Our January 2023 TEFL course just graduated, and before they departed for the last time, we asked them what advice they would give to the new course attendees.
Here’s what they said:
- Do not be afraid to ask for help. Each member of the TEFL team is unique, wonderful, and helpful. My asking them for help, and their being responsive to my needs were truly positive experiences. Ask for help!
- Have as clear of a schedule as you can. Expect to focus almost all your time on this course.
- Get to know your classmates as well as you can because it’ll make it more enjoyable.
- When you feel like you’re going to break, just push on, you can do it.
- Be prepared that it will not be an easy journey. It will take time and effort, but it would be more than worth it at the end of the day. It not only helps you to grow as a teacher but most importantly, it helps you to grow as a human being.
- Connect with students before starting your curriculum.
- Find teammates that inspire you.
- Be ready for a challenge!
- Never stop learning and enjoy the journey!
- KISS – Keep it short and simple and don’t overcomplicate.
- Allow yourself to make mistakes but review what went wrong and try to find the pattern.
- Fake it till you make it! You can’t have teaching confidence if you haven’t done it before. Instead, have confidence that you are doing the best you can.
- New TEFL trainees should ask, ‘how do I see myself? And how do people see me?’ For example, perceived good listeners will be good at that in a classroom setting.
- Slow to adapt to changes will have its impact in your student’s learning if lessons are not being understood.
- Be prepared to continue learning the TEFL teaching guidelines, techniques, and English knowledge.
- Work hard!
- Don’t overthink your lesson plan.
- Pay attention to feedback from the instructors.
- Be new TEFL students is as much as possible by yourself when you are teaching. I think this helps build a connection with students.
- Ensure that you actually fully understand the grammar or vocabulary you are teaching including form meaning and use.
- Try and learn some common problems Czech speakers have when learning English as this will help identify reasons for mistakes.
- This will not be easy, but go home each night and re-read the lessons from the day. Highlight anything that you may have questions about and talk to your teachers about it.…. Don’t wait until the final moment to review a whole bunch of material and not realize you may not have everything you need.
- Refrain from getting “grammar drunk.” At the least spend an hour or two each week to internalize course materials.
In just 4 weeks you can be teaching English abroad. TEFL Worldwide was awarded as the Top TEFL Certification Course of 2018 and 2019! Courses offered monthly.
