Teaching English - The 7 Deadly Sins!

Teaching English as a foreign language is a sector rifeDeadly sin number 3 is not being the boss if your
with differing levels of competence and quality. Theclassroom. You may find that sometimes you have to
world is your stage and with so much opportunity outwin a student's respect, especially if they have had a
there it is not surprising that there are so manylot of teachers over the years. It can be difficult if you
language academies, English teachers and methods ofare younger than them, quite inexperienced and
teaching. First of all, you've got to stand out from theobviously shy. (This is another reason for taking a
crowd and this means having the all-important TEFLTEFL course - shyness is banished!) But if you show
certificate. With the amount of English teachersreal leadership and dynamic and know exactly what
steadily increasing, getting trained is pretty muchyou are doing and how you are doing it you'll project a
essential. Admittedly, some academies/companies doreal sense of authority. You don't have to be strict in
not stipulate an accredited (recognised) TEFLorder to do this, but you have to be in control of where
certificate as essential. There are numerous weekendthe class is going, prepared to point out your student's
courses that you can enroll onto but 2 days of learninglimitations (tactfully) and also an improvement plan for
how to use a textbook will not prepare you. Imaginethem.
the situation: You're rushed off your feet, hot from the4. Not correcting your students
metro ride and you've got to teach 8 businessmen theDeadly sin number 4 is the biggest one in the business.
difference between the present perfect and pastCorrection. The one thing you cannot be afraid of as a
simple tenses. You didn't have time to prepareteacher is correcting your students. You cannot
because your last class overran so you have to gocorrect everything (that's impossible) but you have to
straight in. These businessmen, although very charming,do it. Sometimes, you can get a mixed response from
are all incredibly dedicated and want to improve theircorrecting. Every student hankers after it but they all
English in order to be in with a chance of promotion.react differently to it. But as long as you do it, you'll be
Feeling the pressure? You won't if you have a TEFLachieving excellent teacher status.
certificate. So...5. Not being patient
1. Not having a TEFL CertificateWhen you first start out as a teacher you won't be
It's these tricky situations which having a good TEFLcompletely used to teaching. It takes getting used to,
qualification will prepare you for. You will be taughtespecially when you have to flit from teaching an
English grammar and how to teach it, how to pulladvanced class to a beginners class. It's very easy to
instant lesson plans from up your sleeve and how toforget whom you're teaching and the best piece of
control and manage classes. Your students could beadvice available is: take it slow. Deadly sin number 5 is:
children, teenagers or adults, all from differentnot being patient. There's nothing worse than sitting in a
backgrounds and you've got to know how to deal withlanguage class and your teaching talking too quickly.
what each group throws at you! (Quite literally in theRelax, take it slow and put your students in the driving
case of children.)seat. After all, it's their class!
2. Not being prepared6. Not being punctual
Once you're in the classroom if there's one thing youEnglish teachers have a whole mix of reputations. You
have to be it's prepared. In every sense of the word!can be a student's best friend, the person they love to
Don't turn up to class without knowing exactly what ithate, relief from work or a playmate. Or, you can be
is you're going to be doing. Whether that meansunreliable, inconsistent and late. Deadly sin number 6 is:
knowing which page you're up to in their textbook ornot being punctual. Punctuality is a massive bonus in
knowing you have to go through the students'the teaching world. If you're punctual then you gain
homework or even just knowing that you have toautomatic respect because so many teachers out
photocopy an article you've pulled off the Internet 6there are not punctual at all! Invest in a watch and
times before you start, you've just got to know. Youalways allow yourself enough travel time to get to
cannot be disorganised and be a good teacher. Youyour lessons. Better to be early than late.
also cannot feign organisation. Teaching creates paper7. Not having fun!
and every class you have will need a mountain ofDeadly sin number 7 is as crucial as the last 6. And
paper and registers. So, invest in a diary, get somethat is: be interesting and have fun! As a teacher you
folders and some different coloured pens, a strongwill find that you are basically an entertainer. You have
rucksack and you're nearly there. Therefore, deadly sinto be prepared to make a fool out of yourself and
number 2: Not being prepared.have absolutely no shame. (Especially if you're going to
3. Not being the boss of your classroomteach children.) Smile, laugh, have anecdotes and
Something you have to remember, no matter who youalways listen to what your students are saying.
are teaching, what their level is or what job they have,Personality can go a long way and is sometimes more
is that you're boss. You could be teaching the seniorimportant than anything in the teaching world.
financial director of a global business who has a queueFollow these steps and you'll be well prepared to
of people waiting outside his/her door for their time. Butteach.
when it's you and them in their office, you are boss.
Victoria Galloway - Graduate of TtMadrid and English teacher - www.ttmadrid.com