A Day in the Life of Laura – Center Director at CEL Vancouver

What does my day look like as a Center Director?

Hey, I’m Laura, the Center Director here at CEL Vancouver.

For me, most mornings at CEL Vancouver start in exactly the same way – a walk through the hallways, a quick check that the coffee machine is behaving, a catch up with a new student, or a fantastic gossip session with a student who has been with us for a while.

From there, my day becomes a blend of meetings with teachers, supporting students, reviewing academic plans, connecting with agents, and making sure the school is running smoothly behind the scenes.

Some moments are small but important: printing a certificate early because a student’s family is visiting, helping someone find the right class level, or talking through homesickness. Others are bigger: designing new electives, planning upcoming improvements, or preparing for audits and accreditations.

So now, a little bit about me!  I’ve been part of this school since 2018, first as Director of Studies and now leading the campus.

I’ve worked in ESL education since graduating university in the UK — a career that took me to Germany, the Netherlands, China, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and now Canada.

It wasn’t the plan, but it became the best accidental career I could have asked for.

How I Found My Place in ESL

I originally trained as a Mathematics teacher. Then I moved to Germany in my early 20s and suddenly had to rethink everything. What am I going to do now? I wondered. So, I trained as an ESL teacher — and fell completely in love with it.

Three decades later, I still wake up grateful for this work. The reason is simple: people, people, people.

Every student who arrives at CEL brings goals, hopes, and stories that matter deeply. Every staff member — from teachers to administration — pours care into their day. And as a team, we get to be a small but meaningful part of someone’s future.

That’s a privilege.

Quality, Care, and the CEL Way

CEL has always been built on care and consistency. We listen — really listen — to what our students tell us. Every feedback session and every staff meeting helps us improve the details that matter: clear communication, supportive classrooms, and smooth processes for everything from arrival to graduation.

As I often say, “For me, the most important thing is that students feel safe enough to try, to speak, and to be themselves. That’s when learning really happens.”

The Human Side of CEL

One of my favorite stories is about a Japanese student I taught in New Zealand when he was 22. He’s now a father of two (and a little grey!) and recently travelled to the US for a conference. On the way, he made a detour to Vancouver just to visit me. 

Then there are the Instagram snapshots — graduates from Korea, Mexico, Japan, Colombia — swimming together somewhere on the Colombian coast.

And of course, there’s Gracie — our unofficial school dog — who likes to wander in for a cuddle or two.

I could share a thousand stories with you about past and current students; everyone is special. Here’s another: Roxane, who came to CEL from Switzerland, and who I managed to catch up with in Zurich last year.

And some more – our students on working holiday visas who stay in Vancouver, but still come back to CEL for the friends’ graduations, who still come to pub night every month. Our students who have made close friends with their homestays and come back to visit them, but always come to CEL to say hello (and bring chocolate!). or our students who have sent their parents, sons and daughters, cousins and friends to CEL because their time here was so precious.

Hugs, and more hugs!  A thousand hugs to everyone who has ever been my student. 

Outside of school, my favourite place in Vancouver is Stanley Park, where I volunteer doing invasive species removal, sphagnum bog rehabilitation, and bird and beaver counting. It sounds very worthy, but basically, you get very muddy and see a lot of wildlife!

My Advice for New Students

Be brave. Talk to everyone. Join activities you wouldn’t usually try. Ask questions. Let yourself make mistakes — because that’s how you grow and how your English language grows.

And enjoy the neighborhood! We are right next to the waterfront, 15 minutes away from Stanley Park, and less than 10 minutes away from Robson Street, the most famous shopping street in Vancouver. Any activity you want to do is on our doorstep. Enjoy hiking? We’ve got hikes. Enjoy snowboarding? We’ve got North Vancouver. Yoga in the park? We’ve got you!

Final Thoughts

Working at CEL reminds me every day how rewarding it is to connect people and cultures. This job continues to surprise me, challenge me, and fills me with pride — and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Whether you stay for one week, two weeks, six months, a year, watching students grow – not only in English, but also in confidence, is what makes everything worthwhile. Oh, did I mention? I love my job!