TEFL Guadalajara

The 120-hour online tefl (Teaching english as a Foreign Language) certification course has taught me the foundation of english grammar, lesson planning techniques and the need to balance what is taught and how it is taught. The course has also assisted me in understanding the need for pair and group work and the need to use english as the language of instruction. I have learnt a lot about grammar from this course. I had the misconception that I would only need to teach three tenses. Although there are only three time, past, present and future, each has four different aspects, namely simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous. The course taught me the structure and usage of all twelve tenses, as well as the verb changes (e.g. infinitive, past simple, past participle). I have learnt how to lesson plan and I have learnt the need to balance study and activate stages of the lesson. There needs to be a balance between drilling and opportunity to communicate freely (as well as directed communication). With tutor support I realized the need for the activate stage, and the study stage when necessary, to include pair work or group work. This practice maximizes student talk time and provides the students with a safe environment to try out new language skills and take risks, before re-joining the class for whole class work. Apart from learning the skills I need to teach english as a second language, I have also gained confidence. I feel more prepared to whip up lesson plans (although I know that this starts off ridged and becomes easier as my teaching career goes on). I look forward to teaching english Atauro Island (East Timor) and taking on the challenge of a monolingual class. I look forward to learning from the Timorese people, and having something useful to teach them. In 2014, once I have completed by teaching degree, I will move to Atauro, East Timor, and working with locals at the new preschool, Fitun Esperança, training teachers, teaching computers (possibly) and teaching english. There are many challenges ahead. I will run any english teaching classes, and will not come under an organization that levels the students. I am likely to have large classes, as Timorese are eager to learn english. Much of the lessons are likely to be on my veranda, with neighbors who are keen to learn. My experience with teaching in East Timor is very minimal. In Bidau Satana Ana, suburb in Dili, East Timor, I was asked to teach some english classes. When I walked into the class to observe how english is taught I was asked, on the spot, to teach (a 2 hour lesson with no preparation and no expertise!). I took 6 or so of these 2 hours lesson over a month (without any qualifications or confidence). The class has around 40 students, aged 15-40, and included students in beginner, elementary and pre-intermediate level. I was not able to discern how to level the students (nor were the facilities available to divide the class). I had a few books to give me ideas but the lessons were not, overall, successful. It was a useful part of learning but now, with this course, I feel much more confident to teach!