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.

By Bruce E Thompson

Every year thousands of adventuresome souls leave their home country for six months or more with goals of teaching English abroad. Yet a common question for those without experience teaching English abroad is, “will an online TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) be sufficient?”

The answer varies depending on your short or long-term goals, the country in which you intend to teach English abroad, and ultimately the requirements of the teaching institution.

1. Evaluate your personal goals (professional TEFL teacher / TESOL teacher)

If your goals are for teaching English abroad for 3 years or more, you should strongly consider taking an in-classroom TEFL course of 120 hours and a minimum of 6 hours of practicum. Some countries and schools will require this. You should also consider taking a course that provides you with a CELTA certificate.

2. Evaluate your personal goals (short-term teaching opportunity, cross-cultural experience, learning the local language, etc)

If you are not seeking a 3-5 year term as a “professional” TEFL teacher, an online TEFL course could very well be sufficient to prepare you for the time in front of your students.

3. Consult with your recruiter and/or the local teaching institution

The people in these organizations know what is required and what will be accepted or not regarding TEFL / TESOL certification. Additionally, TEFL courses are most likely offered in the country in which you want to teach; ask these contacts for recommendations

About the author

Bruce Thompson, Founder and Managing Director of TeachingChile, is a U.S. citizen residing in Chile that has been dedicated to programs involving teaching English in Chile. A 19-year veteran of international business, his recent years in Chile have involved recruiting and placing native English-speaking teachers into Chilean schools and universities, and developing TEFL training programs in Chile. Teachers interested in Chile can view a Cost of Living Guide in Chile

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator of and writer for TEFL Tips, discusses the merits of TEFL certification.

As far as visa requirements go, while countries may require a degree, I don’t know of any that require you to have a TEFL certificate. Although TEFL certs won’t help with visa requirements, they will make your life much easier as a teacher. Intensive TEFL courses, whether they be CELTA, Trinity, or any other course, will teach you how to teach English. Knowing the language and being able to teach it are two different things. There’s nothing worse than having a student ask you to explain something and for you to not know the answer.

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These courses will teach you things such as grammar, how to teach vocabulary, language level, popular activities, different methods, and more. Not only do they help you learn about what to do in the classroom, the course trainers can give you advice about which countries to teach in, what to look for in a contract, and may even offer job placement. They’re a great way to get your foot in the door. If you decide to make teaching English your career, you should try to get higher qualifications as well, such as a PGDE or MA.

If you want to take a TEFL course, read Choosing a TEFL course to find out what you need to look for to find a good course. If you can’t take a TEFL course due to time, money or other reasons, don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of other ways to learn about TEFL. See Learning about TEFL and Teaching.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.

The recent appearance of online colleges and university programs has undoubtedly provided fantastic opportunities for many people to earn college degrees who would not otherwise be able to obtain such qualifications. For many people, college or university tuition fees can prove to be prohibitively expensive. The one main advantage of an online degrees program, therefore, is that it costs much less.

Additionally, most online MBA degrees programs give you the option of paying per course, making it possible to earn your degree at a pace you can afford. Furthermore, due to the fact you are learning from home, there is no accommodation cost to pay, and, as all of your reading material is on the web, so there’s no need to buy those pricey textbooks.

EarnMyDegree.com is site whose goal is to match people’s educational goals with their personal goals. This site can help if you want to search for a degree by subject, level, online school, or if you just wish to study at a nearby college campus. EarnMyDegree.com features hundreds of online business degrees programs across numerous accredited online colleges as well as traditional schools.

A further benefit of earning qualifications such as online business degrees through online programs is that you can do it at your own pace. As teachers of English, we are busy professionals and, in many cases, busy parents who can earn degrees while also attending to our day to day lives. With the help of EarnMyDegree.com, teachers can study whenever it’s most convenient for, in the evening, on weekends, even during between classes.

Thinking about the courses at EarnMyDegree.com, it’s clear that as long as you have computer access from your location, you can study there. This therefore allows for a level of freedom and a flexibility that’s simply not possible when earning a degree on campus at a traditional bricks and mortar university.

Other benefits of earning a degree through one of the many online college and university programs features on EarnMyDegree.com are numerous. Many people, even us English teachers, are stuck in careers we don’t like, or are unable to be promoted within our organisation, because they lack a college degree. Employers value employees with college degrees for good reason: college graduates tend to be more thoughtful, more creative and more diligent than other employees.

Finally, online degrees programs enable students to think critically and creatively, and to be able to analyse information in an intelligent way; skills which can prove invaluable in the modern work environment. Not only do job chances improve with online colleges and university degrees, but you can expect to earn more money as well.

By Ajay Shringi

Online TEFL courses open up amazing career opportunities for aspiring teachers in countries that are experiencing a high demand for people with English language skills. With globalization, there is increasing pressure on people to acquire excellent writing and reading English skills. In fact, mastery of language often becomes decisive when selecting people for jobs. That is why many people are desperately trying to improve their English language skills.

According to the British Council, approximately 300 million people are trying to study English at the present time. These students may need to learn English as a second language in their own country, or they may be immigrants who need to learn English in order to adapt to their new life in an English speaking country. Naturally, with the rise in demand for English language skills, there is a corresponding demand for internationally accredited English teachers. Online TEFL courses teach English through distance education and equip you to become a teacher of the English language in a foreign country.

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Anyone can join online TEFL courses regardless of age or work experience: perfect English fluency and a reasonable level of education are the only requirements. Online TEFL courses come in 100-hour and 250-hour variants providing direct access to modern teaching methods that prepare the future teacher to deal with all sorts of educational situations. The price patterns for online TEFL programs vary depending on the number of hours and on the trainee’s choice of availing of the services of a personal tutor. However, most programs are priced very competitively, and some of the courses even have bonus offers.

Online TEFL courses are designed according to distance learning methods and this compensates for the lack of classroom participation. These courses answer the needs of people who have a limited budget, or have time and place constraints that do not allow them to join a full on site teaching program at the TEFL training centers. Thus, more people have access to these courses. In online TEFL courses, the learner is not constrained by the repetitive rhythm imposed in a regular class, meaning that he or she can adjust the learning program according to their personal needs and schedule flexibility.

TEFL diplomas are the most comprehensive TEFL online courses. Such courses are the immediate sequel of training from a basic certification program. Online diploma courses are widely available and consist of 250 hours of highly advanced teaching methods. Recognized at the international level, such courses are accessible only to those who already have their standard TEFL certification. The prices for diploma courses vary from $500 without tutor to $990 with personal tutor.

The only disadvantage of online TEFL courses is that the trainee lacks the direct teaching practice that is included in onsite programs. Though the sample lessons available online are pretty relevant for the purposes and the achievements of a regular class, direct experience has its unique advantages. Moreover, would-be-teachers who choose the “no tutor” variant of the online TEFL course will have to do more research themselves. Any learning item that may remain unclear will be more difficult to sort out on one’s own than with the aid of a tutor.

Online TEFL courses have more advantages than disadvantages. For a person who wants to make a career out of teaching English, these courses are indeed an excellent investment in their future.

About the Author

TEFLCorp.com offers online TEFL courses which will open up amazing career opportunities for you.

i-to-i is a world leader in TEFL courses and TEFL jobs abroad. Over the past 12 months, i-to-i has trained 15,000 people to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and assisted them in finding jobs across the globe and have also picked up a clutch of prestigious awards and nominations.

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