Teaching English as a Foreign Language is Great Fun
Teaching English as foreign, or second language is a very interesting and rewarding way to make a living.
Teaching English on-line is a lot of fun. You wouldn’t believe how rewarding it is unless you actually did it yourself. I must admit that you have to be really ‘into it’ as the saying goes, if you are going to make it worthwhile.
I have always had a love for writing and speaking English (British English in my case), so when the opportunity to train as an on-line English Language teacher came up I was really excited about it. I started training with English Study On-line, better know as ESO
English Study Online
. I had to learn how to deliver an on-line lesson and how to operate within a virtual classroom. This looked a little bit daunting at first but I soon got used to it.
Then, after getting the basics right, I set about getting myself some qualifications that would help me to do the job better. First, I signed up with a company that provides training for EFL/TESOL
Cactustefl
(English as a foreign language teaching.) That was hard work but I learned a lot during a very intensive course of study. It taught me to plan and deliver lessons and how to deal with any problems that might arise.
Next I decided to do a business specialist course so that I could teach foreign students and business people to use English in their working lives. Then came more training in one to one teaching. The hardest thing of all was an advanced English Grammar course. I knew how to use the language, of course, because I am a writer, but I had to learn the mechanics of it all. I thought I had left English grammar studies behind when I left school, but I was wrong.
I have met some wonderful and fun people from many different countries including Brazil, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Puerto Rico and Saudi Arabia, to name but a few. The job itself is something I love to do. I sit in front of a computer screen and prepare lessons in my virtual classroom and students come to me. I don’t even need to go to work!
If you have ever thought about doing a job like this there are lots of opportunities, whether you use US, GB, or any other kind of English. All you need is the determination to succeed.
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User Comments
Rask Balavoine
On May 24, 2008 at 10:50 am
I’ve been a TEFLer for a while and it a most rewarduing job. My best was a group of Spaniards. The only way I could get them to sit still and listen was to take them to a pub and get them to pay for a long line of whiskeys. Plenty of jobs about too, but as a long term career it can be a bit unreliable – the big money is in owning a school. Too much administration for me. It’s the teaching that makes for the interest.
Moses Ingram
On May 24, 2008 at 5:13 pm
It sounds very interesting, but I’m not qualified.
Alexa Gates
On May 24, 2008 at 5:44 pm
very interesting! It must be difficult to be a online teacher. My brother is taking an online course and his teacher decided to take a vacation, so he might not graduate because of it..yikes!
Ruby Hawk
On May 24, 2008 at 7:36 pm
It sounds like a wonderful occupation. But I’m afraid I’m the one who should be taking the class.
MindIt
On May 25, 2008 at 11:39 pm
It’s a rewarding profession for sure, but it can be really tough if your students are Japanese
louie jerome
On May 26, 2008 at 3:44 am
#5 Thanks for your comment, but I have found Japanese students easy to teach. Most of them are hardworking and don’t mind spending their own time getting things right. They study hard.
Francie
On May 27, 2008 at 12:12 am
What a great and rewarding job! Done all from the comfort of your home.
Lucy Lockett
On May 27, 2008 at 9:17 pm
That was interesting, I would think it very inspiring too!
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