Tsakani Zenky Miyen

👋 About Me

My name is Zenky Miyen, and I am a South African Native English Speaker with over six years of teaching experience across Thailand, Russia, and online platforms. My journey as an educator has been shaped by a deep curiosity about how people learn, a genuine love for working with children, and a commitment to continuous growth. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Community Development and Leadership from the University of Johannesburg and a TEFL certificate, and I have taught students ranging from four years old to thirty-eight years old in a variety of settings, from large government school classrooms to private language centres, from one-on-one online tutoring to running my own independent teaching practice. Each experience has taught me something unique about education, and together they have shaped the teacher I am today. My teaching career in Thailand began at Anuban Chanthaburi, a government school in Chanthaburi Province. I was hired as a Grade 4 Homeroom Teacher, responsible for teaching English, Math, Science, and Health to a class of thirty students. This was my first full-time teaching role in a Thai school, and it was both challenging and deeply rewarding. I quickly learned that teaching in Thailand required more than just delivering lessons; it required understanding the culture, building relationships with Thai colleagues, and adapting my teaching style to meet the needs of students who were learning English as a second language. I developed daily lesson plans that combined structured instruction with hands-on activities, and I created assessment tools to track student progress. I also learned how to manage a large classroom, using positive reinforcement and clear routines to create a safe and productive learning environment. Perhaps most importantly, I learned how to work collaboratively with Thai co-teachers, who taught me so much about patience, kindness, and the importance of building strong relationships with students and their families. During my time at Anuban Chanthaburi, I also worked as a Kindergarten Substitute Teacher for four-year-olds. This role was my first real immersion in early childhood education, and it changed the direction of my career. I discovered that I had a natural affinity for working with very young children, and I found immense joy in watching them learn and grow. I supported their development through play-based learning, structured routines, and age-appropriate activities. I learned how to create a nurturing environment where children felt safe to explore, make mistakes, and express themselves. I observed how foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and social development are built through play and positive guidance, and I came to understand that the early years are the most critical period in a child's educational journey. This experience ignited a passion for early childhood education that has only grown stronger since. After my time at Anuban Chanthaburi, I took on the role of Head Teacher at Best Lingual Training Center. This was a significant step up in responsibility, and it broadened my teaching experience in ways I had not anticipated. I was responsible for teaching students ranging from six to thirty-eight years old, which meant adapting my teaching style to suit very different age groups and learning needs. I taught young children who were just beginning to learn English, teenagers preparing for exams, and adults who needed English for their careers. I also led English camps, which were immersive language experiences designed to build students' confidence and fluency in a fun, supportive environment. I introduced cooking classes as a creative way to teach English, using recipes and cooking instructions to develop vocabulary, sequencing, and communication skills. This role strengthened my leadership abilities, my capacity to adapt to different learners, and my skill in creating engaging, student-centred lessons. I also learned how to manage a team of teachers, supporting them with lesson planning and classroom management, and I developed a deep appreciation for the importance of collaboration and shared purpose in education. In addition to my in-person teaching experience, I worked as an Online ESL and Business English Teacher with iTutor Group from 2019 to 2023. This role taught me how to deliver engaging lessons in a virtual environment, which required a different set of skills from classroom teaching. I learned how to build rapport with students through a screen, how to keep them engaged and motivated, and how to adapt my lessons in real time based on their needs and responses. I specialised in Business English, helping professionals improve their workplace communication, including emails, presentations, meetings, and negotiations. I also taught general English, covering speaking, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Teaching online taught me how to be flexible, resourceful, and responsive, and it gave me a deep understanding of how to meet the needs of learners in any setting, whether in a physical classroom or online. I also founded and ran my own independent teaching practice, English Junction, in Russia for three years. This was perhaps the most challenging and rewarding experience of my career. I was responsible for every aspect of the business, from curriculum design and lesson planning to scheduling, student enrolment, parent communication, and financial management. I taught both young children and adults, developed my own teaching materials, and built a loyal student base through word-of-mouth referrals. Running my own practice taught me resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of continuous self-improvement. It also gave me a deep understanding of the business side of education, including how to communicate effectively with parents, manage schedules, and create a learning environment that meets the needs of both students and their families. I learned that being a great teacher is not just about what happens in the classroom, but about everything that supports it, and I developed a strong sense of ownership and pride in my work. Throughout my career, I have developed a teaching philosophy rooted in patience, empathy, and a genuine belief in every child's potential. I believe that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and respected, and that the role of the teacher is to create the conditions for learning to happen rather than to simply transmit information. I believe in play-based, hands-on learning, and I have seen firsthand how children flourish when they are given the freedom to explore, make choices, and learn through doing. I am also deeply committed to building strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues, because I believe that education is a collaborative endeavour that works best when everyone is working together towards a common goal. I am particularly interested in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and the HighScope approach, both of which align closely with my teaching philosophy. The EYFS framework, with its emphasis on the unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments, and learning and development, provides a comprehensive structure for supporting children's growth in the early years. I am committed to implementing the EYFS principles in my classroom, and I am eager to deepen my understanding of the framework, including the 2026 updates on safeguarding, safer sleep, and screen use. I am also drawn to the HighScope approach, particularly its emphasis on active participatory learning and the Plan-Do-Review method, which empowers children to take ownership of their learning and develop critical thinking skills. As a South African passport holder, I qualify as a Native English Speaker for teaching roles in Thailand. I am also fluent in Afrikaans and have a basic understanding of Russian, which has helped me connect with students from different backgrounds and cultures. I am adaptable, patient, and deeply committed to providing high-quality education to every child I teach. I am already in Thailand and available to start immediately, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a school that values play-based, student-centred learning and is committed to nurturing the next generation of learners. I am looking for a role where I can continue to grow as an educator, where I can contribute my experience and skills, and where I can be part of a supportive, collaborative team. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my passion for early childhood education to a school that shares my values, and I am confident that my experience, qualifications, and enthusiasm make me a strong candidate for any teaching role that values a child-centred, inquiry-based approach. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me.

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