TEFL Westwego Louisiana

You've decided it's time for a change, for adventure, for something out of the ordinary, and you sign up to teach english somewhere far, far away. You've always liked children, you majored in english, and something about experiencing a different culture interests you far more than working in an office. So you take the leap to teach, get the job, become excited—only to sit there slightly panicked at the thought of being responsible for the education of a group of students. You don't know anything about teaching! How can you be trusted to teach others how to speak a language you don't even remember learning? If that sounds like something you've experienced then rest assured: you are not alone. That was my thought process while applying to teach abroad during my final year in university. It wasn't until halfway through my final semester that it occurred to me to look for some actual schooling on how to teach english. The problem native-english speaking teachers might encounter when taking the first tentative steps into the foray of teaching is the reality that we, with english as our first language, know very little about the formal and technical aspects of the language. Grammar and tenses were not taught to us as we will be teaching it to those learning english as a second/foreign language. We learned through acquisition, through our environment and our parents. While we know how to speak english, we can't very well explain the past perfect continuous form when someone asks because, well, we never learned about it. It is easy to correct someone if they say “You're beautifuler than her,” but the reason why we say “more beautiful” instead of “beautifuler” is not something the average english speaker is well informed on. That is why it is vital to complete a tefl course as a native-english speaker interested in teaching. The tools these courses provide will not only highlight briefly most of the rules of the english language (some that you may not even know!) but will also have invaluable information about the teaching process. tefl courses have useful tips on various topics including lessons, teaching grammar and vocabulary, incorporating all language skills, discipline, and more. Completing a tefl course may not be mandatory for many institutions or governmental agencies, but for the inexperienced native-english speaker, it will build confidence in understanding and teaching the language. Lesson plans are an important part of the teaching process and inexperienced teachers may find themselves at a loss of how to go about planning for one. One of the most useful tools found in a tefl course are the lesson plan formats that will be used for homework and self-study. By being required to make various lesson plans during the course the teacher will gain confidence in making them. With corrections from tutors/professors, the teacher is better equipped in writing more successful lesson plans in the future, which would ultimately lead to a successful class and teaching experience. To become the best english teacher we should take advantage of all the resources we have available to us. While we can rely on self-study, Internet articles, and the handy tool that Google can be, formal education and learning are essential. These would not only help in bettering teaching ability but also remain a fountain of knowledge that can always be referred to when questions arise during our time as teachers. It is a duty both to our students and to us to be the greatest teacher we can possibly be. Instead of shortchanging the future generation of non-native english speakers, using a tefl course to learn what we must ultimately teach will ensure that we have enhanced our natural capabilities as teachers and are providing a correct and proper learning experience for students who trust us to do so.