There has always been a need for people to learn new languages, however in today's ever increasing globalized world where geography and political boundaries become ever more irrelevant, the need to learn about other cultures and places of the world is become ever more relevant. As a person who grew up in a family that stressed exploration of the world, languages were always at the forefront of my education. After becoming fluent in
english and
french, I learned a little bit of
spanish,
japanese, and German. My desire is to become fluent in those, and add a few more. I believe learning languages brings the world together, and establishes a common ground, even when there may be so many differences between us. So why is it important to complete a program such as the Teach
english as a Foreign Language (
tefl) course? It is one step closer to helping spread the value of language to others by taking the initiative and teaching others a language that is so prominent in the world today. A few reasons as mentioned by Life Changing Travel are:
• ? To get the skills you need to earn up to US$2,200 a month!
• ? To enable you to live and work abroad for as long as you want.
• ? To give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a foreign culture in a way that package tourists can only dream of!
• ? To give you the chance to make a positive impact on the lives of people around the world
• ? To fuel your desire to teach and travel by showing you that all you need to teach abroad is a bit of enthusiasm and a
tefl qualification
Of course, these are great reasons to acquire a
tefl certification as a native
english speaker. It is a requirement in many countries to teach
english, so they are right in saying that it is a means to make teaching possible. They did not mention, however, that completing a
tefl certification gives the
teacher the confidence needed to be an effective
teacher. I have always felt a
teacher, whether it be teaching sports, or just in day-to-day life activities like teaching a friend to cook a new dish. But completing a
tefl certification has given me the confidence to bring my natural teaching abilities, refine them, and give me the confidence to know that I can, and will be an effective
teacher in the classroom. It is necessary to have
teachers like this to have students that learn properly and effectively as well. Without the proper knowledge and confidence, a
teacher cannot teach students properly.
I personally took this
tefl course because it was a requirement, but after completing it, I feel much more capable as a
teacher. I believe I will go into a classroom, and be confident in my abilities and that I will be able to make a difference in people's lives, whether they be 3 years old, 30 years old, new to
english, or almost fluent. I know that completing a
tefl course is hugely beneficial to being a great
teacher.
Sources:
Why do a
tefl course?, I-to-I Life Changing Travel; http://www.i-to-i.com/about-
tefl-course.html