Teach English in Chibougamau - TEFL Courses

Before going into detail about the advantages of completing a tefl (Teaching english as a Foreign Language) course, I'd like to ask a better question: Why not complete a tefl course? Assuming that a person would have the time/resources to complete the course, as well as have a native or strong knowledge of the english language, there is very little downside to attempting and completing one of these course opportunities. Of course, many people stay very busy within their day-to-day lives, and personally I'm no exception to this rule. I have six classes per semester to take care of, a part-time job working in the construction business, and bills that come as regularly as the day is long. I've spent the last (almost) six months setting aside a few hours here and there to complete the 20 tefl units I've been given, and have sacrificed all of this time with the hope that I will gain something more than a simple certification of this course. And I have. Not only am I excited and ready to take on the challenge of teaching an english class—whether domestically or abroad—but I'm also surprised by the amount of english knowledge that I didn't know or wasn't aware of before starting the program! In my opinion, taking the steps to complete a tefl course are a great self-test and also an even greater ‘floodgate' to the opportunities that will arise upon completion of the program. Some of these opportunities include, but are not limited to: Traveling Abroad The tefl certification is absolutely beneficial to those who wish to travel foreign lands. Kellyanne Capuano is an australian graduate of the program, and she is quick to point out that, “Receiving assistance with Visa requirements is also vital for us as it helps us to achieve our goal of traveling and working.” (1) Being an American, I share Kellyanne's difficulty of obtaining visas—as this process is very lengthy and complicated given that you're not equipped with the correct skill set. Given that a person has a tefl/tesol certification, the matter becomes a bit easier as they stand out during the visa application process. This is just one of the ways that a tefl course may benefit an individual, by providing an avenue to which the person may be able to enter a foreign country. Improving People's Lives Personally, I've recently made trips to Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, argentina and Uruguay to study and learn the spanish language. Throughout my travels, I have encountered and worked with many people who would love to improve their economic situations by improving their english. As english is the international language of business and trade, the skill is indispensable among those worldwide who use it—and it's statistically proven that being bi-lingual correlates to higher wages and/or salary increases. What greater gift could one give? An indispensable communication skill that would enable an individual to better his self and/or his situation. The gratitude I've received from co-workers and simple acquaintances in South America by helping them better their english (even from sharing a lunch table or sitting next to one another on the bus) has been outstanding and encouraging. Sharing this skill with people that are adamant about it is rewarding in itself. Opportunity to Live and Learn in Other Cultures This point I cannot stress enough. And that is, there is absolutely nothing to be lost by learning and experiencing another culture, and everything to gain. My personal experiences (living with a family in argentina, working construction in Ecuador, etc.) have changed my outlook on life tremendously. I know that I'm a more ‘whole' person having had these opportunities to work, learn and study; and I'm absolutely hungry for more. Traveling frees the mind, embodies the spirit and teaches people things about themselves that they'd never know without stepping outside of their comfort zones. My travels have been magnificent, chaotic, stressful, euphoric—all of the above. And that's the best part. Seeing the world with my own eyes is the most rewarding experience that I've ever had, and this tefl certification will facilitate more of this activity. I'm absolutely rabid about continuing my travels, and the tefl certification could be the guiding torch in extending my knowledge of the world. Works Cited: (1)Why complete a tefl course? Kellyanne Capuano 2006-11-14