| Getting your first TEFL job is exciting, exhilarating…. | | | | 3. Being Too Nice |
| and down-right frightening! Don't worry though – | | | | No one wants to be that nasty teacher that terrorises |
| steer clear of these 5 most common TEFL mistakes | | | | their students, but go too far the other way and you'll |
| and you'll be fine! | | | | cause just as many problems for yourself. No matter |
| 1. Talking Too Much | | | | what age of students you're teaching, you need to be |
| | | | firm and keep control – if you're trying to please |
| It's not all about you... | | | | your students too much, you risk letting your classes |
| Imagine turning up for your very first driving lesson, but | | | | run out of control and then no one will learn anything! |
| instead of ushering you into the driving seat, your | | | | Get more advice about keeping control of your TEFL |
| instructor plonks you in the passenger seat and | | | | class here: |
| spends the next hour or so describing how to drive a | | | | 4. Having Expectations That Are Too High |
| car. It's not really going to teach you how to drive, is it? | | | | Always take the hype with a little pinch of salt – |
| That's exactly how your students will feel if you spend | | | | yes, teaching abroad is an amazing, life-changing |
| too much time at the front of class droning on – | | | | chance to experience another culture. However, you |
| you can already speak English – it's about getting | | | | will also be in a foreign country, away from friends and |
| your students to practise theirs! So make sure they're | | | | family, doing a job that you may never have done |
| in the driving seat, and you're on the passenger side | | | | before, which means it may take you a little while to |
| guiding them and making sure they don't bump into too | | | | settle in. That's not to say it won't be great, but it's |
| many things! | | | | always worth going in with low expectations to avoid |
| 2. Not Doing a TEFL Course | | | | a massive dose of disappointment and culture shock. |
| You speak English fine, so why do you need to learn | | | | 5. Taking the First Job That Comes Along |
| how to teach it? In fact, you don't necessarily need to | | | | A good-looking TEFL job offer has just landed in your |
| do a TEFL course – you can find jobs without one. | | | | inbox, but before you rush off and sign on the dotted |
| However, just a few words of warning from someone | | | | line, stop and take a look at the job conditions – |
| who has tried to teach English (rather badly) without | | | | those crucial things like working hours, holidays, training |
| first doing a TEFL course – you're going to feel | | | | and sick pay – they'll make or break your |
| rather sheepish stood in front of a class for the first | | | | experience of teaching abroad. If you're not happy |
| time, with no idea where to start; you'll not have much | | | | with what you see, negotiate with you employer, and if |
| clue about how to teach grammar; and (rather | | | | they won't move on things, go elsewhere – they |
| crucially) you may find it difficult to get your hands on | | | | need you much more than you need them. Get more |
| the best jobs without one. So, all in all, not doing a | | | | information here: |
| TEFL course will probably be a bit of a false economy. | | | | What do you think? What mistakes did you make as |
| Get more information here: | | | | a brand new teacher? |