Job Discussion Forums

[tin-tin]

hi,

i am currently studying a tesol course with intesol (about halfway through) and its occurred to me that while i'm learning about grammar and lesson planning and all the relevant tit-bits like games and such, im having difficulty seeing how it all fits together. Maybe i'm being a bit premature since i havent even finished, but the idea of running a classroom of 30 odd kids and presenting a cohesive program seems a little distant. Does the typical employer provide some sort of structure to the material to be taught in the form of a curriculum, or do they just expect to hand you a classroom key and watch you shine. Have others experienced this and how did you manage? or is it time for me to embrace the horror and prepare for a few lingering stage deaths!
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'You've got to be honest;if you can fake that, you've got it made!'

George Burns

[denise]

Don`t worry! First of all, there are a lot more types of settings than those involving 30-odd kids (or 30 odd kids!). You can teach individual students, small groups, university classes, business classes, etc., to students of all ranges.

Second--most schools will at the very least have a set of textbooks that they would prefer that you use. I�m not suggesting that a textbook = a syllabus, but it does give you some structure, so you don`t have to come up with everything on your own. You should always try to supplement, of course (provided you`re allowed to!), to keep things interesting and to keep your brain working.

Also, keep in mind that when you get your first job, your school will know it`s your first job! They should be ready and willing to help and support you--both your supervisors and your fellow teachers.

Good luck!

Oh, and I`m surprised the censor didn`t catch "tit bits"!

d

[tedkarma]

This disconnect between actual classroom work (the application of what you should learn in an observed practice) and theory is one of the primary reasons that distance programs are not generally recommended in the training community. (I am guessing you are doing a distance class - just based on your questions)

Reading about - versus actually doing it - really are two different things. There really is a connection between what you are learning and what you will do in a classroom - though it may not seem obvious at the moment.

Denise is right - some schools will provide you with a structure - but many won't and will throw you in a class - in Thailand in particular - with as many as 30-50 students.

If you can, get some observed teaching practice - if you can't - try to start with smaller classes in more structured schools.

[Glenski]