Job Discussion Forums

[carl_00]

Hey

So I've just finished uni (BA illustration ) and I'm considering teaching English, I have no teaching experience whatsoever and the main motivation for me choosing this path is to travel. Saying that I would like to be good at my job but having spent most of my school years avoiding things such as essays and whatnot I don't feel all too comfortable with my knowledge of the language and grammar especially etc...

1) Could you recommend a good all-in-one textbook that would cover the areas of English that I will need to be fluent in.

2) It seems like I will need to get a TEFL certificate, from one of the sites here the courses advertised were 4 weeks in length, I'm a bit skeptical this is sufficient enough time to take me as a beginner to becoming a confident teacher, it would be good to hear peoples expereinces of this.

Also I'm certain I am overlooking a tonne of things so what else need I be looking into?

Thanks

[mandalayroad]

Get Betty Azar's Fundamentals of English Grammar for starters.
What certificate you strive for depends on how long you want to be in the TEFL business, and where you want to go.

[denise]

The four-week certificate courses are the standard entry into the field. A certificate will help you get your first job. No, it won't make you a master of the language, but it will help you plan and deliver lessons. Don't feel bad about not knowing all of the grammar rules--just make sure that you check the relevant rules before you teach them, or if they come up unexpectedly in class, tell your students you will get back to them the next day and then hit the resource room in your school.

If you only want to do this for a year or so just to see a bit of the world, you really don't need more than a four-week certificate. How quickly you become confident in the classroom really depends on you and how comfortable you are speaking in public, potentially making mistakes, dealing with glitches like the photocopier breaking down 10 minutes before your class when you desperately need copies, etc. You'll probably be nervous for your first few days, but then you'll get used to it. Your lesson planning might take a long time in the beginning, but you'll get better and faster at that, too.

d

[carl_00]

Thanks for the book mandalayroad.

[Justin Trullinger]

My experience is that fear of public speaking isn't going to be a problem- those who are (myself included) comfortable in front of a crowd often fall into the trap early on of lecturing at students, rather than constructing classroom activities that let the students practice their English.

If you're a bit shy, and naturally avoid the spotlight, this may make "getting out of the center" second nature for you. And that's a good thing!


Best,
justin

[parrothead]

I completely agree with Justin. Some of the most confident public speakers make terrible teachers.

[denise]

I wasn't implying that teachers need public speaking skills in order to stand up and lecture their students. No, no, I'm a believer in communicative teaching, student-centeredness, and all the other trendy catch-phrases. Realistically, though, at some points during the lesson the teacher will likely end up giving instructions and examples, correcting, etc., and in those cases he/she will be the center of attention. And if he needs to write on the board, then he will be up there at the front of the room, commanding everyone's attention.

There was one guy in particular in my TEFL course who just completely fell apart during his practice teaching sessions--tripped over his words, sweat pouring down his face and soaking through his shirt, etc. I'd be willing to bet that part of the problem was a fear of public speaking.

There are some students who are afraid to speak up in class. It's OK for the students, but certainly not for the teacher!

There is a difference between being shy and being afraid of public speaking. You can be shy and still able to stand up in front of a room and give instructions.

d

[MO39]

[carl_00]

[Anda]

Um, average teaching hours in China are 16 per week in Universities and government jobs and about 25 in private institutes. Some places will have you following a set course and other places will leave you free to do as you like provided there are no complaints.


Some teachers spend hardly any time preparing and use stuff off the internet while others spend as many hours preparing or even more than actual teaching hours. The more you put into this work the more that you get appreciated by your students but not necessarily management.

[carl_00]

Ok, so I think I have decided to aim for China or Taiwan first off.
What do I do next?
Would it be best to take a TEFL course in said location then go onto getting a job there or should I do it here in England?
What are the pros and cons of each?
When is it best to take the course i.e. when am I most likely to find work/ start work?
Should I do a Celta, CertTesol or 4-week TEFL course? are any perceived as better or are they generally the same..? If I choose the 4-week TEFL, I notice there seem to be a lot advertised, are there any which come more highly recommend or any that are best avoided?

Thanks for the input

[Anda]

This lot offer an approvel ESL course here in China and government jobs;


http://canadajobs.allstarjobs.ca/index.php?post_id=11603&action=search&offset=1

[natsume]

My experience throughout college, and even in my TEFL certificate courses, has always been that public speaking terrifies me, and effects my performance to the degree that I believe in many cases it has affected my grades. But I made a remarkable discovery in my practicum work for my cert., and in the last year of teaching. I somehow have a relaxed and comfortable "teacher persona". I have no idea why, but my guess is that I know I have a prescribed role, and I am not up there to be graded or judged (ostensibly), and my audience is not my peers. Believe me, this was a happy discovery. I still get jitters when I have to speak in front of my peers, but I think I have become a bit more relaxed about it due to the teaching experience.

I appreciate what Justin said. I think I have a special sensitivity to students who are terrified to speak. In Japan, there are lots of them. And I also think I know when to get out of the way and let the students do the work they need to in the classroom. I have no desire to spend more time than necessary talking "at" the class. I work with some teachers who tend towards this, and it often seems to be wasting valuable time.

[carl_00]

[kinlij]