Why Should I Complete a TEFL Course?
As a secondary English teacher, there is one question that I kept asking myself “Why complete a TEFL course?” I have had years of experience teaching English literature, figures of speech, the technical aspect of academic English which are the structure of sentences, different tenses, etc. However, Teaching English as a Foreign Language is different from teaching academic English subject. Completing a TEFL course made me realized that it is better for students to learn faster and understand better on how students will be able to communicate to the outside world using the English language.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jasmin E.
Learn a teaching methodology
It is essential to complete a TEFL course so as to understand the methodology being used which is the Engage – Study - Activate (ESA) method. Other methods such as the Boomerang and Patchwork are also used depending on the flow of the lesson. Lesson plans on a TEFL course are designed to motivate students to be engaged in the subject of the day, to make sure that the learning process takes place during the study period, corrections are being made as necessary, and to participate in the execution of any activities in the Activate stage.
Also read: Why Taking a TEFL Course Is Highly Beneficial
Gain confidence
I have learned a lot from taking the course and it gave me more confidence in teaching. I can now differentiate between teaching English as an academic subject and teaching English as a foreign language. Taking a TEFL course prepares you in helping students speak in English faster and effectively. It focuses on grammar unlike in academic English it talks about both grammar and literature.
Lesson planning
A TEFL course discusses the nature of teachers and learners and everything in between such as the methodologies, techniques, and approaches needed when teaching English as a foreign language. Different tenses are also covered and of course lesson planning. There are more topics that were discussed which are all of course important such as the Productive and Receptive Teaching skills as these cover reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of the learners, down to the course books and lesson materials. Other factors that contribute in the successful learning process of the students are the details that are being put into the lesson plan. Learner objectives, anticipated problems for students and its solutions as well as the personal aims and the anticipated problems for the teacher and its solutions helps the teacher foresee on how the whole lesson will take place.
Also read: The Importance of Lesson Planning for ESL Teaching
The importance of pronunciation
Since learning English is about communication; pronunciation and phonology are also important topics. This topic plays a vital role on how a word should be pronounced and how it should sound. As a student of this course, I was able to see the opportunities of being a TEFL teacher. It is very interesting to be in the profession of your passion and at the same time experiencing different cultures.
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