Teaching in front of a group of new students can be nerve-racking. Confidence and preparation are the best tools for success for any teacher, but how do you gain confidence or know what to prepare for? Practical teaching week, the final week of your 4-week TEFL course, offers you hands-on experiences teaching real English learners. None of your learners will be faking! By the end of your course, you will have the self-assurance and skills to begin your teaching journey with ease.
The first 3 weeks of your TEFL course will prepare you with everything you need to know before a week of teaching your own group of English as a Second Language students! During these 3 weeks you will learn…
Critical ESL techniques – Teaching ESL learners is different from traditional teaching. Your TEFL trainer will start the course by introducing you to specific techniques for how to best approach a classroom of non-native English learners.
Mini lessons – These are fun, short activities where you get to choose your own topic and discover your personality as a teacher. Once a week, you and your classmates–as a group–will have an opportunity to practice teaching simple topics, like vocabulary, grammar, and a “how to” instruction lesson with ESL students. After each mini lesson, you will receive feedback from your trainer in a group setting.
Grammar week – As native English speakers, we learn grammar naturally and know how basic grammar functions, but it can be difficult to know why we use certain rules or how to teach it to students. You will spend a week reviewing basic English grammar terminology and how to apply grammar instruction in the classroom.
Classroom management – You will spend lots of time learning how to create the best learning environment possible. This includes how to organize the whiteboard, how to create seating arrangements, and the best ways to build rapport with your students in the classroom.
Lesson planning – Throughout the course, you will practice how to structure ESL lesson plans that are engaging and interesting. You will write multiple lesson plans with the help of your TEFL Trainer while building a “tool box” of go-to activities and techniques to apply when teaching.
Methodologies – Your TEFL Trainer will introduce you to various teaching methodologies for reading, speaking, listening, writing, and other activities, along with best classroom practices.
After 3 weeks of studying how to be the best teacher you can be, you will get to put your knowledge to the test by leading your own ESL classroom for a full week! We call this practical teaching week. You will teach one 60-minute lesson each day. This final week offers you an excellent opportunity to practice everything you have learned throughout your course. You will take over as a teacher for an existing English course. Your group of students will be organized by level – beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Teaching the same group of students for 5 days allows you to get to know your learners and build rapport with your class. It really allows you to grow as a teacher and implement all that you have been learning! All the materials that you need to be successful–like books, curricula, markers, and audios–are provided for you and your TEFL Trainer will review your lesson plans before you teach.
For your week of practical teaching, you will create your own unique lesson plans based on Maximo Nivel’s provided curriculum. After each class, your TEFL Trainer will give you personalized feedback. This feedback is beneficial so you can improve, adjust, or keep doing a great job for the next day. You will need to dress professionally and arrive 30 minutes before your class starts.
This is an exciting week full of practice and learning! You should have fun and not be afraid to challenge yourself! You will improve each day by listening to feedback and adjusting as needed. Practical teaching week gives you the hands-on experience you need to start your ESL teaching career. Practical teaching week really helps differentiate your Maximo Nivel TEFL experience from other TEFL programs!
Finally, after your last class, you and your classmates will celebrate all your hard work with a graduation ceremony – or as we at Maximo Nivel like to call it, the TEFL Toast! After some food, drinks, and socializing you will receive an accredited certificate and a personalized letter of recommendation from your TEFL Trainer.
Teaching ESL students for the first time can be stressful. However, 3 weeks of learning and a week of practical teaching will give you the knowledge, tools, methods, and self-confidence you need to be a successful ESL teacher!