Tips for Taking the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Course

I took the online (TEFL) course before going to the Dominican Republic to volunteer as an English teacher. I decided to take it as I hoped it would provide me with a solid grounding in teaching methods, as well as help me feel more confident when I entered the classroom. I don't regret taking the course, as it provided me with a good foundation for beginning my career in English as a Second Language (ESL) industry. I was very happy to receive my online TEFL certification and set off to teach abroad.

The course was wide-ranging, covering an extensive range of topics including theory, teaching methods, grammar, lesson planning, classroom management, and more. All aspects of teaching were addressed, which made me feel much more self-assured before I went abroad to teach. Even though I had some previous teaching experience at summer courses and after-school clubs, I learned a great deal and was able to benefit from the course content.

Tips:

• Familiarise yourself with the course content so you know what to expect and avoid any surprises.

• Make sure you check the meaning of any new terminology.

For me, the grammar section was definitely the most difficult part to master, as I had no previous experience teaching grammar. Although I obviously speak and write English to a high standard, explaining it to others felt like a big challenge, and I didn’t really know where to begin. I had to really sit down and study in order to feel better about my abilities with tenses, nouns, verbs, and so on! I used a few books recommended to me by a friend who is an English teacher, and these helped me grasp the tricky parts, as they broke it down even more than the course did.

It goes without saying that there is no better practice than actually teaching a group of students a grammar point yourself. You quickly develop your own style and ideas when you begin teaching, and of course, with experience, teaching becomes easier, even grammar! However, the course itself gives you the foundational knowledge before you begin, allowing you to start feeling confident in your abilities.

Tips:

• Don't get stressed about grammar! Take it one step at a time and ask for help if you need it.

• Find a friend or someone else on the course to study with and share ideas and concerns.

Personally, I found that I felt much more confident in areas such as classroom management and lesson planning, but this is probably due to my own experiences and previous jobs and volunteering work. With the TEFL course, you are able to focus on your own areas of weakness, which is a great advantage. I found the course to be flexible, and I appreciated that I was able to work at my own pace, spending more time on the areas I needed to. This aspect gives the TEFL course a more personalised feel, rather than having to rush through and risk not fully understanding things.

Tip:

• Take your time on the areas you find more difficult.

• Remember that when you are in a real classroom, you will learn a lot more and have opportunities to put all your new knowledge into practice.

The test itself wasn’t really easy, but nor was it incredibly difficult. I think it is well-balanced in terms of the level of challenge. Due to the course preparation and the additional revision I did independently (particularly on the grammar parts!), I felt fairly well prepared. The test itself isn’t designed to trick you, so if you have participated fully in the course and then gone over your personal areas of weakness, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t pass. I was quite nervous, but in hindsight, I didn’t need to be.

Tips:

• Go over your weak areas in your own time or with your study buddy to avoid feeling overly nervous on the day of the test.

• Ask your tutor or a friend for additional support if you need it.

• Don’t panic! Take everything one step at a time and you’ll be fine.

Overall, my impressions of the course were that it has been well-planned and well-thought-out, covering many aspects of teaching ESL and allowing both those with and without experience to gain valuable knowledge and tools for teaching abroad. For those hoping to work or volunteer in different countries, it provides a clear and helpful introduction to teaching ESL and will help dispel any fears or concerns you may have. Ultimately, I feel that by taking the TEFL course, you will become a better teacher in the long run, enabling you to prepare consistently good and well-planned classes for your students.

I would recommend the course as it is easy to access, time-efficient, and practical. I believe it would be beneficial for those like me, who have some prior experience, but also for those who have never set foot in a classroom or picked up a lesson plan!