Comprehensive TEFL Certificate

I have been teaching ESL classes at small academies in South Korea for over three years. In the beginning I was totally clueless although I had some minor experience previously. As I continued teaching I improved through trial and error. But since I began studying TEFL through the ITTT course I have learned how to frame my approach. I planned my lessons through “feeling”- more intuitively about what the students needed and wanted in my class. Now, I can think in a more precise way, specifically with planning my lessons. The ESA approach has already helped balance my perspective with allowing enough “fun” time and justifying games. In Korea, the system is pretty strict and promotes mostly study time with little to no Engage and Activate stage activities. But now that I understand and know the value of these activities, I will try to incorporate and promote these activities more and more. It is vital for maintaining students’ morale and interest in learning english. I have also learned valuable teaching techniques, games, and activities I can use to cover all aspects of learning ESL. At times, I was at a loss for new approaches to involve the students in a class. I had used all of my resource books and “go-to” websites. But through studying this program, I revitalized the number of things I could do in my class through all the useful resources and suggestions made in the chapter. Finally, I value novelty in the classroom more. I realize that to maintain students’ interests I have to continue to learn; as a teacher it is my job to continue my studies in order to keep my lessons interesting and exciting. I’ve been inspired to persist in becoming a better teacher; to continually improve through learning new ways to approach ESL classroom teaching. I hope to remain in South Korea, teaching ESL, for years to come and continue the never-ending art of becoming a better teacher.