can make sure your classes are on a weekend. You choose whatever time — anytime that’s available for you.” — Nikiwe Khambule, International Teacher & TEACH-NOW graduate
From Passion to Practical Skills
One of the standout lessons for Nikiwe was differentiation — the concept of tailoring teaching to meet the needs of each student. “Even though I was kind of doing it already, I didn’t know. I wasn’t intentional about it,” she explains. “I’d be like, okay, I see a student needs more of my attention, so let me ask them more questions or probe more.” But now after Moreland, she’s intention about using visual aids, giving extra time, or using different groupings based on students’ abilities.
Standards also became a key part of her teaching toolkit. She laughs, remembering how she used to rely on easy activities like coloring on her “lazy days” with her young students. After Moreland, she always asks herself how something connects to the curriculum and learning goals. As she explains it, “So even though it’s my ‘lazy day,’ they’re getting something from it instead of just giving them an animal to color that doesn’t relate to their curricula.”
“[Moreland] is how I got more skills to be better and be intentional with my teaching and everything else. That really stands out for me even today.” — Nikiwe Khambule, International Teacher & TEACH-NOW graduate
Looking Ahead: Teaching in the Digital Age
As she thinks about her career in education, she says, “I want to continue being a teacher. I like kindergarten to the third grade.”
With AI tools like ChatGPT becoming more common, she’s also been reflecting on what it means to teach in the digital age and how Moreland has prepared her. “[At Moreland] they introduced different digital avenues,” she says. “But it’s still about you being present in the classroom, supporting your students, and making sure everything you do goes back to intention.”
A Message to Aspiring Teachers
Nikiwe’s journey has taken her far from her original path, but she’s found a career that fuels her passion every day. For anyone thinking about teaching or looking for a career change, she offers this advice: “No matter how many certificates you have, teaching is about passion.”
Thanking her friends for the recommendation to Moreland, Nikiwe also adds her own: “I’d encourage people to try out Moreland. The cohorts are nice, the lecturers are so supportive, and it’s efficient for someone who is working.”
Earn your U.S. teaching license in as little as 9 months with Moreland University. Our program is fully accredited and 100% online — so you can study from anywhere in the world.