Surviving Your TEFL Course

You have registered for your TEFL course and are excited about the adventures it’ll bring you. But remember to take it seriously, this is a time to concentrate on your studies and make sure you are prepared to start your EFL teaching career. So, to make sure you stick with it and realize your ambition of teaching overseas, here’s how to survive your TEFL course:

1) It won't be easy

TEFL certificates aren’t handed out like beads at Mardi Gras. You have to work for one, which is why employers value them. So, don’t expect to be able to breeze through your course just by showing up for classes a few hours each day.

2) Ask for help

If you get stuck on your course don’t give up, ask for help! Ask your teacher for assistance.  Remember your accredited TEFL course includes accredited and experienced TEFL trainers, whose sole purpose is to help you understand and to be able to execute the lessons that are presented to you.

3) Remember why you are taking the TEFL course

You signed up to experience other cultures, learn new things and live in amazing places. Your TEFL course will give you a ticket to all this, so keep at it!

4) Give it your best shot

You will make mistakes, but don't let that stop you from trying.  These mistakes are exactly how you learn to be a better teacher.  Pay attention, listen to what your teacher is telling you and do your best on every assignment and teaching practice.  Your hard work will pay off!

5) Take your teacher's comments to heart

Your trainers are there to help you and are highly-qualified experts who have taught all over the world. So, when they give you advice about something it’s worth listening to and acting on.

Finally, remember that over 90% of all TEFL students pass their courses, so if you put the hours in, it’s pretty certain that you’ll get that hard earned certificate at the end of the course.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru and guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

Should I Become A TEFL Teacher?

You may have been considering doing TEFL for a while, but have never done anything about it. That sounds like it could be down to just a little bit of fear. If this sounds like you, the best thing you can do to overcome those fears is get a clear idea of what teaching English abroad can be like.

Take the initial low-risk step of researching and contacting a few TEFL course providers, contact some current or former EFL teachers and get an understanding of what teaching English involves.  By the end of it you will have a much clearer idea of just what is involved in teaching English abroad. More importantly, you'll be feeling excited and enthusiastic to get on with TEFL.  Ask practical questions regarding pay, accommodation, teaching staff and students, this will help build a real picture of teaching English abroad.

Finding out about the country you want to teach in is also a good idea. It will not only get you excited with anticipation, but will also help you decide if it's somewhere you want to be. Ask teachers who have been to that country about the culture, lifestyle, cost of living and whether you earn enough to live.

Other concerns some prospective TEFL teachers have are doubts as to whether TEFL can constitute a career. I know a lot of people in TEFL, in a wide variety of different roles. Some are still out teaching, notching up more countries and destinations on their resumes. Others have started their own schools, some are in teacher training, others writing books. TEFL is the same as any industry, there are plenty of opportunities for the right person. The people I know are industrious, show initiative and are professional; qualities that any employer in any field would value.

Saying that, simply because you choose to get into TEFL, doesn't mean that you are tied to it. It can be perfect for taking a career break before starting something else or following a successful career. By teaching English, you'll also find that you gain transferable skills such as presentation, communication and organizational skills. I have found professionals from different areas teaching abroad for a year or two to gain useful resume experience. Many primary and secondary school teachers find that teaching abroad is an effective way to gain practical experience before returning to apply for jobs in their home country.

There are a lot of fears and excuses to prevent you from taking the plunge. And while I meet a large number of people who say they had always meant to do TEFL, but never got round to it, I am not sure I have ever met a TEFL teacher who regrets their time abroad.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru and guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

Quit Your Job and Become an EFL Teacher

Are you stuck in a rut? Trapped in a job you don’t like; longing for something more interesting; imagining the day you can hand in your notice; and most importantly – being powerless to do anything about it! Often, when you’re stuck in a rut, you just need a little nudge in the right direction. So, here’s why you should quit your job and become an EFL Teacher.

Your job’s not that great anyway

Let’s face it – unless you’re a professional athlete or a rock star, your job isn’t that great. Yes it pays the bills on time, and yes, you probably enjoy the occasional office party. But let’s be honest – the job itself is pretty dull right?  If you’re looking for something more meaningful then take a look at teaching English abroad.

When else will you have this little responsibility?

Odds on you don’t have any of the following yet: kids, a mortgage, very old parents. Wait a few years and you probably will have one, two or all three. While it feels like a huge risk to leave everything behind now, you probably don’t have that many responsibilities yet – so make sure you make that leap to TEFL before you do!

Teaching EFL will actually help your career

Teaching English abroad doesn't mean just laying on beaches for a year. It’s actually much better than that: you’ll be getting real, on-the-job experience of working in another country and culture, with loads of opportunities to boost your leadership, communication and interpersonal skills – and if that doesn’t impress prospective employers, then what will? Oh, and you’ll probably still get time for those beaches too.

You'll be gaining a job not losing one

Don’t focus on the job you’ll be leaving behind (you know, that rather soul-sucking place you spend 8 hours of your day). Instead focus on the new, exciting TEFL job that you’ll get abroad: complete with new challenges, new colleagues and new experiences.

Don't have regrets 

Imagine sitting in your armchair as an old man/lady and looking back across your life. All the things you did do, and all the things you just didn’t get around to. You’ll probably regret the things you didn’t do the most – all the opportunities that you passed up. Travelling and experiencing life in another culture shouldn’t be one of them.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru and guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

Mistakes New EFL Teachers Make

Talking too much

In an EFL class, what is the most common reason students are enrolled? They want to SPEAK English! And what happens when the teacher speaks most of the time? They don't have enough chances to actually practice their speaking skills. Those who are new to EFL teaching often make this very crucial mistake: They take up too much of the talking time, either because they feel uncomfortable around silence or long pauses, or because they are over-enthusiastic to share their knowledge. So clearly, hogging most of the talking time is out of the question. But, how to find the right balance between student talking time and teacher talking time?

As a general rule of thumb, students should speak for 70% of the class time, while teachers speak for the remaining 30%. These percentages could be tweaked in cases where students are absolute beginners (50-50), or at the other end of the spectrum, very advanced learners in need of intensive speaking practice (90-10). This means that in most cases, your participation should be limited to giving instructions and explaining essential points, but above all to eliciting response from students and facilitating all types of speaking activities.

Inconsistent classroom management

This is one of the mistakes that is often made due to a lack of experience. Classroom management is not an exact science; it's not like teaching grammar. Each group of student is different and rules must be set as a group. The problem stems from the fact that new teachers may not have a clearly defined teaching style. So, they either become too strict or too lax. There are plenty of articles you can read on effective classroom management; you may agree with some of the techniques, you may disagree with others and choose to implement your own. It's not about being stricter, but rather being consistent. There's nothing worse for a group of students than empty promises or weak threats. Once you define how you'll manage your class, stick to it!

Forgetting cultural differences

Some teachers are so focused on teaching things about the English culture, they completely ignore their students'. Some gestures EFL teachers commonly use in the classroom, like the gesture for OK, may be very rude in other cultures. In some countries, students may be used to lecturing, and may not react positively when you propose a game. This is a mistake EFL teachers make above all in foreign countries where the culture is very different from Western culture, like Arabic or Oriental cultures. Learn about their customs, especially greetings, and use this information to create a positive learning environment.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program & guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

Love to Travel? Then Get A TEFL Certificate!

Want to really experience another culture? Now’s the time to say goodbye to that backpack and hello to the amazing experiences offered by teaching EFL.

Here’s why:

Spending time with people like you isn’t experiencing a new culture

Is spending all your time with other travelers who are just like you really making the most of your time abroad? You could have just stayed home!

Instead teach abroad and your working life will be spent surrounded with locals – both students and other staff. Great for getting understanding a country’s culture.

Get paid to be there

Unless you’ve got a big bank balance, spending any length of time in a country is out of the reach of most travelers. That means quick hops here and there, only seeing the ‘don’t miss’ sights that guide books rave about. With TEFL, you’ll be getting paid to be in a country for anywhere from six to 12 months, which means you can experience everything a country has to offer and not feel like you have to cram it into too short a time.

You’ll get to know the locals

While it’s easy to pass through a country and have nothing more than a few brief exchanges with waiters and taxi drivers, teaching abroad forces you to get to know the people you’re teaching, working with, and living with. Sometimes cultural differences can be a bit of a challenge, but you didn’t fly half way around the world to have everything run like it does back home!

You’re already qualified!

If you’re a native English speaker, you’re already qualified to teach English abroad. Yes, you need to do a TEFL course in order to get your hands on the best jobs and not make a total mess of your time in the classroom, but you don’t need any previous teaching experience or the ability to speak another language.

Be in the picture yourself

Go to any major tourist attraction and you’ll see tourist snapping away, trying to peer into a totally alien culture. Want to know the best way to get to know the place you’re visiting? Stop hiding behind your camera and dive in feet first – get to know people and you’ll soon find that you’re not on the outside looking in, you’re in the picture yourself.

You’ll get to really know the town

You’ll make friends with so many locals and long-term expats, you’ll know exactly where’s good to go at the weekend and how to find the really cool stuff.

So, what do you say? If you’re ready to ditch your backpack and grab your TEFL certificate, make sure to contact TEFL Zorritos today and get started on your travel adventures.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru & guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

Is Teaching EFL Right For Me?

So you have been seriously thinking about starting a new life abroad as an EFL teacher – one filled with exciting new experiences, new friends and weekends relaxing on the beach. Before you make the leap here is the type of person who is most successful at teaching EFL:

Willing to try new things

The people who have the best time when teaching abroad are those who never turn down an invitation. You’re there to experience a new culture, so embrace the unexpected and the unusual!

Patient & Calm

Teaching English abroad, especially if you’re teaching kids, can be pretty frustrating at times. Wherever in the world you are, kids are kids, and can lose interest and start playing very quickly. The good news is that a calm and orderly teacher usually makes for calm and orderly students. So as long as you can keep calm and carry on you’ll be fine! 

Open-minded

When you start teaching English, you won’t just be starting a new job, you’ll probably have just arrived in a totally new, alien country too. It’s important to keep an open mind about any cultural differences you encounter, including crazy new foods, initially strange-seeming etiquette and nonsensical bureaucracy.

Willing to make mistakes

Good teaching is all about trial and error – no one gets it right the first time! So, even if you’ve done loads of TEFL study, when you first start teaching lots of your classes will feel like total disasters. Don’t be disheartened – you’ll soon find that for every couple of activities or lessons that flop, you’ll hit on one that’s a rip-roaring success. And once you’ve got a good idea of what flops and what flies, you’ll be set.

Enthusiastic

You do need to be enthusiastic about the idea of teaching and ready to get stuck in and start helping your students, otherwise you’ll soon find your time abroad feels very long indeed.

A good listener

Being a good listener separates a mediocre teacher from a fantastic one – a good teacher will keep an ear out for the mistakes his/her students make and work out how they can correct them in subsequent classes. A bad one will just ignore their students’ efforts to talk – which do you want to be?

Flexible

No matter where you’re teaching, things in the TEFL world have a pesky habit of changing at the last minute: working hours changing and timetables being overhauled are just some of the most common issues, while schools dropping contracts at the last minute are at the more irritating end of the spectrum. As a teacher there’s not much you can do to avoid these last-minute changes, so it’s important to be flexible and embrace the unpredictability of things!

Friendly and approachable

No one wants a grumpy teacher – while it’s important to maintain a degree of professional distance between yourself and your students, you’ll find them much more willing to cooperate in class if you’re fair, friendly and approachable.

So, you’re cut out for the world of teaching EFL – if you haven’t started one already, your next step is an accredited TEFL course.

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru & guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today! 

Improve Your Life & See The World!

Teaching English as a Foreign Language can improve your life and give you many transferable skills that are in demand in the domestic jobs market. So, even if you’re not thinking of teaching as a long-term career, spending time teaching abroad can be really beneficial to your future career.

Improve your communication skills

When you teach abroad you’ll spend much of your time standing in front of a class or preparing lessons. This will improve your communication skills and your confidence in presenting to a group, both of which are really useful in all forms of business. And because you’ll probably be teaching in a non-English speaking country, you’ll also learn to communicate effectively with people who don’t speak your language.

A challenge you want forget

From the second you step off your outbound flight until the moment you say a tearful goodbye to your students, you’ll be challenged almost constantly. You’ll need to learn how to function in a foreign country, how to navigate your way around a new city, how to build new working relationships and how to function outside of your comfort zone. If you write your resume properly, future employers can’t help but be impressed.

International networking

While you’re overseas you’ll cross paths with people from all walks of life: from foreign tourists and backpackers to local businessmen and university professors to government officials. If you make the effort to stay in touch, there’s every possibility that something may come of it. Life throws up all sorts of opportunities, it’s just a question of recognizing them and using them to your advantage.

Open new doors and broaden your horizons

Many people head off to teach for six months or a year and never come back: they find new opportunities and follow a new path in life. You never know where TEFL may take you until you take that all important first step!

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program in Peru & guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

How To Have A Successful EFL Teaching Adventure

So, your suitcase is packed, and you are ready for new adventures, ready for new challenges, ready to teach English abroad!  Here's how to make the most out of your EFL teaching adventure:

1) Be open minded

The whole world is not a chain of McDonalds and Starbucks. Foreign countries are foreign! Unless you’re teaching in your home country, you will encounter many things that just seem strange.  So, it’s important to keep an open mind. Remember that you’re there to experience an entirely new culture and way of doing things, not to impose your beliefs on your new home.

2) Take an accredited TEFL course

You might be able to speak English, but that doesn’t mean that you are able to teach it. A TEFL course gives you a really good grip on all the classroom essentials such as controlling your class, planning your lessons and corrected your students errors – so you’ll be a lot better prepared for life in the classroom. Plus with a TEFL qualification, you can usually earn more money and find jobs at more reputable schools.

3) Accept invitations

You’ll probably be inundated with invitations for everything from karaoke to weddings. When you first arrive in-country you might suffer from a bit of a culture shock and you might just want to lock yourself in your room and speak to your family and friends on Skype. As tempting as that is, though, don’t do it! Get yourself out there.. yes it may be really scary (e.g. going to a party on your own in a city you don’t know), but the locals will go out of their way to make you feel welcome so just enjoy yourself and make the most of it!

4) Remain calm and flexible

Life as an English teacher is amazing, but it can also be infuriating. Timetables change, contracts change, expectations change… you can have the world promised in your contract, only to turn up to find a tiny apartment with bad plumbing. That’s a worst case scenario, and many teachers don’t have any mishaps at all. But, it’s important to have low expectations before you arrive and to remain calm and flexible once you do get in-country. Don’t stress the little things.

5) Speak up!

Your school has invested a lot of money in hiring you and they’ll want to keep you happy so you finish your contract. They’re not mind readers though, so if you’re ever unhappy with anything, from your accommodation to your hours, say something ASAP (and not just to your friends and family, they can’t do anything about it but your school can)!

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TEFL Zorritos: What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course with a practical approach that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  And a job placement program & guaranteed lifetime job assistance waiting for you when you complete the course.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!

How To Find The Right EFL Job For You

Everyone who wants to teach EFL, wants the "perfect" or "dream" TEFL job, so exactly how is the best way to accomplish this goal.  Below are four key factors to ensure you get a great teaching job.

Adaptability:

One of the most common core skills tested in a TEFL interview is the ability to adapt when faced with something unexpected!  Employers want to know that their new teacher won't go running for the hills within a week. Any travel experience is a great way to show adaptability, but if you don't have this, then how about succeeding in any new environment, like work or university.

Work Experience:

As most entry level TEFL jobs will include working with children, include any and all examples of this on your application. Do you have any childcare experience or perhaps you helped out at a school summer camp? If you've mentored young people, this will also help to put you at the top of the resume pile. The rule of thumb here is no matter how little experience you have – flaunt it.

Cultural Sensitivity:

One of the best things about living overseas is the opportunity it gives you to experience a country's culture first hand. Employers want to know that you'll be sensitive to their ways; whether that's unusual food or afternoon siesta (we're sure you could get used to that)! A great way to set yourself apart from other applicants is to talk about how much you want to live in that country. Do a little research about the country and sound extra excited by asking lots of questions about your role, the school and the students.

Accredited TEFL Course:

Not all TEFL courses are the same.  Make sure the course you take is accredited by an international organization and that your certificate is accepted worldwide.  It is critical that you have at least ten hours of observed teaching practice, so that you will know how to actually teach when you find your new job.  Look for a TEFL program that not only provides you training, but also continuing support after you have obtained your certification.

If you completed your TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos, you will be prepared to start your teaching career and will have a job placement program in Peru waiting for you when you have completed our course.  

What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  Not to mention our guaranteed lifetime job assistance.

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today! 

How To Be An Effective EFL Teacher

Happy students make happy teachers!  Here are some tips that will help you be an effective EFL teacher.

1. Speak clearly, slowly and distinctly.

2. Manage your class effectively. It’s important to establish and enforce classroom rules, but remember that it’s also important to have fun with your students. If you’re having fun, they’re having fun. My students are much more responsive and willing to participate when they are having a little bit of fun in class. Try not to be too strict and remember to smile.

3. Talk about yourself. Tell your students about your family and friends. Bring in photos from home. Share personal stories with them.

4. Be funny. Students will really enjoy your class if you make them laugh. Don’t be afraid to play the fool or make fun of yourself.

5. Use lots of energy when you’re teaching. Move around your classroom. Use gestures and noises to describe things. Make lots of faces and draw pictures. Why? Providing some light entertainment keeps their attention focused on you.

6. Games are always successful, even with older students. Never underestimate what you can teach with a simple game.

7. When you are giving instructions on how to play a game, repeat your instructions and demonstrate how to play.

8. Positive reinforcement is important to new language learners of every age. Compliment your students, even if they make mistakes.

9. Music makes learning interesting and fun. There are loads of activities you can use music with. I’ve captured and held the attention of all my classes with a little music. Music takes away feelings of self-consciousness and it encourages students to open their mouths and let loose.

10. Repetition is a key tool in the ESL classroom. There are lots of games and activities that you can use in the classroom to encourage students to speak out. Make sure you teach the answer to the entire class and have them repeat it out loud before asking each students separately.

11. Introduce and teach new vocabulary every lesson.

12. Use some favorite slang terms and sayings in the classroom. People get sick of hearing the same standard responses taught throughout the public school system. “How are you? and “I’m fine, thank you. And you?” are typical examples. I find that students who have had these responses drilled into them often sound dull, monotonous and insincere. If a student asks me, “What’s up?” or answers with, “I’m OK!” or “Not much,” I’m usually pretty happy about it.

13. Try to get every student in each class to speak. Remember that pronunciation is really important. Often, students get instruction from their public school English teachers, but these teachers generally lack the ability to teach pronunciation effectively because they aren't native English speakers.

14. Traditional school systems do not encourage students to ask questions. Encourage your students to ask you questions. Once they know it’s OK to ask or say they don’t understand, it makes for an easier learning environment.

15. Encourage your students to speak out as much as they can and never belittle their ability or correct their mistakes by saying, “You’re wrong.” Just correct the student by repeating the answer correctly. If the student is still struggling, teach it to the class again as a whole.

16. Pointing is rude. Extend your hand out with the palm up when asking a student to answer.

17. Make sure you know and understand your students learning ability.

18. Be adaptable. If a lesson or activity isn’t working, there’s nothing wrong with scrapping it quickly and trying something else.

19. Always have backup games and activities, especially if you’re introducing new material. Don’t be afraid to use your ‘tried and true golden oldies’ if you feel you’re bombing a lesson.

20. Remember that a good teacher also learns from his/her students. The lessons always work both ways.

When you complete your TEFL course with TEFL Zorritos, you will learn these effective EFL teacher tips and gain the confidence to be an effective EFL teacher!  Also you will have a job placement program in Peru waiting for you when you have completed our course.  

What could be better?  Study in a beautiful Peruvian beach town at our beach-front outdoor training centre with great accommodations available, including delicious local food.  Fully accredited 120 Hour TEFL course that provides you with 10 advanced certifications at absolutely no extra cost!  

Class sizes are limited, so don't wait, make your reservation today!