Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Language has an important role in our lives. It symbolizes our cultures and is used by individuals to interact and communicate with each other. English in particular is a language which has great influence and is widely used. That is why there is a great demand for teaching English to students whose first language is not English. Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) usually occurs in the student's own country, either within the state school system, or privately, for example in an after-hours language school or with a tutor.
TEFL education will help you in teaching theory, lesson planning and classroom confidence building. It will help you understand the theoretical aspects of teaching English as a foreign language and also to understand how people learn a second language. Language teaching experts say that most of the difficulties that learners face in the study of English are a consequence of the degree to which their native language differs from English. Cultural differences in communication styles and preferences are also significant. TEFL will help you overcome these difficulties.
TEFL is an excellent way to explore the world and at the same time get inspiring teaching experience. It is convenient for those who want to travel without high costs and to take the opportunity to live somewhere different for a while. Of course it is a huge change and might feel a bit daunting at first but many find that in the end it is much easier than they had imagined.
The normal working week is between 20 and 25 hours and often a four day week, so it may sound easy. But it is important to remember that in addition to the teaching hours, you have to add on travel time and lesson planning. This will certainly make it into a full time job. The typical schedules vary depending on whether you are teaching in company, in academy, in schools or private work.
Teaching abroad may be exciting and you may have many questions and even anxieties. A good TEFL course will provide answers for your questions and make you more confident about teaching English. Besides, it will not only make you a better teacher, but will also increase your chances for earning a higher salary. So, overcome your anxieties and give it a go, TEFL will certainly be an experience of a lifetime.