Job Discussion Forums

[chode]

Does somebody know some good books which can help to get a propper preparation for teaching EFL abroad??
I want to take a TESOL-Course soon, but I want to prepair myself before.

What�s with

"Teaching English abroad" by Susan Griffith

and

"Teaching English as a foreign language" by Jerry G. Gebhardt
??

Some opinions???

[denise]

At one point I had both of those books, but it's been so long since I last saw them... (they've been boxed up for several years).

The Susan Griffith book won't really help you with teaching methodology. It really just gives you the basics for how to find work in many countries, including visa requirements, salaries, and a few contacts. I probably read it cover to cover a few times, but I don't think I ever actually used it--once I was ready to begin my job search, there were other more useful options (the internet, personal contacts in the country, the assistance of TEFL course trainers, etc).

d

[coffeedrinker]

This is a really good question and it's hard to answer.

I agree with Denise about the Susan Griffith book - it was actually useful overall as a read, in shaping my plans, but yes, mainly about visas and the employment outlook - though the first hand accounts from various teachers did give some insight into situations you might encounter.

I think I read Learning Teaching before my CELTA because it was recommended, and there are probably a number of good books like it.

Something that just occurred to me recently is that a good way to familiarize yourself with grammar is not from the standard English grammar books you find in a bookstore in English speaking countries, but from the books the students themselves use. This now seems like such an obvious choice, but I think if I'd spent the week before I started teaching doing this - familiarizing myself with the grammar references of the textbooks even below the level I was going to teach - it would have been useful.

As for classroom management, games, etc, experience is just a big part of it. Even if you read a bunch of excellent books on the subject, I think it just takes experience to get the hang of this. If you can sit in on a class at home this might help.

I'm doing the writing for the TEFL Logue - the link in my signature here - and you might find some general info there if you poke around - I won't overwhelm you with links here!

[Gregor]

Umm...
You mean that you want to prepare for a preparation course?
A TEFL certificate course is just that, you know - meant to prepare you for teaching English abroad. The training, and advice you can get face to face from your instructor(s) on the course, should be plenty.