Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Agreed bluffer...there are options for someone in your situation Rache(l?)

At this point I'll mention that I work for a TEFL course provider in Mexico, so I'm not accused of having an agenda ok?

You could consider taking your TEFL/TESOL or CELTA abroad. If you plan this into your trip, you'll get the benefit of studying in the country you wish to work in, giving you experience in a foreign language and with the students you will teach afterwards. Often, course providers arrange observed practice with EFL students in an affiliated or even the same language center. It could be argued that this is better than working with ESL (mixed nationalities) practice students, if any, in an english-speaking country.

On the online course front, there are ways to incorporate a teaching practicum. English International uses video lesson, meaning, you have to arrange your own ESL classes at home, video the lessons, and send that to your course instructor. Teachers International, where I work, uses an internship program to supplement an onlne program. I'm sure there other similar programs to be found with a little investigating.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Without any teaching experience, I'd say an online TEFL course is a big waste of time and money. Imagine going for a job interview, what will you offer the school? How will you sell yourself? Besides, being a native English speaker, you need more to get a good job. Yes, you will find a job somewhere, but will it be a decent school? Perhaps, but unlikely. Sorry to be so brutally honest with you and I don't mean to be discouraging. Just try to think from an employer's perspective.

I agree with Shmooj, get a CELTA or Trinity, you will not regret it. After I got my CELTA I went job hunting in a tough ESL market in Canada and got 5 job offers in a month at some excellent schools. Feels great to turn them down or negotiate for higher pay.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

As far as teaching kids goes your guess is as good as anyone's. You can read a great deal about it, but ultimately it's a question of personality and rapport. Some have it and some never will.

As far as how to start a first lesson, well, you must get their trust first. Spend some time getting to know them. Show them what you're made of. I know it's easier said than done, but teaching is an art as much as it is a science. The bottom line is: are you a great communicator or not?

RacheUK · Joined: 09 Jan 2005 Posts: 9

............ Decisions Decsions, Where IS a girl to start!

I do really all value your effort to reply, it helps immensely to see people's perspectives on this.

Yes id love to do a more indepth course like Celta but as mentioned, time is a constraint and me being an eager girly wants to play out there now!!!

Im going away on Fri for two weeks round Europe, so lots of thinking will be done methinks.

I do like the idea of studying whilst teaching abroad too... may look into this further. Guess I need to research every option a bit more thoroughly, and no doubt your wisdom will be used again!!

keep an eye out for me!

ps: its rachael, but everyone calls me Rache.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

moonraven wrote:

GreenDestiny · Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: International

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Not having time to read through every single line of all the posts i'm not sure if this has been mentioned:

There's a thread on the General Discussion Forum that gives a very very negative review of the i to i program. You should take a look before committing to anything and possibly do some more research.

Good luck with everything,

Matt

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

i-to-i seem distinctly dodgy.

It's always worth doing a (forum or web-wide) search on an organisation before signing up with them.

phis · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 250

The trap that most new teachers fall into is that they are so scared that their students won't 'love them' they forget about setting rules and parameters, and try to be the students' 'friend' from day one.

In our school, we have certain school and class rules that the students have to abide by. Our most successful teachers are those who make the rules clear in the first week of classes, and follow through on any punishment they threaten. (Nothing physical of course).

By the second or third week the teacher can ease off and become more of a friend to the students, although still implementing the rules if necessary.

These teachers are really the most popular in the school. Young learners are always going to test the 'limits', but they really respect the teachers who make it clear that there is a limit beyond which they cannot go.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

yoja · Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 3 Location: California

Start with the idea that all the theoretical knowledge in the world isn't going to help as much as the first few times in the classroom. If at all possible, get some practical training, even if it's only substitute teaching at a school in the UK.

It sounds like your heart's in the right place, Rachel, and the advice offered in previous posts is all quite good.

BTW, in South Korea, also a new teacher is almost assured of teaching kids, sometimes as young as kindergarten age. The university jobs are the plums.

good luck.

bluffer · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:18 am Post subject:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=19044

Heres the thread about i-to-i

Looks like my general first impressions were right about them. Sad