| I took my ESL training from TEFL International in Ban | | | | how hung over you are, and you need to be sharp |
| Phe, Thailand, back in 2003. Prior to that I had been in | | | | and ready to think outside your old parameters.o Bring |
| the entertainment field, as well as broadcast journalism. | | | | at least one set of good business clothing with you, |
| I had no background in teaching ESL (English as a | | | | and that includes shoes. Shorts and a t-shirt, with the |
| Second Language) but wanted to travel and earn my | | | | accompanying flip-flops, are great for a stroll on the |
| way around the world instead of depending on my | | | | beach, but when you interview for a teaching position, |
| paltry savings. Teaching English overseas looked like a | | | | and when you are actually teaching, you will be |
| good bet. The reason I chose TEFL International was | | | | expected to wear business attire. That means ties for |
| because the school had been around for seven years | | | | men and long skirts for women.o In Thailand and some |
| already and had a world-class teacher trainer, David | | | | other Asian countries there is a double-standard when |
| Hopkins, as their lead trainer. Also, I just plain wanted to | | | | it comes to smoking. Men can do it; women can't. |
| live in Thailand! I'd been there before in the early 70's | | | | Sorry ladies, but if you want to light up it's back to the |
| and found the people to be friendly and helpful and the | | | | Girl's Room - just like high school. But think of it as a |
| food was so good I couldn't stop salivating when I | | | | positive thing - it's great motivation to quit!o One of the |
| remembered the coconut curries and green papaya | | | | biggest bugaboos I hear about teaching overseas is |
| salads I'd had al fresco under the palm trees by the | | | | "but I can't speak the language!" You're not expected |
| beach. And no more winter! What's not to like? | | | | to know Thai or Chinese or Tagalong, since you're not |
| I passed the TEFL International 4-week course | | | | teaching it. You're an English teacher, and when |
| successfully and was awarded a TEFL certificate, | | | | students are in your classroom they are expected to |
| allowing me to teach English anywhere in Asia, Africa, | | | | speak only English. It's called "immersion" teaching, and |
| South America, and parts of Europe. I stayed in | | | | it's what you will be taught to do. You can get along in |
| Bangkok for two years teaching at language schools | | | | Thailand with just a few Thai words and phrases. I |
| and doing some private tutoring on the side. I made | | | | promise you won't feel isolated at all; the Thais are an |
| enough to afford a decent apartment, good food, and | | | | extremely gregarious group of people. They will include |
| plenty of in-country travel. | | | | you in their fun from the day you step off the plane!o |
| Since then I've had many people ask me if I thought | | | | Throw away your preconceived notions about the |
| they could take the TEFL International course and | | | | English language and about teaching in general. Maybe |
| succeed as overseas English teachers even if they | | | | you were taught by crusty nuns in a parochial school |
| didn't have a teaching background. My answer is | | | | or free-wheeling hippy types at an open school. |
| always "sure you can!" I've listed a few tips from my | | | | Whatever your conception of a teacher is, be ready |
| own TEFL International experience, which can help you | | | | to change it once you start your TEFL class. You'll be |
| or anyone else succeed in receiving a | | | | getting real-time teaching experience with real foreign |
| TEFL certificate from TEFL International:o Have your | | | | students, and you've got to flexible enough to meet |
| vaccinations updated. Malaria is no longer common in | | | | their needs and not worry about your "role" as a |
| Thailand, but you should get booster shots for | | | | teacher.o Bring your laptop, if you have one. If not, bring |
| diphtheria and tetanus. You're bound to get a bit of | | | | an extra three to four hundred dollars to buy one - |
| traveler's diarrhea during your first week in country, but | | | | they are very inexpensive overseas in Asia and a |
| a swig of Pepto Bismol will take care of that. You | | | | very necessary for your emails, blogs, Facebook, and |
| need to be in good health while you're taking the | | | | for lesson planning. There are plenty of internet cafes |
| course.o Which brings me to my next point; for a | | | | but most of them are full of screaming, shuffling |
| variety of reasons many people, when they first visit a | | | | teenagers. Who needs the aggravation?o Most |
| foreign country, start drinking much more than they | | | | important of all; use your teacher trainers as resource |
| ever did back home. We're all familiar with the | | | | people. They know more than just how to diagram a |
| binge-drinking that takes place on university campuses. | | | | sentence. They can give you the inside scoop on the |
| A similar scenario often plays out along the beach | | | | best places to travel, to eat, and to sleep. They know |
| bars in Thailand. New students seem impelled to drink | | | | where the best teaching jobs are, and they are usually |
| each other under the table. So take it easy on the | | | | happy to share that information with you - if you ask. |
| Chang Beer; set reasonable limits for yourself and stick | | | | Put another way - don't get off on the wrong foot |
| to them when you're out socializing. You're going to | | | | with your teacher trainers; these are people that can |
| start class each weekday morning at nine, no matter | | | | be a lifelong source of support and information for you. |