The TEFL Org

Taking the TESL course was ddefinitely a challenge, but it turned out to be an experience I am really glad I went through. Initially, the workload felt overwhelming, and some of the material, such as theories of language learning and lesson planning, seemed daunting. I had to push myself to stay organized and keep up. Still, all of that hard work paid off because I walked away with skills and knowledge that I can actually use. What I liked most was how the course connected real-life teaching situations. The assignments made me think about what it is really like to teach students who are learning English, and how every student's background can shape the way they learn. It was not always easy, but it gave me the confidence to create lessons that meet different needs and keep students engaged. The instructors were another highlight. They were supportive and provided feedback that helped me grow, even when the tasks felt challenging, and at times when I did not pass the practicum. In the end, I can say the course was tough, but it was worth every bit of effort. It prepared me not just with information, but with tools I know I can use in the classroom.

Even though I have already taught English in another country for 12 years, the details about how to structure lessons and the practice of creating lesson plans helped me to think with more deliberation regarding how I structure my lessons and how I provide opportunities for students to practice. One issue, however, were the classroom lesson videos. The classroom situation was rather strange, because the teachers were not even provided a table on which to lay their materials. It made the scenes seem kind of messy. Another suggestion I would give is to let the TEFL student pick one course that is directly relevant to their teaching environment and goals. In my case, I would have loved to have more lessons on teaching Reading and Writing, since Chinese students already have excellent grammar skills (better than many Americans); by the time they come to me, they need to learn culture-based rhetoric and logic, not the basics.

The course is set up to actually teach you how to teach ESL and includes large classes and remote learning. It's an excellent course, I highly recommend it. The grammar part of it you study yourself, but if you can't do it, then you shouldn't be doing ESL teaching!