Practical, observed teaching of real students is an integral part of any quality TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate course. Firstly, it is an indication of the course's value; if a TEFL course doesn't offer any practical teaching then the potential trainee should be wary of enrolling. This is because practical teaching is an immensely important part of a TEFL course, it is when trainees take all of the theory and teaching methods that they have studied and put them to the test. There is truly no better way to learn how to become a teacher than actually practicing being one.
Teaching as a career is a life-long learning experience and teachers will continue to learn and improve throughout their teaching life. This is part of the challenge but equally part of the appeal, as it means teachers are always learning in the same way that their students are.
This learning starts with a TEFL course and the practical teaching is often a trainee's first experience of standing up in front of a group of English language students. Because this practical teaching experience is so vital, it is equally important that they are teaching "real" students (ideally in a foreign country), in order for their experience to be as authentic and beneficial as possible.
Observation of these practical teaching classes is also integral to its success, as trainees will benefit as much from the constructive feedback as they will from the teaching experience itself.
In conclusion, the three main points that should be kept in mind for anyone looking for a TEFL Certificate course are as follows;
- Ensure your TEFL Certificate course includes a minimum of 6 hours of practical teaching
- The practical teaching must be with real students (ideally in a foreign country)
- The observation of this practical teaching, and the consequent feedback, will be very important in the entire learning process.
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