We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ericka Duke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ericka below.

Ericka, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Recently, the best investment I have made as a teacher who operates as an educational curator has been becoming TEFL certified. I recently earned my TEFL certification through the International TEFL Academy course. I chose this institution because of its many accolades and strong network of support alumni. In light as to why this was the best investment involves the idea of my passion for global education and the beauty I find within the English language. Being able to possess such a qualification that provides me access to teach in 90+ countries outside the United States simply satisfies my entire being. I’ve always known about TEFL, but never did I deeply consider it as an option as an educator and one who tutors. However, while living abroad before the wake of the pandemic, I became ever more aware of how such qualification is a demand and allows me to leverage myself in spaces and places foreign to a Black Woman as myself.

Now, I am in a unique position in life and as an Black educator where I have the tools and skills, plus, qualifications to enrich the lives of those who come from various cultures –who traditional practices are different, which gives me a new type of space to grow in my glory as an educator. This investment is an investment that has allowed me to tap into what it means to humanize one’s learning experience, rather than if the experience is online or in person.

This investment has allowed me to tap into a world that’s diverse. And it has diversified my teaching palette.What more can I ask for? This experience is like no other.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an English Language Arts teacher and certified TEFL instructor. I also run a small tutoring business, which has evolved to me not only tutoring Black boys and Black girls, but tutoring immigrants and refugees English as a Second Language (ESL).
What got me in the field of education and TEFL is simple, Black Women and Women alike. As a doctoral student as well, my scholarship focuses on the character traits of Black Women teachers and how our identities inform how we create platforms of transformation for the Black students we teach. Through my teachings I have gained life changing experiences that have exposed me to the meaning of making true human connections from all walks of life. Being able to reach young minds, yet realizing I can reach the minds of those in adulthood through English has really helped me to understand what Malcolm X meant when he said, education is the passport to the future.

As an English Language Arts teacher my teaching sits at the intersections of telling of narratives and introducing narratives; while listening to and viewing narratives live in action. My classroom is a creative space and critical space in a manner of love. The art of the English Language is amplified through my students, rather my students are young or old.

I am most proud of my students who accept challenges presented to them within the classroom space and outside the classroom space. I am most proud of those students who have come to a space and place foreign to them only to work toward improving their English Language skills in a capacity unique to them. I am most proud of my students who have decided to walk in an attitude of vulnerability and gratitude; those students who have entrusted me to teach and learn with them as we break down a language that motivates many industries and companies globally today. I am most proud of myself that I love myself enough to invest in myself to play a role in creating platforms of transformation for the people of this world.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a teacher (teachers are the greatest artists and creatives) is the impact I often see within the lives of those I have had the opportunity to teach and learn with. As an English Language Arts teacher and ESL instructor, you experience the true beauty of growth. You see how one uproot from one place, to live in another place or how an 8th Grade student may climb a grade level higher as a reader or writer. When you are involved in a person’s growth in a positive sense, it’s rewarding.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There are certainly many aspects to the world of education that will nurture you, which plays a major role in one building a reputation. However, to highlight specifically what has helped me to build my reputation in the world of education as a teacher would be my students –former, present, and future students.

My students are my greatest asset. Without them I wouldn’t have such an opportunity to consider reputation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erijduke

Image Credits
Virgil Cameron Jr.