Why Complete a TEFL Course - A TEFL Graduate Explains
Whether you are currently considering embarking in a career in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or have been a teacher of English language learners for years, a TEFL certification course will provide you with an invaluable source to develop your skills as a teacher. This course presents an overview of TEFL. It explains the responsibilities and skills a successful teacher should have, as well as the many roles the teacher must employ in the classroom. It introduces the ESA (engage, study, activate) methodology, and demonstrates how to effectively prepare different types of lesson plans based on the ESA approach to teaching.
This post was written by our ITTT graduate Elizabeth R.
The Basics of Teaching
The TEFL course presents an introduction to the world of TEFL. It list acronyms teachers should be familiar with, explains some commonly accepted language levels, addresses classroom management, provides ways to evaluate students, things to consider when selecting course books, tests students will be exposed to as well as external tests some students may need to take. It elaborates on some advantages and disadvantages of teaching language learners of different ages, cultures, language levels as well as students with various levels of motivation. In addition, it raises some common problems the teacher may face in the classroom, and provides some helpful solutions.
Also read: Where to Earn the Highest Salaries Teaching English Abroad
The Importance of Good Rapport
One recurrent theme throughout the course is the importance of establishing a good rapport with the students. This will determine whether or not a class is successful. The course illustrates ways this can be achieved, such as the teacher’s need to understand the students, making the class relevant to the students, etc. It elaborates on the many aspects an effective teacher must consider when teaching different language learners, and introduces the many roles the teacher must take on in the classroom when teaching.
The ESA Methodology
The ESA (engage, study, activate) approach to teaching new language is introduced. The course explains all three stages used in this method of teaching. They are as follows: The engage stage, the study stage, and the activate stage. Many variations of this basic three-stage lesson are introduced, and how to integrate more stages in different orders in a single class. The idea is to always begin with an engage stage, and end with an activate stage, when students are practicing what they have learned during the study phase(s). Through the numerous examples presented of different types of lesson plans as well as the practice provided throughout the course you will be able to write a well-thought-out lesson plan, and understand the many benefits this can have to your development as a teacher of English learners.
Also read: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Before Enrolling In a TEFL Course
The Lowdown
The TEFL course will teach both new, and experienced teachers alike how to teach effectively as well as help teachers of English learners in developing their teaching skills. It demonstrates how to establish a good rapport with the students, how to maintain variety in the classroom as well as how to encourage students’ motivation. It provides a rich resource for teachers to refer back to during their teaching career, as well as many examples of exercises that can be used as a guide when creating your own material.
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