In this week's 'A Conversation With...', we chatted to Mr JC Sotos, a teacher in our Modern Foreign Languages Department! Having previously worked as a member of British Airways' cabin crew, we discover what his top destinations are, as well as what he gets up to away from work, and his dream retirement plan!
What is your role and how long have you been at Shiplake?
I am a Modern Foreign Languages teacher and I have been teaching French and Spanish at Shiplake College since January 2022.
What were you doing before Shiplake?
I have been a teacher for eight years now. I taught at LVS Ascot prior to joining Shiplake and before that, I taught at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in Hackney, London.
What is a day in the life at Shiplake like for Mr Sotos?
I wake up at 6.00am and feed my little dog, which requires postural feeding so I have to keep him upright for 20 minutes. I aim to be at the College by 7.30-8.00am; if I bring my dog, I to take him for a long walk whenever I have some free time.
I also participate in and get involved with co-curricular activities; at the moment I am part of the football coaching team. I am an EdTech enthusiast, so I am always looking at new platforms and trialling them, before bringing them into the classroom.
You've previously worked for British Airways, jetting all over the world - what have been your top destinations to visit and how does the work differ to life at a school?
I worked for BA for 20 years as a member of their cabin crew before I started teaching. I have many very fond memories from that time of my life, which I will cherish forever. I think that Cape Town must be one of my favourite destinations - there is nothing like an African sky; it is breath-taking. In second place, I would say Bangkok and Singapore.
There is no comparison between teaching and flying, each of them have their own charm as well as their own challenges.
What do you do away from work?
I love cooking! I always invent new dishes and 90% of the time, I am successful with throwing ingredients in and making up meals. I also love the outdoors and so long walks with Rayo, my dog, are things that I enjoy enormously.
What does the future hold for Mr Sotos?
I would really like to stay at Shiplake for a long time and gain more responsibilities and challenges in the future. Finally, I would love to retire in my home country and have my morning coffee every day looking at the sea from my porch, my bedroom balcony, or my roof terrace.
