We all had that teacher at school who was absolutely dismal: boring, ineffective, nasty Make sure you dont turn into him/her while
teaching abroad by steering clear of the 7 deadly
TEFL sins:
Sin 1: Talking too much
You can speak English, so dont really need the practice! Your students on the other hand cant give them as many opportunities to practice their English as possible and cut down on the dreaded TTT (teacher talking time).
Expert
TEFL tutor,
James Jenkin, said: Id studied languages and I thought Id be a good teacher because I knew about grammar. I used to stand in the front and lecture. I wish Id done some worthwhile teacher training before I started it took me a couple of years to realise that being a good teacher is about helping learners get involved and practise with each other to develop their skills.
Sin 2: Not doing a
TEFL course
Imagine getting behind the wheel of a car, having never done a driving lesson before. Thats a bit what stepping in front of a TEFL class without a
TEFL certificate is like youre very liable to crash into things! Neither you, nor your students will gain much from the experience and youll find that it could soon descend into chaos! Whats more, not doing a
TEFL course will seriously limit the jobs you can apply for and the amount of cash you can earn.
Sin 3: Disrespecting local customs
Did you know that touching kids heads in Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, is massively disrespectful? Suddenly that pat on the head doesnt seem like such a good idea! Wherever in the world youre teaching, its important to research local customs to make sure you dont end up upsetting or offending anyone.
Sin 4: Not checking your job conditions
Poring over your contract and checking your job conditions may not sound like the most exciting way to spend an evening, but things like working hours, extra-curricular commitments, holidays, training and the schools reputation could make or break your experience of
teaching abroad. Ignore them at your peril! Get more information about what you should check for here:
http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/emmafoers/posts/625-6-things-to-check-before-accepting-your-tefl-job.
Sin 5: Overcorrecting your students
Weve all had it the impatient ******* who wont let you just have a go they have to step in and take over, and all that happens is you get more and more wound up. Thats how your students feel if you keep correcting them when theyre trying to talk. Just relax and let them have a go the worse that can happen is they make a mistake, and if its totally gobbledygook, just wait until theyve finished before correcting them. Constant interruptions can really damage learners confidence.
Sin 6: Talking too fast
Whats one of the first phrases you learn when you start another language? After youve got the hang of ordering beers, its almost always Can you speak a little slower please. It is fiendishly difficult to make sense of a second language when the speaker is talking incredibly fast make it a little easier for your students by speaking slooowly and clearly, and enunciating every syllable.
Sin 7: Scruffiness
Unlike the healthy mixture of derision and disrespect we have for teachers here in the west, most teachers in other parts of the world have quite a high social standing. As a result, turning up for work looking like youve just crawled out of bed is something of a no no both students and other teachers will think you dont care about your classes. Much better to make a bit of an effort and get the respect of your students and peers.
What do you think? Whats the deadliest
TEFL sin in your book?
