The TEFL Blog

With so many Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Programs available it can be very challenging to find the right program to fit your goals. In this blog, I'll look at some factors that everyone should consider before enrolling in a TEFL program and some advice on choosing the right program. Before I start, I should mention that this blog will not be addressing bachelor or graduate level programs in TEFL. Perhaps in a future blog, I'll look at these types of programs and whether you should invest the time and money in getting an advanced degree in TEFL or TESOL. Here is a list of things I suggest looking at before choosing a TEFL program: Is it an Online or On-Site Course . If you go back a couple blogs I wrote extensively on the differences between the programs...I'm a big fan of face-to-face classes, but maybe you aren't. Accreditation . One way to determine if a program is reputable is by checking its accreditation. Qualified Instructors . Befo...

Hey Everyone, I was going through some of my pictures that I took while travelling and teaching English, and I couldn't help but think how much of a life-changing event that experience truly was. In this blog entry I'm going to share 10 important lessons that I learned while teaching English abroad and in Canada. 1. The world is a really big and diverse place. I think when you live in one place for a long time, you lose your sense of how big and diverse the world really is. When you start to travel though you can't help but notice how grand the planet earth is. For example, two places that I taught English were Ghana and South Korea. If you look at either on the map of the world you'll see they are really small countries, but within those tiny countries alone there is so much to see, experience and learn about. I lived in Korea for 3 years and I'd say I only saw a small fraction of that country, even though I traveled in Korea more than my friends there...

Ever thought about living and teaching in Cambodia? Here's a link to a great article about one teacher's experience while teaching English in South East Asia http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/05/6-things-i-learned-after-moving-to-cambodia-to-teach-english/ https://www.facebook.com/uvictefl https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/education-learning-and-development/topics/teaching-english-as-a-foreign-language

Taking an Online TEFL program or an On-Site TEFL Program? So lately I've been thinking about developing an online Teaching English as a Foreign Language Program at the university I work at, as these types of programs are as popular now as they ever have been. The problem for me in doing this, is that while I think there is value and obvious pros to online learning, I believe that classroom learning, especially when taking a teacher-training course, has greater value to students (I should note that I have taken an online TEFL program and an on-site course in Canada). In this blog I'm going to look at some of the pros / cons of online courses through distance education and let you make your decision about which is better. Online Courses / Distance Learning Pros - Convenient. You set you own hours to study and you can do this from home or any place that has the internet. These courses are great for people that have tight schedules due to work or family respons...

Teaching English in Japan Japan continues to be one of the most popular choices of places to teach English among TEFL teachers. Excellent salaries, good work conditions and benefits, combined with living in beautiful country with a unique culture and history make Japan really attractive to anyone looking to teach English in a foreign country. Although I have not taught and lived in Japan (although I have visited), I'm going to try to provide you with some essential info that you need before going to Japan to teach. Much of what I will tell you comes from the advice and reviews of many friends and colleagues that have spent years teaching in Japan.  Qualifications: -To teach English in Japan you must have a university degree, and although not absolutely necessary, it is highly recommended that you have a TESL or TEFL certificate/diploma. Past teaching experience is also helpful, and may help you to get a better job in Japan. Work Visas: There are different categorie...

Teaching Children Vs. Teaching Adults One of the biggest questions that someone has to ask themselves when choosing to go teach English in a foreign country is: Do I want to teach children or adults? As someone who has experience teaching children and adults abroad, and in Canada, I'll do my best to weigh these two choices for potential TEFL teachers. Before I start weighing these options, one thing I wanted to quickly address is this notion that children learn languages quicker and easier than adults. While in the past this was thought to be a fact, in recent years many studies have come out that suggest otherwise. Younger students do have better memory retention than their older counterparts, but factors like an individual's motivation, patience, perseverance  and their instructor's abilities and expertise also play a huge role in language development. Many researchers now believe that these variants may have a larger influence on second language ...

  If you look on the internet you'll find many sources telling you what you need to teach English around world. Most times you'll only find information about the professional qualifications you need to teach English in a foreign country. To be successful though you also have to have the right personal qualities. Check out the info-graphic in this post to learn about some more necessary qualities to fulfill you dreams of teaching abroad. https://www.facebook.com/uvictefl https://continuingstudies.uvic.ca/education-learning-and-development/topics/teaching-english-as-a-foreign-language

First Day of Teaching English Abroad Advice So this is it, you've (hopefully) completed a TEFL/TESL program; you did your research and picked a country you'd like to teach in; you interviewed and have been given the job you really wanted; you packed your stuff and said your goodbyes; you got on a plane and made the leap of faith; you tried to quickly acclimatize to your new surroundings; and now its time to teach for the first time.... To many new teachers (or even people who have taught for many years) your first day of teaching  in a foreign country can be overwhelming; not to mention that the first day is so important for setting the tone for your classroom and teaching style. Not to worry though, with the right preparation and mindset, your first day can be a great success. Here are some things I wish someone had told me before my first day of teaching abroad: -My first tip actually starts before your first day, but it is just as important as anything...