Supporter Spotlight – Julie Tran

Introduce yourself! Who are you and what inspired you to volunteer with WAGEC?

I’m Julie. I currently work in the Employment Relations space. I started volunteering as a TEFL instructor with WAGEC as I wanted to contribute to an organisation that provides services I’ve benefited from in the past and one with strong values.

Do you have any highlights of volunteering with WAGEC? If so, what are they?

Yes! When my student told me quite excitedly that she felt less nervous speaking to native English speakers after only a few classes which was one of her main goals.

What is the typical day in the life of a volunteer?

On a Saturday, I get up at 8am and prepare for the lesson that day while having some breakfast and coffee. At 9am, I start teaching via Zoom. After class, I make brief notes on how the class went and some ideas for the next lesson. Then it’s usually a mix of a catch up with friends, a walk around the park with a podcast, a song on the keyboard, Wing Chun training, and more recently, bouldering with my siblings.

What does community mean to you?

To me, community means sharing in others’ joys and sorrows.

What is something you are grateful for or something not many people know about you (e.g. fun fact)?

I can’t tell my left from right. To help with the confusion, I wear a watch which is always on my left wrist. Sometimes I’m without a watch and would have to physically pick up an imaginary pen (which I do with my right hand) and write in the air so I could tell the difference. The struggle is real!