YOU - Confident and Skilled in the front of your classroom:  Here's all the Skills you missed if you haven't taken a formal TEFL Training Certificate Course.  No need to miss out - get your basic TEFL Training right here - all the basic concepts, vocabulary, lesson planning - in one place. KNOW What to do and HOW to do it! TEFL Training for New Teachers How to Teach English Overseas A Ten-Week Plan to a NEW Life Overseas Everything you Need to Know to Land a Job and get Moved Overseas. Insider Tips from an Experienced TEFL Teacher, TEFL Teacher Trainer and former Peace Corps Volunteer working Overseas since 1989. A Fast Track Grammar Review for EFL Teachers No need to fear grammar any more!  This well known Grammar Review is humorous and light-hearted in its approach to grammar. No other grammar book can get you up to speed as quickly and easily as Fast Track. Written by a teacher-trainer to get newbies up to speed FAST.

What if I don't have any English Teaching Experience?

What if I don't know a TEFL from a TESL?

No problem!  Experience is not usually required.

Before you head overseas to start teaching English, do whatever you can to get a little training and experience under your belt.

 Conversation?

While some schools and advertisements will tell you that you will just go and "talk" with your students, that really isn't enough.  Often your students will not really be able to have a true conversation with you and will need some instruction and training.  That's the teaching part!

People Skills

A large part of your success will depend on your "people skills" - your ability to get along with different and diverse people.  This includes your ability to listen to them and spur on a conversation or discussion about something that interests them (not you!) - and your ability to show a genuine interest in what THEY have to say (again, NOT YOU!).  With younger students, you will need to have the energy and desire to develop interesting materials and games/activities that are appropriate to their interests and ages.

You success will also depend on your genuine interest in the success of your students.  Students worldwide seem to easily pick up whether you are interested in their future.  And, if they know you are concerned about their success - they will, in turn, be interested in your success. 

Another people skills factor is your willingness to quickly learn cultural aspects of the country where you are living and teaching.  Showing the proper respect for your students by learning and behaving by their cultural norms - will help them respect you. It's their country - not yours.  They want to learn your language - not your culture.