It feels like only yesterday when I set out from my home in Coventry with a packed lunch and a book entitled ‘How to Teach English‘. My destination was Japan, and my goal was to TEFL. 2 years on, and things have changed a lot.
During this two years, I have taught businessmen, children, university students and everyone in between. I think I can safely say that I started out as a pretty bad teacher; high on enthusiasm, aspirations and friendliness, low on nouse, materials, and contacts. I wouldn’t say I’ve corrected everything in my teaching repertoire, but I’ve certainly become, or have been made aware of my strengths and weaknesses.
So, a few tips for those starting out.
1. Take advice
Resenting your employer for providing training, criticism or advice is only going to detract from you as an employee and as a teacher. Everyone has areas that they could improve in the classroom; take advice on board with an open mind and learn from your own mistakes.
2. Prepare for some bad lessons
A new teacher said to me the other day that he is petrified of the idea of one of his lessons going wrong. I reassured him by saying that one of his lessons – probably more – will definitely go wrong. Lesson plans just don’t work out as thought; students turn up with no desire to learn; you may even have an off day and lose your power to teach. It’s not so much about having a bad lesson but how you react to it. Don’t be afraid to scrap a lesson plan if it’s not working. Equally, don’t let one bad lesson knock your confidence too badly. Pick yourself up and try again.
3. Go by the book
Thinking you can re-invent the rule book is naïve. As a newcomer, you may have strong ‘opinions’ on grammar, American vs. British English, Fluency vs. Accuracy or any number of things. Until you’ve got some real experience, it’s probably best just to go along with the pre-defined methods until your own style and ideas are properly formulated.
4. Be prepared
Whoever you are teaching, finding the right materials, sticking with them and developing them is essential. This could be about choosing the right textbook, or finding the approach that suits you. Being prepared is about having clear ideas. What are you teaching, why, and how? If you can answer these questions you will (hopefully) never be caught out.
5. Get along
With who? Students, fellow teachers, other staff at work. You are the foreigner. Be willing and ready to adapt to local culture rather than trying to change it, or complaining about it. If you do, you will find the experience much more rewarding and successful.
As I may have mentioned before, I am taking on a new challenge as an English teacher at a junior high school here in Japan starting in May. In some ways it feels like I am going back to basics, so reviewing what I’ve learnt until this point has been useful for me. I hope it has for you too!
Hi Ben, thanks for your story. I am at the very begining. Just wondering weather to make the leap an its really helful what you have shared. I want to go to Turkey to teach and am preparing to go out in 4 years. just some advice please, should i wait to do the tefl course just before i go rather than now as its a bit too early?
Are you still abroad?
kind regards Neelum
How much would you say it actually cost for this efl experience?
Nice one ..ben
Hi Neelum. It depends on your schedule, but my advice would be to take the TEFL course now and try to get some private or volunteer work before you actually go out.
@Jen: I’m not exactly sure what you are asking, but a TEFL course costs about 1000 pounds sterling. But considering your earning potential once you are qualified, this expense is nothing.
Hi Ben,
Great blog, some very interesting insights and helpful tips. I have just completed my TEFL course in Rome and am back home in Birmingham (fellow Midlander!). I have plans to re-locate and pursue a career in teaching, yet have been offered a job today locally, teaching japanese teenagers for a few days next month as part of a homestay project. The itinerary is very organised and there are a lot of activities included for them so i’m really looking forward to it. I wondered if there are any additional tips you have – or specific advice on teaching teenagers of this nationality, as my previous experience has been primarily with europeans and adults. I presume that there may be reluctance in relation to speaking exercises and some pronunciation errors. Do you have a couple of tried and tested filler/fun activities that may bring them out of their shells?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!