Job Discussion Forums

[kazpat]

Teaching English and speaking English are two different things. I came into the classroom at my first overseas job with just some classroom experience. I can tell you that I have never felt so burnt out as those first few months teaching, especially my young learners groups. Actually if I look at my four years at university and that first year teaching full time overseas then I would say the four years at university were like a vacation.

Without getting a certification you must be ready for a steep learning curve. I needed to study the grammar of my native language so I spent a lot of my "free time" trying to be a better teacher. I not only had to learn the rules but be comfortable communicating to learners the rules.

Classroom activities, games, test prep (TOEFL or IELTS) etc. it all takes allot of time to learn to do well. Starting my second year full time abroad I am just now starting to feel that I am truly effective.

I don't mean to come off as negative but I speak from experience when I say your first year or maybe in your case your only year teaching can be one of the most stressful things you can ever do. This is assuming of course you want to do the job right.

The summer camp idea sounds like an option.

Best of Luck to you....