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dmb

Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:16 am Post subject: Something for Newbies

.. or indeed oldies to comment from.

Quote:

Are you Tefl material?

Before you take the plunge and enrol on a course, it's worth taking some time to think about whether you have what it takes to be a Tefl teacher, says Jenny Johnson

Wednesday December 13, 2006
EducationGuardian.co.uk

Are you interested in trying your hand at teaching English abroad? You may have thought about this as a way of taking time out, experiencing another culture and lifestyle, learning another language and integrating into an exciting new social and cultural context.

Teaching English abroad is indeed a way to do all these things. It combines the benefits of living abroad with the security of earning money in a country where you might not speak the language. It gives you a means of integrating into the local social life. It brings you into contact with the local people - something that backpacking or depending on the local enclave of "ex-pats" can never do.

However, before you take the plunge, even if it is only a short-term plan, you would do well to give some thought to what it takes to be a Tefl teacher and to make a success of a new life like this.

The first thing to consider is personal preparation. Are you physically and psychologically ready for the demands that a new culture and lifestyle will make on you? You need to research life in your chosen country, preferably by talking to someone who has done the same thing, and, if this is not possible, by taking advantage of the Internet and having a look at books like Teaching English Abroad by Susan Griffiths or the ELT Guide.

Secondly, you need to think about professional preparation. To make yourself employable, to do the job well and to be appreciated by your students you will almost certainly need to take a teacher training course. There are few countries these days where a good four-week preparatory course such as the Cambridge Celta, Trinity CertTesol or an equivalent is not considered the essential qualification for aspirants to teaching jobs in reputable institutions.

The true benefits of the job are only evident once you are behind the closed door of your very own language classroom. When you hear your students communicating using the language you've taught them, and see their pleasure when they get it right, you will experience a tremendous feeling of satisfaction. Compared with the seemingly thankless task of most state school teaching, Tefl tends to provide you with immediate, positive feedback. If you deliver an effective, lively, interactive, amusing lesson, and students are uplifted by what they have learned, then you'll know it - and this feeling of getting it right and being appreciated can be highly rewarding.

If this sounds attractive to you then you are halfway there. If, in addition, you also have a genuine fascination with language, interest in people, empathy with learners and a jot of creativity then you are two thirds of the way there. If, perhaps most importantly, you are prepared to make the effort to achieve all this, then you've probably got a lot of the characteristics you need to do well as a teacher of English: Tefl may well be for you.

Much of the rest is simply a question of procedure. The big two awarding bodies, Cambridge and Trinity, have stringent entry criteria for their courses, as do a number of the equivalent courses available.

The process involves an application form, pre-interview language and teacher-behaviour task and a face-to-face or telephone interview. Applicants will have to be at least 18, and usually need to have Level 3 qualifications, such as A-levels, which would allow entry on to a degree course.

Non-native speakers need at least the Cambridge certificate of Advanced English or an IELTS 7.5 level of English, but don't necessarily need the certificate to prove it. They may, however, be asked to complete an additional language task.

It's good to point out here that you're not expected to be a walking grammar reference book before you get on the course, but schools do like it if you are able to demonstrate some language awareness before you start. It might be worth investing in a grammar book or even a grammar course to prepare yourself better for the interview and for the course itself, and a Tefl methodology book just to get a feel for what you might be doing on a daily basis in your job.

Further to the standard requirements, you need to demonstrate a fair amount of motivation and energy. The full-time courses really keep you busy, and you don't want to give up half way through. If you are going through emotional times, or have other big issues to resolve, it's better to hold off until things are smoothed out, as the workload can sometimes cause underlying problems to rise spectacularly to the surface.

If you're still not sure whether it's right for you, it's worth calling Cactus Tefl to chat to an impartial adviser, free of charge. Other options include attending a Tefl information seminar or a taster day, which will give you an idea of what teaching English is all about. Alternatively, if your funds can stretch to it, you might want to start with an online Tefl course or weekend course to get a proper insight before committing to a longer course.

� Jenny Johnson is the head of Tefl at Cactus Worldwide

� For more information on choosing a quality course, contact Cactus Tefl. Email [email protected], visit the website, or telephone 0845 130 4775 or +44 1273 725200 from outside the

It's taken from http://education.guardian.co.uk/tefl/teaching/story/0,,1970465,00.html

Bayden

Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Posts: 988

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

Quote:

If you're still not sure whether it's right for you, it's worth calling Cactus Tefl to chat to an impartial adviser, free of charge. Other options include attending a Tefl information seminar or a taster day, which will give you an idea of what teaching English is all about. Alternatively, if your funds can stretch to it, you might want to start with an online Tefl course or weekend course to get a proper insight before committing to a longer course.

� Jenny Johnson is the head of Tefl at Cactus Worldwide

� For more information on choosing a quality course, contact Cactus Tefl. Email [email protected], visit the website, or telephone 0845 130 4775 or +44 1273 725200 from outside the

Sounds like an ad for Cactus TEFL.
A load of hollow drivel most of it.

Glenski

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

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject:

Jenny can't even spell an acronym correctly. Tefl vs. TEFL After reading that article, I'm waiting for the Amway brochures. It really is a hollow, rosy-colored speech. Probably copied directly from Cactus' own marketing materials.

eslstudies

Joined: 17 Dec 2006
Posts: 1061
Location: East of Aden

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject:

And here's some more wisdom, this time from Englishdroid

Quote:

droid's Maxims of English Language Teaching are the distillation of years of experience in the classroom. Here they are:

1. If it moves, teach it. If it does not move, put it in the resource files. If you cannot put it in the resource files, switch it off.
2. The success of a classroom activity is in inverse proportion to the time and effort spent preparing it.
3. Most activities take longer than planned, even when you allow for this in your plan.
4. The best lessons happen when the Director of Studies is not present.
5. If the lesson seems to be going well, you must have overlooked something.
6. If they do not understand, try again, then give up.
7. If a language point is really not worth teaching, it is not worth teaching well.
8. A bad teacher blames the students. A wise teacher blames the previous teacher.
9. An activity in the hand is worth two in the resource files.
10. Do every listening exercise and you will never need to cue the tape.
11. Faint heart never taught TOEFL.
12. He that laminateth materials and storeth them shall reap the benefits thereafter.
13. He that preppeth not is a genius or a fool.
14. Hi-tech, lo-learn.
15. If you are late, the Director of Studies will be in the corridor.
16. If you are late and the Director of Studies is not in the corridor, you are late for a teachers' meeting.
17. If you phone in pretending to be sick, the following day you will be sick.
18. Other teachers' students are prettier.
19. The photocopier will jam a minute before class.
20. You will usually be one handout short.
21. The recording is always on the other side of the tape.
22. Whatever interests the teacher will bore the students (and vice versa).
23. Better jobs in other schools are advertised the month after you renew your contact.
24. How to identify the type of class you are meant to be teaching:
1. If students are looking bored, it is General English.
2. If students are looking bored and wearing ties, it is Business English.
3. If students are sitting in silence, it is Conversation.
4. If students are looking desperate, it is English for Academic Purposes.
5. If students are running around screaming and damaging the furniture, it is a children's class.

Justin Trullinger

Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject:

I've worked with Cactus TEFL, and found them extremely professional and helpful- by the way, anyone in the UK who wants to register for a TESOL cert in Ecuador can do so through their website... Is that shameless self promotion? In response to the English Droid posting, I have to say some of my best classes have been taught to things that didn't move. Justin

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