There will be times in your TEFL career when you are really challenged in terms of student motivation and classroom management, notes Bruce Haxton. Students, especially children, can be temperamental – but one of the things you’ll quickly learn is that how you behave as a teacher largely dictates how your students behave. Here are some key things to take into consideration in your classes:

* Don’t shout – Students see this as a sign that they have won. Instead try different tactics such as finding a place to stand that shows the students you are waiting, or refer back to the rules and carry out the consequence. Some good punishments include increasing word counts for homework, deducting break time, letters home to parents etc.

* Do a points system - (for children) In the first lesson put students into groups of around four and get them to decide on a team name. Ask them to draw four horizontal boxes in which they must write their name in large letters to one side. Students get a point for good behaviour and get a point deducted for bad behaviour (doing/not doing homework, using/not using English). If you can, use stickers so students can put their points up themselves (gives a greater feeling of accomplishment).

* Stick to the rules you set – Set the classroom rule, from day one enforce them and stick to them. There’s no point in developing rules that you will let be broken – students need to know that measures will be taken if they step out of line! You know what happened to the boy who cried wolf don’t you?!!

* Keep it varied and interesting – If you want your students to be interested you have to keep things interesting! Use materials which interest your class and have a variety of activities. Don’t stick to the same old activities – they’ll soon get boring.

* Be positive – Students pick up on their teacher’s mood more than you think. Enthusiasm is really infectious in the classroom. It’ll also make you enjoy your job more enjoyable. Also if your students like you they will be less likely to want to disappoint you!

* Treat everyone equally – Students respect their teacher more if he/she is fair.

Every teacher has their own style and methods – work out what works best for you but remember you may need to adapt your style for different classes. What works with one class may not work for another….

About the Author

Bruce believes that teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. As long as you’re a fluent English speaker, a TEFL course is your ticket to the journey of your life. Bruce represents www.onlinetefl.com

It’s tempting to get carried away with the excitement of going to a new country and being accepted for a job is a great feeling, notes Bruce Haxton, but before you start packing your suitcase, make sure you check out the conditions – they’ll make or break your experience of teaching abroad! Here are 6 things to check:

Hours of work:

* How many contact hours will you have to teach? The average is 25 contact hours of teaching (when you are physically in the classroom with the students).

* How many days will you be working over? 25 hours or less seems great…until you are expected to do them over 6/7 days!

* What preparation will this involve? In order to determine this you will need to find out the size of your classes, the length of the lessons and how many different levels you should expect. Teaching 5 classes of which there are 3 different levels each for five hours a week is considerably less preparation time than teaching 5 different classes each day for an hour each!

* How much marking will you have to do? Again, this is linked in with the amount of classes you have and class sizes. If you have a lot of students this can really bump up the hours you’re working! Also take into consideration exams. How many will there be throughout the year?

* What additional hours will you be expected to be at work? (Training days? Placement testing? Covering other teachers’ lessons?).

* When will you be teaching exactly? Most TEFL jobs are typically in the evening, which is to be expected as this is when most people are available (after work/school). Will you have to work split shifts? Some schools require you to work a few hours in the morning and a few in the evening. Think about when you want to work (consider the habits of the country – do you want a siesta?).

Sickness pay & health insurance

When you are abroad and away from home this is especially important – you don’t want to be ill and penniless and stuck in a foreign country! Some of the larger companies will pay you if you are sick and also supply you with free health insurance – but check what the policy covers before you go. A lot of companies, sadly, offer neither. In this situation it is sensible to have a bit of money saved for emergencies and to get health insurance before you go.

Holidays

There’s no point in going to a country and having no time to explore! Ask how many holidays and public holidays you will be entitled to and how you can take them. Sometimes you cannot choose the dates, which can be a problem if you need to be back in the UK for that summer wedding you’ve already bought the shoes for! Also enquire about shift swaps….a great way to extend weekends away.

Training

If you’re serious about teaching or you’re simply a new teacher, then you need to look for a school that offers training. Doing a good job will make you happier in your work life and you’ll stress less about the teaching in your free time!

The school’s reputation

It’s worth Googling the school and looking at past teachers’ comments. This will highlight things to look out for that you can ask your prospective employers about. It’s also a good idea to check with your embassy for warnings to travellers and expats. Some countries may have a reputation for not sticking to contracts.

Pay and accommodation

Is the amount they have stated for your wage net or gross? Also if they provide you with accommodation how much is it and how will you pay for bills? Bills should be in your name to avoid getting money deducted from your wage without your consent and more importantly to avoid being charged too much.

A lot of the above points may not be included in a contract, so it will be up to you to negotiate what you feel is a must! It’s always worth getting things agreed in writing, as it makes it easier to settle any disputes further down the line.

Remember that if you have been offered the job, the school wants you and doesn’t want to go through the recruitment process again. You are in a position to negotiate and if you don’t get what you want there are lots of jobs out there….

About the Author

Bruce believes that teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. As long as you’re a fluent English speaker, a TEFL course is your ticket to the journey of your life. Bruce represents www.onlinetefl.com

What to expect from your four-week TEFL course by Bruce Haxton.

So you’re interested in Teaching English as a Foreign Language [TEFL] but you don’t know which course might be for you? Or maybe you’d just like to know more about what to expect on day one on a course you’ve already booked? Well, there are a variety of courses to choose from including online courses, 20-hour weekend courses, combined online and classroom TEFL courses, 4-week intensive certificates, and a 10-week diploma. The content of all of these courses is broadly similar, but the depth of training varies from course to course. Below are some descriptions to give you an idea of what you might expect on your TEFL Course.

Learning through doing activities

Probably the very best thing about a TEFL course is that the learning happens through actually doing activities, rather than long theoretical explanations. This is true even at diploma level, although discussion forms a greater part of the study on diploma courses, since by then you’ll have plenty of teaching experience and your aim is to perfect the skills you have. In all cases, your tutors want to encourage you to think about what they already know, so they provide plenty of opportunities to chat things through with others on the course. You and your fellow tutees will be given the chance to try out different exercises and materials, which usually involves interacting with each other. This is invariably terrific fun, so although you’ll feel tired, it’s more likely to be from the challenge and excitement than anything else.

Introduction to grammar

We all know an incredible number of words (about 50,000 on average) and grammar is simply the means for stringing this vast vocabulary into some kind of order so we understand each other. There are patterns and rules to think about, but you won’t have to learn it all in one day! Your tutor will use activities applied in a real EFL classroom and will usually break down the learning into manageable chunks. Many trainees are fascinated when they find out all the interesting reasons for why we say what we say. A Weekend TEFL Course will touch on a few aspects of grammar, but you can expect to study in much more depth if you supplement this with an online TEFL course or do an intensive 4-week course. Even in these comprehensive courses, you won’t fully learn grammar’s intricacies, so much of the teaching will raise your awareness and guide you on to further study. Tutors are very patient and understanding when it comes to this aspect, so don’t worry if you find it a bit tricky.

Pronunciation information

Just think about how to say this sentence:

“Get me some bread,” said Fred.

At a glance you can see that similar sounds have a different way of being spelt. We’ve got get, bread, said and Fred all with an /e/ sound. Any TEFL course will provide fun activities for you to help your students practice the pronunciation of individual words. This is important because, as you can see, spelling often isn’t a great deal of help! As mentioned above, the longer your course, the greater the level of detail on pronunciation. We also have to think about intonation, stress and the many other aspects of pronunciation. To prepare you for this highly enjoyable feature of the course, here’s a tongue-twister:

What noise annoys an oyster most? A noisy noise annoys an oyster most.

Teaching reading, writing, listening and speaking

English language learners also need help developing skills to cope with reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. Perhaps you’ve had training in how to write an essay or a letter yourself. Any good course will offer specific tips for helping your learners cope better with these aspects of using English. As always, expect the activities to be motivating, fun and interactive as you build your own awareness. You can also expect tips on how to use music in the classroom as part of your course.

Experience how language learning feels

At some point on any face-to-face TEFL course, you will have at least one lesson in a foreign language. You don’t have to be any good at languages yourself to enjoy this part of the course, and if you find it all gobbledygook – never mind! It’s your chance to experience what it feels like to be a language learner – something that helps every teacher to empathise with their learners. It’s also a great way to learn tips on classroom organisation, for example, how to give instructions clearly using mime and gesture and so on.

Learning by watching

Having the chance to do some classroom observation is an integral part of any course. Online courses often give you video clips to watch, so you can begin getting an idea of what lessons are like. On weekend courses, you will watch your peers teach at various times and on CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL courses, formal classroom observations are an important part of the learning. This safe environment makes it much easier to analyse what is happening in the classroom than when you are standing at the front, concentrating on leading the lesson. You’ll learn loads from this aspect, whether it’s picking up tips from watching an excellent teacher, or empathising with someone whose activity is not going as well they had hoped. And don’t be afraid of making mistakes yourself – it’s all part of the learning process! Nobody expects perfection and it can fun if the odd bit of controlled chaos breaks out!

Teaching practice with feedback

On any classroom TEFL course, part of your day is given over to guided lesson planning and you will be given materials and suggestions to teach from. Many tutees enjoy creating some of their own materials during lesson planning in order to make the lesson come to life. After preparing, it’s time to attend lessons, and these vary significantly according to the course you are doing. On a weekend course, your students are likely to be others doing the course with you whereas on 4-week intensive and 10-week diploma courses, you will be teaching real English students. The important factor is that you stand in front of a class and teach some aspect of the English language. Your aim is to use the ideas from earlier in your course to get them practicing in a fun, engaging way.

Analysis and evaluation

Some of your peers and your tutor will have been watching your lesson. So after teaching, there is the chance to get feedback on how it went. You are also encouraged to evaluate your own experience, focusing especially on what went well and considering any changes you would make if you had the chance to do it all over again. This part can be very encouraging as you’re often your own worst critic and don’t realise just how well you performed. It’s a great feeling to put your training into practice and motivate your students to learn.

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t already done it book a place on a TEFL course and get ready for an exciting, interesting, tiring, amusing and challenging experience!

About the Author

I believe that teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. If you’re a fluent English speaker, a TEFL course is your ticket to the journey of your life. I work for www.onlinetefl.com.

Want to know how to succeed in the TEFL job market? Bruce Haxton tells you how.

So, you’re thinking about doing a TEFL course, and it won’t be too long before you’ve got your crisp new TEFL certificate in hand – but what are you going to do with it?! Get a teaching job abroad and jet off into the sunset – that’s what! But how to get there? Never fear: here are my five simple tips for TEFL job success:

Tailor your resume to TEFL

We’re sorry to say it, but employers don’t want to know about that ska band you were in back in school. Keep it short and sharp – just cover what the job advertisement asks for in simple, direct language. Focus on skills that schools will value, like leadership, organisational and communication skills and how you’ve demonstrated you can use them.

Do your course with a provider that has a job placement service

Get your TEFL course provider to do the legwork for you! Many companies have TEFL job placement services which will match you with relevant suitable contracts on completion of your course. Just make sure you’re eligible to use it before you sign on the dotted line!

Always deal with a real person

Want to know where most of those applications addressed to ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ end up? That’s right… the bin! One of the best routes to job success is to build up personal relationships with recruiters to make sure your application ends up in the right person’s hands, rather than the trash.

Use your mouse

The internet’s a marvellous thing – where before you might have had to traipse around a city handing out your CV, you can now get access to tens of thousands of TEFL jobs at the click of a mouse. Sites like www.tefl.com list positions from all over the world, which are just waiting for enthusiastic EFL teachers to fill them!

Keep it simple

Very often the person who’ll be reading your job application won’t have English as their first language. They won’t want to tackle an application full of flowery language – they’ll want one that’s simple to read and direct. If they can’t immediately see that you’ve got the skills for the job your application will probably end up being binned!

And remember, if finding a TEFL job feels daunting, the odds are with you: there are 20,000 TEFL positions posted online every month, meaning fluent English speakers with TEFL certificates are like gold dust in many countries!

About the Author

Bruce feels that teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. As long as you’re a fluent English speaker, a TEFL course is your ticket to the journey of your life.

Ever wondered why we do it? Find out now in this article by Bruce Haxton.

TEFL, on paper, is perfect: an exciting career, a chance to see the world, a life full of fresh faces, opportunities and experiences. But, in reality, life at home holds people back: jobs, cars, family, friends, house, age, personal circumstances… so what is it exactly that makes people put all that on hold, get TEFL certified and jet off into the sunset? We asked some of our TEFL graduates what made them take the plunge…

1. To fund travel

It’s a happy coincidence that the countries with the highest demand for EFL teachers (China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Ecuador to name a few) are some of the best places in the world to visit. TEFL means you can travel without having to save up a small fortune before leaving, and you get the added bonus of experiencing more of a country than you would as a tourist.

Alice McBrearty, 26, from Aberdeen, said: “I made the biggest decision of my life on a cold, dark February morning; stuck in the library doing an essay for the third year of my degree, I decided that instead of returning to university after the summer to do an Honours year, I would go on an adventure!

“Yet with only part of my student loan left, I had little more than enough money to cover a return flight. Then I discovered that the high demand for English teachers in Thailand often encourages backpackers to teach while, during or after they travel”

Alice spent six months combining teaching with seeing Thailand’s highlights and says teaching English “is a great opportunity to work and save money while getting to know the country and its people from the inside, as a worker and not simply a tourist.”

2. To escape a dead-end job

According to research by VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas), a massive 40% of British workers feel like they’re stagnating professionally. During a recession it’s easy to think that you’re lucky to have any job, even if you hate it, but you’re wrong to think that there aren’t any opportunities out there. With around 20,000 vacancies posted online every month, TEFL is the perfect escape route for anyone who spends their days staring out of the window at work wishing they were somewhere else!

Robert Clarke, 22, said: “I had become bored with working in an office in central London, getting up every morning to go to a dead-end job. I wanted to travel and see the world! What better way than get paid at the same time as seeing Asia!”

Robert’s now teaching 8-16 year olds near Jakarta in Indonesia and describes living there as “fantastic”!

3. To take on new challenges

If you’re after a challenge to take you out of your comfort zone, it doesn’t get much hairier than flying half way around the world to stand in front of a class of rowdy students! And by taking on and overcoming a massive challenge abroad you’ll find everything at home afterwards feels like a doddle!

Kathleen Kane, 46, from Glasgow, said: “I decided to do the China Internship because I got to the time of my life when I wanted to try something new and do something out of my comfort zone. This program seemed to give me the challenge I needed.”

Kathleen is now teaching teenagers and young adults at a school in Inner Mongolia on i-to-i’s Teach in China Internship.

4. To get out of the rat race

Stressed? Join the 442,00 other people in Britain who suffer from serious work-related stress. There is another way though – TEFL is as far from the rat race as you can get, with every day throwing up new opportunities, faces and challenges.

Nazia Anwar, 26, from Lancashire, said: “I hate repetition and mundane stuff and that described my job. I had strains in my personal life too and was ready to break away and travel. I just had to find a way to pay for it.”

Nazia headed out to teach English at a private language school in Turkey. Speaking about the benefits of TEFL, she said “I’ve always been independent but to achieve this has given me a different kind of confidence.”

5. To improve career chances

Teaching English abroad is not only a fantastic opportunity to see the world, it can also help you to find work once you get home too. After a stint teaching English abroad you’ll be able to wow prospective employers with your improved interpersonal, leadership and communication skills!

Jozanda Parkinson, 26, from Preston, said: “I was a primary school teacher in my first year of teaching and was finding it difficult to find another job for when my training year finished. I wanted to work abroad, having worked for a children’s holiday company for 2 years in France before training to be a teacher. So I knew I enjoyed that, but also wanted to do something that would help me in my career.”

Jozanda is now teaching 6-7 year olds in Shanghai on our Teach in China Internship. As well as getting a change of scenery, Jozanda thinks her experience will stand her in good stead for the future: “I think teaching in China has given me valuable tools which I can use when I come back to teach in the UK, as well as valuable life-skills adjusting to life in a non-western country!”

6. To make a dream a reality

Sometimes you spend your whole life thinking you should be somewhere else, but fate (not to mention money, family, friends, jobs, houses etc) seems to hold you back. If you’ve always wanted to travel, or teach or both, don’t let life hold you back – take a deep breath and go for it!

Alice Pepper, from Kent, said: “I’ve always wanted to teach English abroad and in everything that I’ve done at the back of my mind I’ve always thought I should be somewhere else, teaching. When I got the email from i-to-i regarding the China internship I just knew I had to apply. It seemed so perfect for me, especially as I don’t have a degree, to learn and teach and get a lot of experience. I knew I needed to do this, instead of dreaming of doing it. That was my motivation, to make it real.”

Alice is going to be heading out to China in February on the second round of Teach in China Internships, where she’ll earn £1,300 while racking up 300 hours of teaching experience. She hopes “I can prove to myself that I am able to do this, and that I can make a difference. To learn to live in another culture and be able to adapt mine.”

Want to join them?

It’s easier (and cheaper) than most people think to get TEFL certified and teach English abroad. For details on how to get there, you could visit www.onlinetefl.com.

About the Author

I’m totally passionate about travel, it’s been my life and work for a good few years! I would like to share my many experiences and offer a little advice if I can to fellow travellers or anyone who is just about to set off on a life-changing trip!

A new year and a new career? Check this advice by Bruce Haxton if you’re thinking about getting into TEFL.

So you’re thinking about getting TEFL certified (or maybe you already are!), but once you’ve completed your TEFL course, what are you going to do with that crisp new certificate? Get a job and sail off into the sunset, that’s what! However, with thousands of teaching jobs abroad all over the world, choosing a good one can be tricky. So, to help you in your job hunt, here are just a few ways to snaffle that dream TEFL job.

Planning ahead – going with a company

You’ll often find that your TEFL course provider will offer a free TEFL job placement service on completion. This is usually hassle-free, but researching your employer is always a good idea. You can use the internet to research the local area and culture, while travel guides such as Lonely Planet also offer handy tips. The organization you opt for should be able to give you information about the school and may even offer contact details for their in-country coordinators. If you can get hold of a phone number, ask to speak to any TEFL teachers currently in the school to get a true idea of what it’s like to work there.

Going it alone

If you’re arranging your own teaching job abroad the most important thing is to network. Most schools depend on local advertising and word-of-mouth, long before considering using online adverts. The TEFL community is vast, so the sooner you start making contact with both schools and other teachers, the better. Employers are looking for people who have a genuine enthusiasm for teaching so make sure your bubbly personality and love of working with children come across in your application and your resume. Your resume itself should be packed full of TEFL-related skills, up to date references and lots of experience.

Be tenacious with your applications, get back to schools you hear from and try to arrange phone interviews at schools that are far away. Large language schools will often have offices in several countries, so you may be able to talk to someone in person without having to get on a plane. Establishing contact with the school beforehand will also help you to make a much more informed decision.

Travelling first

If forward planning isn’t really your thing, then it is possible to find a TEFL job in-country. It can be risky as you’re not guaranteed to find a position as soon as you step off the plane, but it depends where you want to go. Schools in popular countries such as China, Thailand and Japan offer good standards for English teachers and recruit locally due to their popularity as travel destinations. Networking is still important though, as is establishing contact with the local schools: internet forums are a good place to start, as they often have plenty of experienced teachers as members. Being in-country is a big advantage as you meet with the school director and actually visit your prospective work place and make a decision based on your own impressions, rather than those of someone else.

You will, however, still need to have a good resume, references and, of course, your TEFL certificate (we’re hoping you’ll already have your passport!) You’ll also need to carefully consider your budget, especially if you’re arriving in Europe. Make sure you arrive at the best time for recruitment, usually a month or so before the start of the academic year. This will be more important in popular destinations in Asia or Europe, but less so if you plan to teach in off the beaten track.

Checklist

• A few things for to consider before setting off on your TEFL adventure:
  What will living in my chosen country be like?
  Do my qualifications meet the standards of the country I’m going to?
  Do I have all the correct documentation: visas, passport, TEFL certificate?
  Where will I be living?
  What is the average pay in my chosen country?
  What hours should I expect to work?
  What sort of materials will be available?
  What support will there be before and during the placement?
  How big is the school I will be teaching in, in actual size and class size?
  What level of English will my students already have?
  What will my pupils’ average age be?
  What will my non-teaching duties be?

About the Author

Bruce believes that teaching English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world. As long as you’re a fluent English speaker, a TEFL course is your ticket to the journey of your life. Bruce represents www.onlinetefl.com