Firstly, I believe that this
tefl course has given me a much more structured understanding of the
english language, in particular the grammar. This has highlighted to me how little
english grammar is taught in
english schools, and how much of it is learnt through the development of language from a young age. I also believe this course has given me a really good overview of all aspects of
tefl from planning lessons to accessing and creating materials, testing/examinations and as already stated, grammar. I believe it will stand me in immensely good stead when I actually to begin to teach
english as a foreign language for real.
My only regret is that I was not able to take the option of the week long course, as I would have liked to have some active practice, or gained some experiences of watching
efl being taught.
This being said, I have been fortunate enough to experience living with a
french family several times over the last 8 months, and I believe this
tefl course has helped highlight aspects of the
english language which they have had trouble learning. For example, I have been able to
offer lots of positive advice in terms of pronunciation and sentence structure. I have also been made aware of how advanced the teaching of
english can be in foreign schools, having got to know the
children in this family, and I have been impressed by their desire to learn the
english language. I also believe that in order to thoroughly learn a language, it is important to be able to immerse oneself in that country and its culture. However I hope that as a
tefl teacher I will at least be able to give students who don't have that opportunity the widest understanding of the
english language as possible.
I also feel that the
tefl course has made me more aware of the way I speak myself and I believe that I have made a conscious effort to be more precise with my pronunciation and sentence structure, particularly when talking to foreign people.
On 12th May 2011 I will be moving to
france and starting work (initially in an
english pub) but once I have achieved my
tefl qualification I hope to be able to use it to gain work in a language school or ordinary school in the Bordeaux area. I have already contacted several schools with my
french and
english CV's and they are aware of my imminent arrival in
france and my almost complete
tefl qualification. I will be making great use of all aspects of the course in planning, preparing and delivering lessons in
efl to
french students, and I believe by immersing myself in the
french culture and language it will give me a greater insight into all the issues surrounding the learning of a language, be it confidence, pronunciation, vocabulary or grammar.