Teaching Abroad (TEFL)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nix
  • Start date Start date
Tefal said:
Surely then they must already know quite a bit of English?


As if the teacher can't speak their language they can never ask for help/a translation of a word or phrase.

If they say "how do you say <insert phrase here> in English" the teacher won't be able to answer.
Click to expand...
From what I know of these TEFL courses, speaking in anything but English is highly frowned upon in the class room.
 
platypus said:
From what I know of these TEFL courses, speaking in anything but English is highly frowned upon in the class room.
Click to expand...
It depends on the school, but IMO if you have to speak another language to convey your message then you're not doing your job properly.
It's cheating. I used to do it all the time but I've cut back a lot.

Tefal said:
So basically you're a glorified tape player?
Click to expand...
Please expand on this.
 
You can't translate, you can't answer questions all you are there for is to teach pronunciation.

They must have just decided it was cheaper to use a human rather than have all the lessons plans recorded on tape.

If a student has a problem or cannot understand something you can not help them any more than a pre-recorded message and a * to English dictionary.
 
Tefal said:
You can't translate, you can't answer questions all you are there for is to teach pronunciation.

They must have just decided it was cheaper to use a human rather than have all the lessons plans recorded on tape.

If a student has a problem or cannot understand something you can not help them any more than a pre-recorded message and a * to English dictionary.
Click to expand...
If you teach well then they understand everything (eventually).
How can you say that we only teach pronunciation?
What about new grammar and vocabulary, amongst many many other things..?

You don't have to explain something to someone in another language for them to understand it. Actions speak louder than words, literally.
Very very rarely do I have to say something in French for my students to understand.
I don't even use a dictionary in class and in fact none of the schools I teach in have any immediately to hand.

As for not being able to answer questions, if you have taught them how to formulate questions then the students shouldn't have many problems.
You pre-teach the necessary vocabulary for your lesson and thus any new lexis that crops up will have been dealt with.

Remember lessons should be structured and there should be a clear objective. Sometimes the students will have questions about things that have come up outside the class and those are dealt with accordingly. It's not as simple as just telling them what it is in their own language.
 
Last edited:
mjt said:
If you teach well then they understand everything (eventually).
How can you say that we only teach pronunciation?
What about new grammar and vocabulary, amongst many many other things..?

You don't have to explain something to someone in another language for them to understand it. Actions speak louder than words, literally.
Very very rarely do I have to say something in French for my students to understand.
I don't even use a dictionary in class and in fact none of the schools I teach in have any immediately to hand.

As for not being able to answer questions, if you have taught them how to formulate questions then the students shouldn't have many problems.
You pre-teach the necessary vocabulary for your lesson and thus any new lexis that crops up will have been dealt with.

Remember lessons should be structured and there should be a clear objective. Sometimes the students will have questions about things that have come up outside the class and those are dealt with accordingly. It's not as simple as just telling them what it is in their own language.
Click to expand...


Everything you've said there could be done by a well designed tape.
 
mjt said:
Absolutely not. The best way of learning English is full immersion, with no other language spoken.
Click to expand...
Not as simple as that. it does depend a lot on the student teacher relationship.
mjt said:
Why are you limited to the higher levels?
If you've been trained properly then you should know how to teach absolute beginners.
Click to expand...

Firstly I was trained properly.

The problem lies more with the student than the teacher, I've found that most low level students don't learn enough, or fast enough, with a solely 'native speaker', lot's of students regress quickly when frustated because they are not understanding 100%, therefore they lose interest and fun = not wanting to learn/study more.

I have one basic level student who has no problem with studying with 90% English in lessons and she is progressing really well, however this is not the case for most basic level students...
 
Last edited:
mctiny said:
Not as simple as that. it does depend a lot on the student teacher relationship.


Firstly I was trained properly.

The problem lies more with the student than the teacher, I've found that most low level students don't learn enough, or fast enough, with a soley 'native speaker', lot's of students regress quickly when frustated because they are not understanding 100%, therefor they lose intrest and fun = not wanting to learn/study more.

I have one basic level student who has no problem with studying with 90% English in lessons and she is progressing really well, however this is not the case for most basic level students...
Click to expand...
I don't want to be a ****, but...

solely
interest
therefore

As for the teaching aspect, fair point. However, saying that you're limited to teaching higher levels because you don't speak their language is ridiculous.
I suspect that it is your teaching which is limited.
 
Last edited:
Well i'm pretty set about going for this. Some things are a bit conditional but will hopefully start a CELTA course in sep/october as my voluntary redundancy *should* kick in then.
Will only be able to do it part time for 3 or 4 months (no centres in aberdeen). After passing. Will make my final decision on where i'm going (its between China, Taiwan, HK, Japan after doing research on all) so hope to head out there by July 2011 next year.

Ordered some Mandarin cds to get me going. Luckily for me as well i know a couple of people who are native speakers (one is my ex though but hey could be the perfect time to get back in touch! :D)

Its quite exciting the thought of making a drastic change like this :)
 
Tefal said:
You can't translate, you can't answer questions all you are there for is to teach pronunciation.

They must have just decided it was cheaper to use a human rather than have all the lessons plans recorded on tape.

If a student has a problem or cannot understand something you can not help them any more than a pre-recorded message and a * to English dictionary.
Click to expand...


This simply isn't true. Whilst it is harder to explain some points to younger kids, there are loads of different techniques to get a point across; games, body language, role play... the list is quite endless if you have a brain.

I taught English for two years - a year in Korea, and a year in Poland. It was an awesome experience. I taught all levels from kids to adults, beginners to the virtually fluent.

I'd especially recommend Korea. It's a fantastic country, and the wages will let you live like a king. I ate out for breakfast, dinner, and tea the entire year I was there. I had the money to go anywhere in the country, with enough left over for at least one trip to the casino each week (sometimes three or four times).
 
Last edited:
Hellsmk2 said:
This simply isn't true. Whilst it is harder to explain some points to younger kids, there are loads of different techniques to get a point across; games, body language, roleplay... the list is quite endless if you have a brain.

I taught English for two years - a year in Korea, and a year in Poland. It was an awesome experience. I taught all levels from kids to adults, beginners to the virtually fluent.

I'd especially recommend Korea. It's a fantastic country, and the wages will let you live like a king. I ate out for breakfast, dinner, and tea the entire year I was there. I had the money to go anywhere in the country, with enough left over for at least one trip to the casino each week (sometimes three or four times).
Click to expand...


ok put it this way.

Would you ever be allowed to teach even English in this country with your current qualifications?
 
Tefal said:
ok put it this way.

Would you ever be allowed to teach even English in this country with your current qualifications?
Click to expand...

Depending on who awards the qualification, it is a recognised advantage. However, I do believe that to teach in this country, a PGCE is an absolute prerequisite.

Experience with teaching will however, help you to that goal.
 
Shicky said:
Yeah I dont get paid here since im at university so i've gone from 300k KRW for £150 to around £185 currently. They also all assume im a teacher, its kind of cool not to be as everyone makes a fuss if you arent teaching. Unless you are an american soldier of course in which case everyone hopes u will die.

That FB group is a great link to non-horrible jobs. My plan is to get a PGCE, a few years experience then hopefully work all over the world in international schools. Korea seems the soundest bet to me right now, my friends are laughing right now with the ease of work and money rolling in. If you can get to university level its a complete joke the hours and work for the ridiculous sums of money you get, not to mention banging your students senseless
Click to expand...

If I am reading this right, you are being massively underpaid for a job in Korea. As a teacher out there for their first year, you should be looking at 2.1 million won a month absolutely minimum, and that should be AFTER you've paid for accommodation.

Too many foreigners go to Korea and accept ridiculous wages that are not in line with the average. Do not take anything less. Koreans will rip you off massively if you let them, and hang you out to dry when you try to correct it. You have to be a hard faced ******* to fully enjoy the experience and not get **** on out there.
 
Tefal said:
ok put it this way.

Would you ever be allowed to teach even English in this country with your current qualifications?
Click to expand...

Nope, I wouldn't. There is a massive difference between teaching natives and non-natives.

It doesn't make the training any less relevant though. With TEFL/ CELTA, you're taught techniques necessary to help non-natives... not those who can already speak the language fluently.

Another way to look at it - you wouldn't ask a programmer to look after the IT infrastructure.
 
Tefal said:
ok put it this way.

Would you ever be allowed to teach even English in this country with your current qualifications?
Click to expand...
Of course - English as a foreign language :confused:
CELTA and TESOL are EFL qualifications.

If you want to become a school teacher in core subjects in the UK then you would need a PGCE.
However, I don't see why you couldn't be an EFL teacher in a school with a CELTA or TESOL and experience of teaching children..
 
mjt said:
Of course - English as a foreign language :confused:
CELTA and TESOL are EFL qualifications.

If you want to become a school teacher in core subjects in the UK then you would need a PGCE.
However, I don't see why you couldn't be an EFL teacher in a school with a CELTA or TESOL and experience of teaching children..
Click to expand...

yep

CELTA/TESOL - teach EFL anywhere (tho dont think you can teach kindergarten in Taiwan)

TEFOL certificate - teach only in some parts e.g. ASIA

Different places, schools etc have different requirements...some require degrees some dont etc etc
 
divaboy said:
When do you get there and and where you going ?I'm over in Taiwan in little over a weeks time
Click to expand...

Next Year Before June :D. Not 100% on Tawain but if it is it'll be Tapei city. I do a lot of prep work before going you see.

Reason why i'm going be before june is

a) stay longer than 90 days in UK for a tax year (so from april im guessing?) and bam taxman takes his cut from your overseas earnings so you end up paying tax twice. 20% in tawain and the usual rate in UK...

b) If you work in taiwan for more than 6 months of the tax year then you get some of your tax back that you paid in Tawain.


Are you just flying over and looking round the schools/sending out cv OR are you going with an agency?

GL :D
 
The more I read this thread, the more tempted I am to give this a try. After all, you only live once, and it must be a fascinating experience.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom