What attracted you to the TEFL industry?
I had originally applied to the Peace Corps when I got out of college. The only thing I was remotely qualified for was teaching English but they wouldn’t accept me until I had a bit of experience. They sent me a list of local places where I could volunteer teach to get some experience and I ended up teaching low-income students and refugees for an adult ESL class that was part of the Head Start Program in Boston. I taught there for about 2 years and eventually got a grant to create a school newsletter in which we published recipes, personal stories and cartoons that my students had created in class. I realized then that I really enjoyed it and had a knack for it.
Graduation day
What makes TEFL International unique from other TEFL organizations?
Mostly it’s the ‘International’ bit. ITT has affiliates all over the world and once trainees become part of the ITT family, they have access to a whole network of other institutions with local expertise in different countries that can offer job guidance and possibly even, jobs to eligible candidates.
How have your previous work experiences helped you in your current role?
I have been a full-time TEFL teacher for over 20 years and have taught in five different countries. Every language and school culture is a bit different. I think sharing my experience helps give our trainees a broader picture of how things work in different types of teaching situations and in the TEFL-world in general.
What does a typical day at TEFL International look like for you?
If I am the main trainer for that day, I usually get to the office around 8 a.m., depending on whether or not I have my own lessons that day. I might have a short meeting with the course coordinator about prospective trainees; checking language levels and looking over CV’s or candidates’ introduction videos. Input sessions start at 10 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. These sessions cover topics such as language awareness, classroom management and teaching methodology. Nearly every day there is a lesson planning workshop after lunch until late afternoon when the observed teaching practice starts. During the workshop sessions, trainees plan their afternoon lessons with help and feedback from the trainer who will observe their teaching. After the observed teaching practice, the trainer hosts a reflective feedback session where trainees are encouraged to discuss their lessons and those of their peers. Everyone is invited to give constructive feedback and make suggestions for future lessons.
TEFL excursion
What is the number one thing people who want to become TEFL teachers should know beforehand?
The kind of teaching experience you have is very much dependent upon where you end up teaching. If, for example, you don’t like commuting or don’t feel comfortable teaching young learners, get the skinny on what the school is offering before you apply. There is no use in applying for a job that you know you are not going to enjoy. Some schools do offer whole days teaching in one place but for those of us who teach adults, that often means split shifts and quite a lot of time in transit. Also, depending on the particular school and market you are looking for a job in, teaching some young learners lessons may be a given.
How do you help support participants in finding a job after certification is complete?
In the last week of the course we have two sessions related to job guidance. One session talks about the industry as a whole e.g. where to look for jobs, what to look for in a school or position, salary expectations, applying for work permission and visas, writing a TEFL CV etc. The other session is a mock interview and demo lesson rehearsal where the trainees get direct feedback on their interview answers, TEFL CVs, demo lessons and sample lesson plans. After the certification is complete, it really depends on what the teacher wants to be doing. We do hire teachers from the course to work for our affiliated language school, or else we direct them to other schools that offer the kinds of courses they would like to teach; either in Prague or elsewhere. If a teacher is interested in teaching in a country where there is an affiliated TEFL International school, we put them in touch with Directors of Studies at schools in that area, either to apply for a job or to get local expertise on teaching in that part of the world.
It was definitely worth it
What is one thing you would like participants to take away from being TEFL certified?
The biggest thing is the observed teaching. Once you are certified you may only get feedback on your teaching when you apply for a job or have a routine observation once a year. During the course you received constant feedback, support and suggestions that a lot of trainees miss once they start teaching on their own. The other great thing is the esprit d’corp that you and your fellow trainees are experiencing while doing the course; you are all in this together and it’s great to have a group of other teachers rooting for you.
What do you love most about your job?
I really enjoy meeting candidates from different countries, walks of life, hearing their stories about what brought them to us, and what made them want to become part of this world.
Spot the tourists
What is your favorite TEFL memory/experience?
I recently met one of my former trainees who has been working in the industry for quite a while. He said that even after all these years, when he is in the classroom he still flashes back to what myself and the other trainers told him on his course. It’s fantastic to know you have had that much impact on someone’s life and to hear that the things they learned from you really mattered to them and that those same skills enable that teacher to pass the knowledge on. In the end, that’s what it’s all about- to teach our students so well that they don’t need us anymore.
If you could give all TEFL graduates one piece of advice, what would it be?
Do your research on aspects of the course and what to expect, as well as life during the course. Make sure you will have enough money to cover the course, get yourself to the course, support yourself during the course and afterwards while you are looking for a teaching job. It’s a drag to have traveled halfway around the world to some exotic locale only to be unable to enjoy the interesting experiences on offer. Also doing a TEFL course is intense and stressful anyway; you don’t want the additional stress of worrying how you are going to pay for yourself. Not having money for beer in Prague is it’s own horrible tragedy.
