These terms are closely related to both TESL and ESL, where the ‘S’ stand for ‘second’. While there are slight differences, the terms are synonymous, additionally we now have the umbrella terms TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) and ELT (English Language Teaching).

TEFL, TESOL and ELT, all relate to teaching English to students who already speak another language. This is a relatively new in the field of language education, and TEFL as we know it today was far less commercially feasible until the early 20^th century.

Since then, the TEFL field has grown rapidly. According to a report from the online statistics site Statista, “Over the last ten years the market has doubled in size, reaching 46.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2018”. As such, worldwide demand for EFL teachers is far outstripping supply, which is welcome news for the thousands of people entering the profession every month.

For those considering TEFL, there are few things they should know…

1. TEFL isn’t like traditional teaching

TEFL is very different from the images of traditional teaching we see in mainstream media. In movies, we often see students sat in neat rows, quietly taking notes while the teacher lectures from the front of the class. Even the way native English speakers learn English in school isn’t like EFL. In TEFL, there is much more focus on student participation. Participation requires communication and this communication is a natural form of language practice. The more practice a student gets, the more their English improves—or at least that’s what’s meant to happen.

To be fair, modern teaching methods have adapted more effective ways of teaching that don’t fit the classic stereotypes, but EFL still requires different approaches from teaching core subjects such as math or science.

2. TEFL teachers don’t need to speak their students’ language

The outstretched demand for EFL teachers would be even higher if all the teachers had to speak their students’ mother tongue.  In fact, at nearly every language level, use of the students’ first language is seen as a crutch. Modern teaching methods focus on ‘English only’ approach in the classroom–which is far easier said than done. But with effective training, the power of a good demonstration, or the ability to establish recognizable patterns without complex explanations trump outdated approaches that required the teacher to know their student’s first language.

3. TEFL teachers need much more than English fluency

The biggest misconception in TEFL is the idea that English speakers can teach English simply because they’re fluent. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. If you’re a strong buy klonopin fedex swimmer, does that make you a strong swimming coach? A strong swimmer may go on to eventually become a good swimming coach, but not without guidance and training from experienced coaches. If this were an automatic progression, gifted athletes would just become head coaches without earning qualifications and being assistant coaches first. 

4. You need professional knowledge

Language is a lot like electricity, motors and satellite technology—we use them throughout our everyday lives but most of us have very little knowledge of how they work. We can use English fluently without any effort, but can we answer basic questions when asked about the language?

How many tense forms are there in English? Can you easily spot the subject or the objects in a sentence? Do you know what a phoneme is? If not, TEFL is going to be a challenge and we haven’t even talked about effective teaching techniques yet. A fluent speaker intuitively knows when something sounds wrong, but the ability to break down the error and efficiently help the learner avoid it in the future is what makes us good EFL teachers.

5. Recognized TEFL training and certification is essential

While there isn’t one explicit list of qualifications for TEFL professionals, there is a commonly agreed upon, entry-level standard called a TEFL certificate. TEFL certification courses come in a variety of formats, offered by hundreds of providers in thousands of locations worldwide. As such, choosing the right course can seem overwhelming.

While there are plenty of employers who’ll hire a new EFL teacher without any training or experience, potentially creating a recipe for disaster, reputable employers that pay decent salaries and who are interested in ensuring a decent education look for TEFL certification with the following components:

1. 120 hours of study and training
2. Onsite teaching practice with real language learners
3. Laguage awareness assessments
4. Peer teaching observations
5. Observations of experienced teachers
6. Completion of various assignments and assessments

Added to that, a TEFL course worth the time, money and efforts spent will have independent TEFL accreditation and validation. It should also be recognized by employers worldwide and offer meaningful TEFL job support.

Can you imagine standing in front of a class trying to teach the present continuous tense form and all of its auxiliary verb conjugations as well as its usages, while at the same time maintaining good classroom management, checking for understanding and ensuring that naughty student in the corner isn’t causing chaos? If the mere thought of that common TEFL scenario made your palms sweat, you might want to consider taking one of TEFL Campus’ TEFL certification courses.

If you’re interested in TEFL, contact us today.

TEFL Campus is Phuket’s most popular, highest-rated TEFL certification course and the only one with university-level validation.

The post What is TEFL? And what you need to know about it. appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

There are plenty of reasons to take a TEFL certification course.

Even if a TEFL certificate isn’t a legal requirement, most employers require it.

You’ll also receive great job support and get introduced to like-minded people who hope to find their first TEFL job overseas.

But what will you learn on an internationally validated TEFL certification course such as the one TEFL Campus offers?

The answer is simple: plenty. More specifically, here are 5 ‘How to’ lessons you’ll learn while taking a TEFL certification course.

1. How to minimize teacher talk time

2. How to maximize student talk time

First two go hand-in-hand: minimizing teacher talk time and maximizing student talk time.

Both of these principles are absolutely core components of modern TEFL methods. TEFL is not a lecture and students need to participate. We are not teaching history, or mathematics, or civics. We’ve got to get our students communicating in the class.

It seems simple, but it is harder than you think. You’ve got to have other components like asking clear questions, staying relevant to the topic, not correcting each and every mistake, and keeping a good enough pace to keep your students’ attention, but not too fast to distract them.

You must also be able to get as many students talking as possible during student centered activities, where the attention is off of the teacher, and we’re really focused on getting everybody talking as much as possible.

3. How to demonstrate

The best activities are meaningless unless the teacher knows how to demonstrate them.

We have to stay away from verbal explanations because they literally get lost in translation.

Basically, the premise here is that you have to show, not tell. This is something we focus on over and over again during a month long course, because it’s something that is critical to understanding our role as an TEFL teacher.

4. How to organize the board

Until technology eliminates our need for a white board (or even a chalk board) teachers have to be able to use the board effectively.

It’s a central piece of our classroom, and we have to know how to organize our teaching points by using things such as columns, mind maps and diagrams.

We can also use summary tables, even color to good effect. All of this is great practice that you’ll get while doing your observed teaching practice.

And again, organizing the board is absolutely critical to a good EFL lesson.

5. How to maintain interest

Just like the best activities mean nothing if you can’t demonstrate them, the best lessons are meaningless unless you can maintain your students’ interests.

You’ve got to teach grammar without teaching boring grammar principles.

You’ve got to keep lessons relevant to the students’ lives, letting them know how important this new stuff is, and how useful it is in their everyday lives.

We want to be able to create this seamless flow of a lesson and keep a good pace. Finally, keeping the fun factor alive, and having a good time in the classroom will ensure students are paying attention.

In conclusion…

these are just a few of the critical skills that you’ll need to learn about before you’re entering the EFL classroom for the first time.

You can learn about this stuff in online courses, and through books, but you’re never going be able to duplicate the practice that you get while doing an onsite TEFL certificate course.

Getting input from the lecturers and getting good advice from experienced teachers cannot be duplicated through anything other than onsite TEFL training.

If you think this article was helpful, please share it and please do subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can also like our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and/or Instagram.

If you’re interested learning more about our TEFL training, please visit our Courses and Fees page. You can also contact us or apply online.

The post 5 Tips You’ll Learn on a TEFL Certification Course appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

It was my first day teaching English in Thailand; I had just finished my TEFL certification course and I was petrified. But I knew from my TEFL training that my 8-year-olds would eat me alive if I showed fear. It was go-time whether I liked it or not.

I wanted to use an activity I did while on my TEFL course so I called up two students from the front of the class to do a demonstration.

Me: “What’s your name?”

Kid on my left: “Pee-sa.”

Me (dumbfounded): “I’m sorry, what’s your name?

Kid on my left: “Teacher, my name Pee-saa. You know. . .chomp chomp. I love
pee-saa!”

Through his effective miming and his pudgy little smile, it hit me:
Oh my, this kid’s name is Pizza.

Me: “Wow. Your name is Pizza. Nice to meet you, Pizza.”

Then I turned to my right.

Me: “And what’s your name?

The boy replied with something that sounded like, “Hud” or “Hot”, I wasn’t sure. So again, I relied on my TEFL training and asked what I was told to ask in these situations.

Me: “How do you spell that?”

Kid on my right: “My name Hut. H-U-T, Hut”.

It was my first experience teaching English in Thailand. How on Earth had I managed to call up two kids named Pizza and Hut? I looked around to see if my new co-workers had put the kids up to it. Nope. That moment proved to be just the beginning of navigating my way through the virtual mind field of learning Thai students’ nicknames.

Whether a student’s nickname seems strange in our culture, or we simply cannot begin to pronounce it, mastering Thai nicknames can prove to be a surprisingly difficult challenge. Let’s look at a few names that illustrate just how difficult this can be.

1) Santa and Man U

Yep, those are totally real names. I know because I taught these kids. Names related to Ol’ Saint Nic and Manchester United Football Club might be easy to say, but difficult to verbalize for the first time with a straight face. And as far as that goes, meet God and Benz, because those names are real too. 

More examples: Google, Pepsi, Sprite and London.

Lesson: Expect the unexpected and try not to snigger.

2) Poo and Porn

Who names their kids after feces and adult media? Thais don’t. It might sound like they do but the names don’t mean anything like what you think they mean. They’re simply troublesome translations and they’re everywhere: Poo means ‘crab’ and Porn means ‘blessing’. 

More examples: Fuk. Pronounced more like ‘fak’, Fuk’s name refers to a squash-like called wintermelon.
Lesson: Keep your mind out of the gutter.

3) Ple and Kung

These are two great examples of confusing transliterations—this time, a bit more innocent.  Kung translates into ‘prawn’ and is said much closer to “Goong”. Ple is a name any new teacher in Thailand dreads.  On its own, it seems like nonsense but if you know the name is derived from the English word, ‘apple’, as well as Thai pronunciation rules (final ‘l’ sounds go to ‘n’ sounds), you’ll correctly pronounce it “Pbeun”. Crazy, eh?

More examples: Bum for “Boom”, Oil for “Oi” and Ball for “Bawn”.
Lesson: Don’t judge a name by its spelling.

4) Yaa and Mai

Moving away from English-language based problems, we find problems with Thai tones–something you cannot avoid if you’re going to be teaching English in Thailand. Yaa can be said with a short or long vowel and in a variety of different tones. While the nickname itself is usually a shortening of a longer name, depending on how you say it, you might call the student, Grass, Grandmother, Divorce, Medicine or a say a command to stop at once. Mai can come out as anything from Wood or New, to Burn or Silk, plus a few other meanings.

More examples: Wan, Pet, Maa, Yai and so many more.
Lesson: Watch your tone.

5) Ngoo and Deuan

These names also present a problem with pronunciation, but rather than tone this is all about making sounds that we don’t typically make in English. The second sound in Deuan is a vowel sound we don’t use in English–making it difficult for us to say. It sounds like the ‘u’ sound in ‘ruler’ but said while smiling. Ngoo is all about the ‘ng’ sound we make with -ng spellings. The difficult part is that we don’t start words with that sound, so Ngoo (the Thai word for snake) becomes Noo (the Thai word for mouse).

More examples:  Neung, Seua, Geaow
Lesson: Start learning basic Thai, or at least the sounds as soon as you can.

It might be tough but learning your students’ names as quickly as possible will do wonders for classroom management.

TEFL teachers need to get used to using students’ names if they are to move forward with classroom management, earning students’ respect and simply setting a good example as a language learner. From nailing the correct pronunciation, to understanding the English translation, students will be impressed by their teacher’s understanding of both their language and their culture.

Now if only the students could say their English teachers’ names correctly.

This article is written by TEFL Campus Course Director, Eric Haeg. The story about Pizza and Hut dates back to his days teaching upper primary science at Assumption College Sriracha, between 2005-2007.

For more information on TEFL certification in Thailand, contact us at info@teflcampus.com.

The post Tongue Thai-ed: 5 ways to bungle Thai students’ nicknames appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

2017 got off to a wonderful start, in large part due to Stephen’s positive outlook and natural leadership skills.

What did you get up to during the last weekend of the TEFL course?

I spent most of the weekend finalizing my student profile assignment and then studying hard for the exam. I did give myself a few hours on Saturday night to drink wine and watch Netflix.

You took the practice exam on Monday; how did it go? Did it help prepare you for the real exam?

It sure did, I was able to get an idea of how the exam would be set out and what areas needed the most understanding. Without it, the real exam would have been far more difficult.

Were you happy with your final EFL teaching practice session?

My final teaching session was my best one. The pressure was off a bit so I was able to relax and just have fun with it. The students noticed, as did Sue (a trainer) who was observing.

You might need to do a demonstration EFL lesson to land a good job. Do you think the course prepared you to successfully deliver a demonstration lesson?

Having to prepare the six lessons has definitely taught me enough so that when I do need to do a demo I feel confident that I can deliver.

Taking our TEFL course isn’t all fun and games.

Trainees tend to get stressed out about the final exam. Was it as difficult as you thought it would be?

I’ve never been good at exams and this is the first exam I’ve had to sit in 30 years. Yes, the stress was unbelievable and even though at 8am Tuesday morning I thought I would be fine, I did get mind blanks during parts of the exam, causing me to lose silly marks for things I actually knew. No more exams for me.

How did you and your fellow trainees celebrate the completion of your TEFL course?

We all went out for a nice dinner and drinks together on Tuesday night after the exam. It was so nice to celebrate together. Then on the last night of the course, we went out to celebrate with our trainers, which was good fun.

How does it feel to be a newly certified TEFL teacher?

This is the best feeling. The importance of learning how to plan lessons and deliver lessons cannot be discounted. Having the actual certificate (that you have earned), makes it all worthwhile. Every potential employer wants to see it.

Are you happy with your decision to take a TEFL course?

100% happy. Now I am ready to teach and feel confident.

What was the toughest part of adjusting to life in Thailand?

I’ve been to Thailand many times before so know what to expect. The two biggest things for me are adjusting to the food (food poisoning at some point is to be expected) and it took a couple of weeks of getting used to throwing toilet tissue into a bin and not flushing it down the toilet.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

No. The course is laid out in such a way that I was able to plan enough down time to study time. It definitely helped that I had been to Phuket before and had already done the touristy things.

Are you looking forward to getting out into the real world and find a TEFL job?

Already in it! About to start a one month contract at a government school in a district 108 km north of Bangkok called Saraburi. Excited and nervous at the same time, but I do feel very prepared after the TEFL training course.

Would you say that TEFL Campus Phuket lived up to your expectations—be honest.

Totally. While Phuket isn’t my favorite destination, it is very easy to live there for a month. The school is conveniently located which made transport a non-issue. The course was what I expected, the support was more than I expected (and is still on-going), and the confidence I now have after completing it is totally worth every cent spent.

The post TEFL COURSE DIARY: Stephen’s 4th week at TEFL Campus appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Stephen and his fellow trainees headed to Phi Phi for the first weekend of their TEFL course.

The first week of the TEFL course is always impressive. Trainees get to meet new people from different parts of the world, teach real students for the first time and get a chance to settle into a routine. If Week One of Stephen’s TEFL course diary is any indication, his experience was no different.

Let’s find out if Week 2 of the course carried on in the same manner.

What did you do over the first weekend of the TEFL course?

Eight of us went to Phi Phi Island for the weekend. In unseasonably bad weather, it bucketed down all weekend but we didn’t let that stop us having a good time.

Are you settling into the TEFL course routine?

Very much so. Knowing in advance what we are doing every day and when we are teaching makes it easy to get into the routine.

Freakish rains hit Phuket in January and Stephen was not happy about it.

How did you feel before your 2nd teaching practice session?

I was more nervous for the 2nd than the first. It may have been because it was on the Monday straight after the big weekend and I was tired.

Did lesson planning get any easier?

It should have. I got way too consumed by the board work being perfect that I did three drafts. This took up way more time than necessary. However, I did go into the lesson very well prepared.

We covered a bit of classroom management in Week 2. Have you been able to put this to good use during your teaching practice?

Classroom management is one of many components of teaching. The biggest thing that any teacher will encounter is that the students will want to slip into their native tongue when talking to each other. By learning the subtle techniques to get them to speak English (without singling out or getting angry – both big no-no’s especially in Thailand), it was easier to manage this.

After six hours of lecture on English grammar, does it seem daunting or interesting?

Having not studied grammar for more than 30 years, the first three hours made my brain hurt. However, the second lesson was much easier to comprehend. It is important to understand how different grammar points are used when planning lessons. When you get a grasp of it, grammar can actually be interesting.

What do you think of phonology and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)? Are you more aware of how we make sounds within a language?

This is like learning a brand-new alphabet all over again and it isn’t easy. Sounding out words is very important as it is the main way we teach English. By the end of Week 2, it is obvious there was a lot to learn and reviewing what we’re learning in class is starting to be another key component of successfully completing the course.

What better way to meet buckets of rain than with buckets of fun?

The TEFL course finishes on Friday at 12.30 every week. Is this enough time to relax over the weekend and have some time to explore Phuket?

For those students who don’t have Thai Language classes on Friday afternoon, 12.30 is the perfect time to get out on a Friday and get a start on recharging the batteries. But here’s a tip: after the second weekend of the TEFL course don’t go out and party the whole time. There are assignments due and revision to be done. Make time for this or you will get behind.

Read Stephen’s account of Week 3 here.

The post TEFL COURSE DIARY: Stephen’s 2nd week at TEFL Campus appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Always smiling. Always positive. Meet Stephen (Sydney, Australia)

Come on, admit it: You want to take a TEFL course in Thailand and start teaching abroad but you’re worried about all the what-ifs. What if I can’t find a job? What if teaching isn’t for me? What if I get culture shock? What if my TEFL course is terrible?

These are all perfectly understandable questions and there are a lot more you need to ask yourself before uprooting and moving across the world.

In fact, a TEFL course isn’t for everyone, but for those whose calling includes living abroad, learning from new cultures and helping others acquire an invaluable skill, taking a TEFL course is far easier than you think.

How easy is it? Just ask Stephen. He’s an Australian from Sydney who made it his mission to follow his dream and he didn’t let anything get between him and his goal to teach English in Thailand.

He had to delay his course two times but he got here in the end and now he’s about to start a great job at a Thai university.

Read about Stephen’s great insight for TEFL course trainees, honest opinions about his time on the course and inspiring words for those who can’t get past all those pesky what-ifs.

Stephen and the other trainees pose for a post-welcome meal pic.

Summarize your first week in three words.
I had fun.

What were your first impressions of Phuket when you finally arrived?
I had been to Phuket before and it was great to be back.

Were you happy with your accommodation?
Yes. Lek at the front desk is very welcoming. The woman is here all day, every day; I don’t think she sleeps.

Were you greeted by TEFL Campus staff once you got to Phuket Town?
I had booked my own accommodation for a few days before the course was meant to start. And I had already met the Course Director on a previous visit so we arranged to meet the next day at TEFL Campus.

What did you see and do before the course started?
I was lucky enough to be here for New Year’s so spent the weekend in Patong to celebrate buy ambien in spain with friends.

How did the first day go?
It was great. The Course Director provided us with a really good orientation; things were well explained and expectations from both sides were made clear.

Stephen, Lee and Gena enjoying a nice up of coffee at a local cafe.

What do you think of your classmates?
We have been blessed to be ten other amazing people from all walks of life, but who have managed to gel so quickly together.

What did you learn from watching experienced teachers in the classroom?
Exactly how a lesson is given and what process needs to be followed.

How did your first teaching practice go?
It went surprising well. My advice is to accept this is your first lesson; you’ll be nervous; you’ll make mistakes, but you’ll learn and grow from it.

Can you give us your impressions of the lectures so far?
The lectures have been constructed very well and are delivered in an order that makes sense. But be prepared for a lot of theory and be ready for loads of grammar work—vital grammar work.

What surprised you most during the first week?
How well we all got along and how well my first teaching lesson went.

Stephen, Vika, Miranda and James enjoying a well-earned local beer at Reggae Bar after the first week of their training course.

Do you have any good advice for pre-arrival preparations?
Do some research on Thailand and Phuket. Don’t just arrive and expect to have every little thing explained to you. Southeast Asia is very different to where most people are from; there are things that you’ll find challenging and confronting.

What’s your best advice for the first week of the course?
Be open minded. Be ready to learn. Pay attention. Take lots of notes and don’t be so hard on yourself with your first teaching practice. And most of all, enjoy it, it is an enjoyable experience.

Click here to read about Stephen’s second week on the course and be sure to contact us for further information. You can also apply for the course and commit to finally achieving your dream of teaching English abroad.

The post TEFL COURSE DIARY: Stephen’s 1st week at TEFL Campus appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Colby and Quico posing for a pic with Thai students back in August ’16.

Since TEFL Campus opened its doors, we have constantly tried to ensure our TEFL course is as good as it can be.

One of the best ways we do this is by asking our graduates to assess their trainers, our course and our facilities. This method of evaluation gives students the chance to rate their overall experience at TEFL Campus, and it is only fair we should receive feedback after spending a year assessing over 100 teachers.

 

How do we get the graduates’ feedback? At the end of every TEFL course, we ask graduates to fill out an anonymous survey. We make it clear to everyone that we won’t open the surveys until the course is finished so they have no fear of repercussions if they wish to express dissatisfaction.

Amy’s Thai students took her out for dinner and karaoke on her last night of teaching.

Trainees are asked to rate us on a 5-point scale in over 40 different areas of the course. Areas include everything from curriculum and accommodation, to job support service and our Thai staff. Our lowest rating in 2016 was a 4.1 for our computers–an issue which we’ve already addressed by upgrading RAM, internet speed and hardware.

We’ve included a summary of the most important aspects of the course below.

The majority of reviews and comments — even the critical ones — we received from past trainees were constructive, which is hopefully a reflection of the constructive advice and criticism our trainees received during their teaching practice.

Soaking up the sun over a well-deserved weekend on the beach.

All of us at TEFL Campus are thankful for our graduates’ feedback. Because of this information we are confident we’ll improve our weakest areas in 2107. We’ve already implemented plans to update our technology used in lessons, purchase new course books and consolidate course materials into one course manual.

If you’re looking to improve your teaching skills, or to simply enter the classroom for the first time as a certified EFL teacher, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a TEFL certification course.

Contact us now for more information on how we can help you achieve your goals in 2017.

If you’d like to read comments graduates have made in their surveys, please visit the testimonials page of our website. Comments start just under the orange line, slightly down the page.

The post Learning from learners: TEFL Campus satisfaction ratings are in appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Kathy’s classmate relaxes while doing some yoga looking over Phang Nga Bay.

Kathy has just finished Week Three of her TEFL course in Phuket.

In addition to attending lectures, she delivered two more lessons to real students, looked at different aspects of classroom management and learned about Thai culture from a retired Thai teacher who shared valuable lessons on how to make a smooth transition into her first TEFL job in Thailand. She also met with our panel of experienced teachers and learned
first-hand tips on how to get a great TEFL job.

Kathy’s 3rd installment of her TEFL course diary (be sure to read her diary for the 1st and 2nd week) indicate that the initial nervousness that naturally comes with EFL teaching has subsided, while her confidence and teaching skills are on the rise. She’s more settled going into her last week but she’s also anxious about getting a job after the course.

What did you get up to over your second weekend on the TEFL course?
The second weekend I checked out the beautiful island of Koh Yao Yai with some of the other trainees. We got great little bungalows on the beach and spent the weekend relaxing in the sun.

Sakul House owner (Nong) preps Kathy and Arlene for their first motorbike ride in the rain.

You’ve been at your accommodation now for two weeks. Are you still happy with your choice to stay at Sakul House?
Absolutely. I have already asked to stay another month. The environment is so welcoming and friendly that I’m just not ready to move out.

Was the start of Week Three any easier than the start of Week Two?
Week three was when it all got crazy! Projects, studying, teaching, so much to do, but budget your time and you’ll be alright.

Is English grammar starting to make more sense now, or does learning it seem like a hoop you have to jump through to pass the TEFL course?
It definitely makes more sense now. At the beginning of the course we did an overview of grammar which made it seem more overwhelming. Now we are diving deep into it, which makes it easier to understand. Also teaching a lesson on a specific grammar point makes you really understand it.

You might be a fluent speaker but can you identify an auxiliary verb, a gerund or the present perfect tense? You’ll need to be able to do this and much more before you enter the TEFL profession.

You’re meant to have become a bit more independent with lesson planning. Do you feel that is the case?
Definitely. I’ve started to get my own routine down of how I like to plan out the lessons. You also get faster at planning which can be a good or bad thing.

What have you found to be the most interesting part of lesson design?
I really love the board work. I don’t know why; it’s the most boring part. But I really like designing it to be the exact way I want it up on the board. If I have a successful demonstration of my last big activity in class,
then I love it as well. If not, the students turn into
the proverbial deer in headlights.

Are there any teaching skills you’ve found to be more challenging than others? If so, which skills?
Sometimes I take the lesson planning too seriously and my lessons are well designed and effective but they could be way more fun.

Sept ’15 TEFL Campus graduate (Zach) made a smooth transition from TEFL training to EFL teaching.

You had a lecture on TEFL jobs and job search strategies in Week Three. Do you feel more confident about your job prospects now?
Yes, we were given a lot of advice on places to apply and where not to apply. Good working conditions and not so good, as well as advice on the interview process.

Where are you hoping to get a job after the course?
Phuket Town, or Chiang Mai.

Did you find speaking with experienced TEFL teachers gave you insight into what it’ll be like to teach in a Thai classroom?
I feel the only way to prepare for the classroom is to be in it. But it was helpful to hear what the experienced teachers had to say, especially about class sizes, that’s what I think my biggest hurdle will be.

You’ve got an assignment coming up for Monday of Week Four and the final exam later next week. Any nerves with respect to finishing the course out?
Prioritizing my time, getting everything done, and making sure I’m prepared for the exam is definitely making me nervous, but I know I’m so close to the finish line!

Any plans for your last weekend of the course?
Two words: study and sleep.

Be sure to read Kathy’s diary entry for the last week of her course. For more information on taking a TEFL course in Thailand, please contact TEFL Campus Phuket. 

The post TEFL Course Diary: Kathy’s 3rd week in Phuket appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Kathy poses for her official TEFL course photo.

Kathy has finally finished her TEFL training course in Phuket. She passed her exams, finished all of her assignments and completed her observed teaching practice. Although she’s too modest to say it, she excelled in almost every area of the course and we’re sad to see her go.

Was her TEFL training a success? Will she get a TEFL job in Thailand? Is Kathy happy TEFL Campus Phuket’s onsite training course? By the sounds of it, it seems everything worked out better than expected.

(Be sure to read Kathy’s diaries for Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3 before reading on.) 

You said you’d be sleeping and studying over the weekend leading up to Week 4; is that what you ended up doing?
I studied a bit but I also all meet up friends and explored Phuket. I also got my first case of food poisoning, but it was pretty mild.

Everyone took the grammar/phonetics mock exam on Monday; how did it go? Did it help prepare you for the real TEFL course exam?
I felt much more confident after the mock exam because it let me know exactly what I needed to work on and what I had already mastered.

Were you happy with your final teaching practice session?
It wasn’t my strongest lesson because I was pretty nervous and excited to be done with the course, and to find out what I had gotten on my exam. I was a bit distracted to say the least.

Teachers often need to conduct a demonstration lesson in order to land a good job. Do you think the course prepared you to successfully deliver a demo lesson?
It definitely gave me the framework to create a successful lesson. I will have to adapt it to young learners but with my experience working with children that shouldn’t be hard.

Trainees tend to get stressed out about the final exam. Was it as difficult as you thought it would be?
There were parts of it that seemed quite difficult at the time, but they were also the parts that I did the best on for some reason.

Kathy and her cohorts celebrate passing the exams.

How did you and your fellow trainees celebrate the completion of your course?
We all went to dinner then came back and had beers at our Sakul House accommodation. It wasn’t the wildest celebration but everyone was in a great mood.

How does it feel to be a newly TESOL certified teacher?
It feels great and  I’m so happy to be done…now to find a job (she did, see update below).

Are you happy with your decision to take a TEFL course?
Yes, and I know it actually prepared me to teach English in Thailand. It was also filled with great people and we genuinely had a good time in class every day.

Now that you’ve been in Phuket Town for a while, how do you rate it as a location in relation to the rest of Phuket?
I do really like it but I wish I was closer to the beach.

Emily, Arlene and Kathy taking in a sunset over Patong Beach.

What was the toughest part of adjusting to life in Thailand?
I am constantly getting lost on my motorbike because I can’t use my phone for GPS while I’m on my scooter. But that is just me and my bad navigation skills, not really with Thailand.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Maybe I should have put a little more effort into one of the big class projects. I just wanted to get it out of the way so I could study for the exam, but I could have done a better job on it.

Are you looking forward to getting out into the real TEFL world and find a job?
Definitely, and I’m really hoping for a kindergarten teaching position either here or in Chiang Mai. The job hunt will start this Monday.

Would you say that TEFL Campus lived up to your expectations—be honest.
It really did. The TEFL course was difficult but I knew it would be going into it. It was fun, and I made lots of friends through it. Which was exactly what I wanted.

UPDATE:
We’re happy to announce that Kathy was offered a job up in Chiang Mai and in Phuket. She decided to work for  the highest-paying entry-level school on Phuket. She’s earning more than 40,000 baht per month and that’s not too shabby for just coming off our TEFL course.

We’re very happy to hear our TEFL course exceeded Kathy’s expectations and that we were able to help her find a job.

We hope Kathy’s TEFL course diary helped illustrate just how easy is it so achieve your goals of teaching English abroad. Kathy’s story is similar to that of hundreds of trainees we’ve helped over the years.

To find out more about how we can help you achieve you reach your goal of teaching English abroad, be sure to contact us.

The post TEFL Course Diary: Kathy’s last week in Phuket appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.

Kathy and friends out on Bangla Road in the “infamous” city of Patong.

Week two of our onsite TEFL course brings new challenges, fresh opportunities to practice teaching English in Thailand and critical lessons in areas such as classroom management and language awareness.

We wanted to help people learn more about our course from a trainee’s perspective so we asked Kathy (USA) to help us with a weekly diary. We already learned about her first week and it’s safe to say she settled into Phuket Town rather comfortably.

Was week two as impressive and challenging as the first week? Let’s find out…

What did you do over the first weekend of the TEFL course?
After a long week, full of new information, we decided we needed to celebrate. My classmates and I hopped on a bus and headed for the famous, or as some would say infamous, Patong. It wasn’t what I would call “a nice relaxing weekend at the beach” but we had a fantastic time!

Are you settling into the TEFL course routine?
I am. Class doesn’t start till 9:30 am which is pretty amazing coming from a job that starts at 7:30 am every day. When I’m not teaching in the evening I get to leave at 12:30 pm, grab a nice lunch, catch up on studying and relax. When I do teach I have two and a half hours to plan and depending on if I have the early class or late class I get a little break in between planning and teaching.

How did you feel before your 2nd observed teaching practice session?
I felt much more confident going into my second lesson because I understood the teaching strategy better, and I was ready to improve. In my first lesson I explained my main activity rather than demonstrate it (which is a big no-no in teaching ESL) so I wanted to focus on that. In my 2nd lesson I nailed my demonstrations and the students preformed the activity with clear understanding! As in any lessons there were strengths and weaknesses but overall I was very pleased with my lesson.

Did lesson planning get any easier?
In the second lesson it was much easier to plan because I still had about 90% support from my instructor. On the third lesson I was given a little https://nygoodhealth.com/product/caverta/ more independence which had its challenges but that’s what I signed up for.

You received some tips on classroom management. Have you been able to use them in the classroom yet?
Definitely. All of the students I have taught have basically been no problem at all. Setting the tone at the beginning of class, keeping my lessons fun and engaging, and making sure everyone is participating is key to having good classroom management.

After 6 hours of lecture on English grammar, does it seem more or less daunting? More or less interesting?
The first day I thought, “Oh no, I have literally forgotten everything about the English language!” But after the six hours of grammar and detailed breakdowns of how different parts of speech work, I feel much more comfortable.

This is a schwa. During phonetics lessons, TEFL course trainees learn about this and the other 43 phonetic sounds of the English alphabet.

You’ve also sat through 5 or so hours of phonology lessons? What do you think of the Int’l Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)? Are you more aware of how we make sounds within a language?
I actually really like the phonology lessons; it makes me feel like I’m a code breaker. The lessons make it easier to hear all the different sounds and understand how to break down words and help students with their pronunciation.

School lets out on Friday at 12.30 every week. Is this enough time to relax over the weekend and have some time to explore Phuket?
I stay after on Fridays to take Thai lessons so I’m in class till 4:00 pm. But the weekend is plenty of time to get out and explore. It’s very easy to get to the beaches, and even catch a boat to a nearby island.

One of the many great views from Koh Yao Yai

So what’s the plan for your second weekend?
Some fellow trainees and I are headed to a nearby island called Koh Yao Yai. It’s supposed to be pretty chill so we’re all looking forward to it after last weekend in Patong.

To read Kathy’s entry for Week 3, click here. For more information on taking our TEFL course in Thailand, please be sure to contact us.

The post TEFL Course Diary: Kathy’s 2nd week in Phuket appeared first on Teaching English in Thailand.