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Rather_Dashing
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
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 Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:36 pm Post subject: How long does it take to get used to teaching? |
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Hello there again everyone,
How long did it take you guys to get used to actual teaching? Being comfortable with the subject matter, standing up there in front of everyone, not looking like an idiot teaching the class, etc.
And if anyone has any advice as to how to cut the learning curve, I would appreciate it. All I got is the magic BA - no TESL, TEFL, TESOL, EFL, CELTA, or wtfever those things are (I don't even know what most of those acronyms mean!).
I am taking this very seriously. I'm not coming there just to collect a paycheck.
Thanks again! |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: Re: How long does it take to get used to teaching? |
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| Rather_Dashing wrote: |
Hello there again everyone,
How long did it take you guys to get used to actual teaching? Being comfortable with the subject matter, standing up there in front of everyone, not looking like an idiot teaching the class, etc.
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For me..I guess, it took about two weeks before I started feeling comfortable with what I was doing. The hardest days by far were my first couple of days, but that was not only the fault of my lack of teaching skills, but also the fault of an overzealous hagweon who threw too much at me once, threw me into a classroom jetlagged and confused, and expected me to go from exactly where the other teacher left off.
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And if anyone has any advice as to how to cut the learning curve, I would appreciate it. All I got is the magic BA - no TESL, TEFL, TESOL, EFL, CELTA, or wtfever those things are (I don't even know what most of those acronyms mean!).
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A certificate would definitely help, and if you are worried about this, I suggest you do one. If I were you, I'd pick one where you actually get some decent practice-teaching time.
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I am taking this very seriously. I'm not coming there just to collect a paycheck.
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Then bring your sense of humour, you'll need it! |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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Learning to teach is a never ending process. My view on teaching now is always changing -- sometimes with massive paradigm shifts and sometimes with little realizations. I've always got my nose in some study or book in order to learn more about how languages are learned and taught. For example, I'm presently reading Learning Vocabulary in Another Language and I just experienced a major paradigm shift through it.
Now, about your questions. Getting used to standing up in front of the class didn't take too long (a book or two on public speaking did the trick).
Not looking like an idiot? Well, remember how your favorite teachers were the quirky ones? Go with that.
For a shortcut in learning how to teach you could read How to Teach English by Jeremy Harmer. It gives great info on basic considerations and approaches to teaching. |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
Learning to teach is a never ending process. My view on teaching now is always changing -- sometimes with massive paradigm shifts and sometimes with little realizations.
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I agree with you Beaver, but do you not agree that there's a steep learning curve at the beginning, especially teaching children?
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For a shortcut in learning how to teach you could read How to Teach English by Jeremy Harmer. It gives great info on basic considerations and approaches to teaching. |
I keep seeing this book reccomended over and over, but I can never find it. Where can I buy it? |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| bosintang wrote: |
| I agree with you Beaver, but do you not agree that there's a steep learning curve at the beginning, especially teaching children? |
I never learned how to teach kids. Steep stress curve for me.
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| I keep seeing this book reccomended over and over, but I can never find it. Where can I buy it? |
At What the Book? |
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yomuthabyotch
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Hell, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:22 am Post subject: |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
| Not looking like an idiot? Well, remember how your favorite teachers were the quirky ones? Go with that. |
THAT IS SO TRUE! Wow... how reassuring.
Yes, RD, at least get yourself a TESL certificate. I'm in the process of getting mine. Spent nearly $3000 for 4 classes though--NOT cheap. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
Yes, RD, at least get yourself a TESL certificate. I'm in the process of getting mine. Spent nearly $3000 for 4 classes though--NOT cheap. |
Wow!
That's expensive [I'm assuming you mean usd]. Maybe the op could think about working for a year in Korea and then coming to NZ [or someother cheap English speaking country] and enrolling in a summer school course at Victoria [say], my TESOL course only cost nzd 1400 for a 3 month course - think half price. When I did it there were a couple of US students enrolled, I wondered why at the time, but now I know - it's cheap.
Once you have had 12 months actual ESL classroom experience you would surely piss through a CertTESOL qualification. I have a CetTESOL, like I said, but very little classrom experience; mainly private coaching and hosting an assisted studies programme 2 hours a week, that kind of thing.
I have been offered a job in a small-town private school and I have had to start thinking about the reality of standing in front of a classroom-full of non-English speaking children, and I must admit the thought is a bit daunting. At least the school I'm heading for teaches from a set text, with only some room for teacher created activities [according to the outgoing teacher who I spoke to on the phone recently].
These boards have been a really helpful place for preparing to teach English [and live] in Korea. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:47 am Post subject: |
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sorry - double post
but also for botching the quote in my post above, I attributed the quote to the_beaver, but it should have been yomuthabyotch. |
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babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004
Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:01 am Post subject: |
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Follow my advice on this link:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=32119
Adapt if you don't have mixed levels (do yourself everything I said to have the advanced students do). Follow a text book on what sequence to teach grammar points - if your hagwon don't provide one, get one yourself.
Plenty of adaptable games/activities to be found online.
Courtesy of Teachinternational(.com), Australia (also available in NZ).
(about 100hours online, 40 hours - 5 full days - in class). Well worth the $1500AU. Intelligent, entertaining and professional trainers.
If everyone had done this course 10 years ago Korea would not need uni grads so bad.
Good luck - do your best. |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:33 am Post subject: |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
I just experienced a major paradigm shift through it.
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sounds painful.  |
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babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004
Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| Corporal wrote: |
| the_beaver wrote: |
I just experienced a major paradigm shift through it.
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sounds painful. |
Paradigm shifts always hurt... Like a heavy dose of fibre your arse just wasn't expecting!  |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:45 am Post subject: Re: How long does it take to get used to teaching? |
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| Rather_Dashing wrote: |
.. And if anyone has any advice as to how to cut the learning curve, I would appreciate it. All I got is the magic BA - no TESL, TEFL, TESOL, EFL, CELTA, or wtfever those things are (I don't even know what most of those acronyms mean!).
I am taking this very seriously. I'm not coming there just to collect a paycheck. |
I see a contradiction here. If youre taking this "very seriously," why do you seem to take pride in your ignorance of the language teaching field?
If you are seriously interested in being an effective teacher, you owe it to yourself & your students to have at least a passing familiarity with established teaching methodologies.
You want to cut the learning curve? Dont reinvent the wheel. |
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Rather_Dashing
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: How long does it take to get used to teaching? |
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| schwa wrote: |
| Rather_Dashing wrote: |
.. And if anyone has any advice as to how to cut the learning curve, I would appreciate it. All I got is the magic BA - no TESL, TEFL, TESOL, EFL, CELTA, or wtfever those things are (I don't even know what most of those acronyms mean!).
I am taking this very seriously. I'm not coming there just to collect a paycheck. |
I see a contradiction here. If youre taking this "very seriously," why do you seem to take pride in your ignorance of the language teaching field?
If you are seriously interested in being an effective teacher, you owe it to yourself & your students to have at least a passing familiarity with established teaching methodologies.
You want to cut the learning curve? Dont reinvent the wheel. |
Try again. This time, treat me with respect. And try reading what I wrote. |
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