Job Discussion Forums

[ddeubel]

I've enjoyed the discussion here....

Of course it is very hard to say precisely what makes a good teacher trainer, so many factors that are so elusive. Besides education, experience and creative / communicative thinking skills -- there are so many other interpersonal qualities.

I think the most important feature needed at present in teacher training is not just someone thinking outside the box but someone who will understand the challenges of the teacher on Day 1. Set them up for success with practical, proven methods which can of course be adapted to the teacher's own style.

I teach Korean teachers methods. I have the classroom experience (which I keep doing) to offer them real methods that work. After they leave, they can gain in confidence because they find some modicum of success and it is this which will allow them to continue as teachers - contributing and not just wander out of the profession, like lost sheep.

A valuable teacher training option is to work for the public sector - promote yourself, get noticed and you might get the job!

DD
www.ddd.batcave.net

[spiral78]

I can see some justification for the 'multiple country experience' in Bayden's comment on the second page about "their parents are paying" (in response to an earlier poster noting that we want our students to work hard).

My students are very often paying themselves or are sponsored by their employers. This has been true of my teaching experience in both Europe and Canada - in universities as well.

Maybe it's easier than we might imagine to put TEFL/TESL into familiar contexts, and forget that it's a wide-ranging field by definition.