| It's your first day in your new job as a TESOL | | | | about the class and the rules. You may even need to |
| Teacher, and you're worried. What on earth do you | | | | hand out the course schedule showing class dates |
| do? This article provides five tips to help you prepare | | | | and topics, mid-terms/finals, expected contributions |
| your first TESOL class as a TESOL instructor. | | | | from students including homework, etc. By the time |
| 1. Learn your ESL students names | | | | you cover most of this in an average class, you will be |
| If you have a small enough class, you'll be able to learn | | | | well through your class. If you have extra time, you |
| their names quickly enough. If you're teaching in a large | | | | may distribute a survey to students asking them about |
| class, get a seating chart set up with the student's | | | | their learning, what they want to learn, and so on. |
| English and full name written on it. You'll be able to call | | | | 4. Set the rules, tone and atmosphere |
| on students to answer questions, call to attention those | | | | It's important to set the rules and tone of the class |
| who are not paying attention, and increase familiarity in | | | | from the first day. Why? Because students do have |
| the classroom. Never forget to tell them your name; | | | | learning issues and behavioral problems. Typical things |
| but you will have to find out what local mores are for | | | | you will need to consider as a TESOL Teacher include: |
| addressing teachers. In some cultures, first names are | | | | cheating on exams or homework, failure to provide |
| thought too familiar. In others, you may be addressed | | | | homework, absences from class, low grades, speaking |
| as 'Teacher'. Find out what is expected, then decide if | | | | first language in class, disruptive behavior, etc. Speak |
| that's how you want students to call you. | | | | to other teachers in the school or college, and you will |
| 2. Relax, Smile, Speak | | | | soon get a feel for what the typical problems are, and |
| If you're teaching your first TESOL class as a teacher, | | | | what standards your school applies. Make it clear from |
| then smile, take a deep breath and focus on what you | | | | the start what you will tolerate and what is not |
| are doing. Once you are clear headed, you will be in a | | | | acceptable. Then stick to it. |
| better position to determine what's going on in the | | | | 5. Assert your authority as the teacher |
| class, what English you need to teach, what the | | | | You are the teacher in the classroom, you are the |
| students need to learn, and you'll start to build better | | | | authority figure in the classroom. You decide what |
| relationships with the students themselves. Speak up, | | | | happens, what is right or wrong within limits. From time |
| speak slowly, speak clearly. Once you determine what | | | | to time, you may feel you are a fraud, because you |
| level students are at, you will be able to vary your | | | | don't feel like a teacher. After all, it's your first job |
| English speed, vocabulary, style and volume as | | | | teaching since college. This is a natural reaction to your |
| needed. But on the first class, you will need to speak | | | | situation. But you are being asked to teach, and you |
| to as many students as possible. A simpler delivery will | | | | represent the role of teacher in the classroom. How |
| help to achieve that goal. | | | | you assert your authority in the classroom varies from |
| 3. Don't be too ambitious | | | | teacher to teacher and role to role. Have confidence in |
| The first class in most schools and colleges courses | | | | yourself, and you will learn the role of teacher. |
| don't really cover much at all. This is normal. You will | | | | Hopefully these tips will help you become a great |
| need to get names, hand out course books, introduce | | | | TESOL Teacher from day #1. Do remember, though, it |
| yourself, get introductions from students, tell students | | | | will take quite a while to feel at home with your class. |