Lessons Advanced TESOL

Prior to taking this TEFL course, I was honestly anticipating some easy, mind numbing work that would just tell me about being a teacher. This was certainly not the case. The TEFL units taught me so much about the english language that, inherently I knew, but I didn’t actually have the capacity to talk about. So first and foremost, I’ve gained knowledge about the different verb tenses, how the tenses are constructed, and how they are disparate or similar. I’ve also gained an understanding of how to construct an effective lesson plan, and how much creativity and planning truly goes into creating something that will be exciting, motivating, helpful, and efficient. I did not realize how many styles of teaching there are, nor did I think about the necessity to approach students with specific cultural backgrounds differently. I have gained a better understanding of how to go about getting my students to be active participants in a lesson I create- although I’ll really gain an understanding of how to approach this when I actually begin teaching. I have learned to be really thoughtful about how much I speak in class and have learned that it best to strive towards getting the students talking with each other as much as possible. I have gained ideas for different lessons stages, how to create a balance of language skills, and what I should strive to reasonably accomplish in my lessons. The various TEFL units have caused me to look at the english language in a whole new light. Having grown up in Miami, Florida, constantly surrounded by people learning to speak english I’d learned about how difficult it was to learn. But, this course has really shown me where those difficulties are. I now feel a bit more compassionate for the struggles that an individual learning english must go through to effectively communicate in my language. I intend to implement what I’ve learned in the TEFL lessons by being intensely patient and compassionate with my students. I will look for and create the best ways to teach my students by seeking advice from experience TEFL teachers in my area, using english language resources that sharpen my own language skills, and by trying to put myself in my students’ shoes (i.e. if I were learning a particular language concept for the first time, what would I find difficult, how would I like to be taught that concept, and what would be the best way of getting a handle on it). I will try my hardest to be a proactive teacher by being thorough with my lesson plans, and by practicing my lesson plans solo before I take them into the class room. I will try to incorporate as much authentic materials as possible, where it is appropriate, so that my students get as realistic of language education as possible.