w

kno
to
eed
youn
g
ry thin
Eve

Peru
ing in
Teach

Ha
ppy
Tea
che
rs a
nd
Stu
den
ts
 3 A Note from the Experts:
What Linda Richardson has to say India
n Cl
assro
om
6 Taking the Leap:
Is it for you & getting qualified

8 Busting a Move:
Letter of notice, finding a job, planning your move,
boarding the flight

12 Youve Arrived!
Arriving abroad, settling in, getting ready for the first day

15 First Day Jitters:

First day at school, planning lessons & exploring your new
home

18 Its Hard to Say Goodbye:

Saying goodbye to your students & friends saying hello
to your new home

21 Extras to Help You Go:

Packing list, vaccinations, a page from Craigs diary

ntina
Arge
ers in
Teach
 chool
ry S
rima
ese P
Chin

If only i-to-i had been around when I first started TEFLing then
I wouldnt have...

c Packed a bag full of TOTALLY unsuitable clothes

c Arrived with my Spanish phrase book, when everyone spoke
Catalan (its a COMPLETELY different language)

c Swotted up on obscure grammar points when I should have

been learning about ice breakers and milling and role plays.
(But I still love grammar; ten points if you can name the grammar
construction I used in the opening sentence, email me, go on!)

I always wanted to travel; I took a year off from college and

worked on farms in Israel, picked lemons in Crete, waitressed in
Germany, chamber maided in France. All great fun thanks, but
hard work! And very sweaty sometimes too.

Chec
king
Stud
ents
Work
3
 So the next time I headed off I made sure
I had a TEFL certificate in my back pocket.

TEFL opens doors. It gives you the chance

to immerse yourself in another culture, to
learn another language, to earn a living Mak
eshif
t Cha
while seeing the world; it doesnt get lkbo
ard
much better than that! Of course it can
be hard work too, but you get out of it what you
put into it. Plan your lessons well and you will have fun with your
students. Dont plan, and they might have fun going wild, but
you wont.

Be open to your new environment. You are not a tourist looking

for food from home bacon butties, bacon and cabbage,
haggis or even the traditional British dish, curry! Eat what your
students eat, shop where they shop. You might be teaching
your students English, but they can teach you so much more.
Different cultures have different outlooks on life, different values,
and different priorities. Be open and you will learn so much that
will always stay with you. Leaving behind a TEFL job and the
students you have come to know and love can be really difficult
but you will always have these memories in your heart, and these
experiences will shape your life.

TEFL may be something you do for a couple of years, and then

move on or back to your previous life. Or maybe, like me, the first

rials
Mate
sroom
4 Clas
 TEFL certificate will be a step in a life long
journey that can lead from teaching to
tutoring to writing and publishing classroom
materials and to working for a wonderful
company like i-to-i!
on
ards
a Rich
Lind Whatever you do, before you take off,
read this book! It is full of practical tips
- what to pack, what vaccinations to take,
even how to say goodbye. Its got teaching tips too. What to do
on your very first day, how to get the most out of your lessons.

You are really going to enjoy this book. But more importantly this
book will encourage you to take the plunge. Read this book,
get your TEFL certificate, and off you go!

Linda
Linda Richardson
i-to-i Online TEFL Manager

Rela
xing B
e tween
Less
ons 5
 a
n Keny
ids i
School K

c Is TEFL Really for You?

First of all, there is no single recipe for a perfect teacher it suits
so many different types of people chefs, builders, bankers and
call centre workers to name a few. You do need to like helping
people, you do need to have patience and you do need to be
prepared to look silly in front of other people! Occasionally, you
might have to refer to the art of demonstrating to implement a
lesson plan, so looking silly will be unavoidable sorry!

c Getting Qualified
Its so easy to get TEFL qualified that youll kick yourself for
not having done it sooner! You have the choice of taking a
flexible online course, face to face training in a classroom or a
combination of both! Whatever you choose, youll have the full
support of our TEFL tutors as they provide you with step-by-step
feedback along the way. If youre not confident
about teaching, and if you feel that plenty of

Chin
ese J
unk
Boat
6
training would help then wed recommend
the top 140 Hour Combined TEFL Course
If youre already confident about teaching
and would just appreciate some training
in the basics, take a look at our basic
20 Hour Classroom TEFL Course. A Ge
ogra
phy
Less
on

Whats more, youll have the support of

over 15,000 other TEFLers to help you! You can
join our very own social networking site Chalkboard, which is
bursting with stories, photos and discussions to help you! Its totally
free to join and you can use it throughout your TEFL journey to
blog about your experience!

c So Get Started Today!

The sooner you complete your TEFL course, the sooner you can
get yourself overseas and start your exciting adventure!

P Before you know it, youll be TEFL qualified and ready to bust
a move overseas!

nya
n Ke
ime i
Play T
7
 e?
Hom
Your New
Japan -

c Finding a Job
There are thousands of teaching jobs all around the world, in
different schools, kindergartens, private tuition, colleges, English
institutions and universities to name a few. The hardest part can
be narrowing down your dream TEFL destination! Each country
has different entry regulations, so its good practice to familiarise
yourself with the visa requirements of each country. You can
check out more information in our Teach Abroad: Top 10 TEFL
Destinations e-Guide!

Most language schools advertise on the internet and many like to

arrange a contract in advance. There are hundreds of websites
dedicated to TEFL jobs. Its estimated that there are over 20,000
new TEFL jobs listed each month. Check out our section on finding
work abroad for more advice and and dont forget the wider
internet is a great resource for job listings too!

8
c Applying from Home or While Overseas?
Its your decision whether you apply for your
job from home or while youre overseas in
your destination of choice. There are pros
and cons to each option:

c Applying Before You Fly:

Islan
d Lif
e
The benefits of sourcing a TEFL job in
advance are numerous, this includes avoiding the hassle
of arranging a job on arrival and getting to know the local area
through the magic of the internet. This is a great option for any
first-time TEFLers or for those who might be a little nervous about
just rocking up in a new country and finding a job.

c Applying When You Land:

Fresh off the plane with your CV and TEFL certificate in hand,
many people opt to source a job while in-country. The benefits
of job hunting in person are that you get to see the school for
yourself, not through the internet or reviews from others. You can
also ensure the local area suits your needs before you commit.
This approach works if youre patient and can afford to fund
your first few months overseas if necessary. Also be prepared to
be approached by strangers offering you a job because of your
appearance, but take great caution with any offers of this nature.

c A Note
The demand for TEFL is so huge that many schools will employ

r
eache
Pro ud T
The
9
 teachers with no teaching qualification or
degree. This does depend on the country
you may need to be qualified to get a
work visa in some countries. Also, you
should ask yourself if youd be happy to
ica
Sign, Af
r teach a class of students if you havent
School
had any formal training.

c Letter of Notice
Uh-oh, its time to face the boss with that dreaded letter of
notice no one likes doing that. Even if you are tempted to throw
the letter down on their desk and strut out of there singing Aretha
Franklin songs, wed advise that you dont for the following
reasons:

Theres still that matter of getting a reference, and although it

is against corporate policy to give you a bad reference, its not
worth leaving on a bad note

You never know when you might need the company again
(not that youre thinking of coming home anytime soon, but
you just never know)

The grapevine is a nasty thing sometimes! Youd be surprised

how quickly word spreads. So you might not want to be known
as the one who broke the photocopier with their buttocks
while singing the theme tune to Rocky!

Teach
ing in
Shan
ghai
10
c Planning Your Move
And youre off! Nearly. There are a few
things to do before you head to the
airport:

4 Book your flights: Will you book a one Jettin

g off
way ticket or a return? We recommend
a one way! You never know where
your TEFL travels will take you.

4 Plan the mother-of-all leaving dos!

4 Photocopy important documents (if

you havent broken the photocopier
at work yet)

4 Pack your bag! Use our handy article

on how to pack for inspiration!

All you have to do now is ensure you have someone meeting you
at the airport (or that you know where youre going when you
arrive)

P With everything sorted well see you in the Duty Free!

India
starts in
School
11
 nts
Stude
Hello

c Arriving Overseas
Welcome to XXXX where the local time is XXXX youve made
it! Now what? First of all take your time. Dont overcomplicate
any situation and just take it easy. Airports can be intimidating,
but preparation is key to overcoming this, so have your
documents ready in time and order

c Checklist:
Have you got local currency? Change a small amount at the
airport if not

Do you have a contact telephone number just in case?

Are you suitably dressed for the weather/local culture with your
valuables safely stored?

Do you have an address of where you are heading to?

Art L
esson
s, Ke
nya
12
P Well then, what are you waiting for? Let
the adventure begin!

c Settling In
How are your new digs looking then?
A little bare? Hopefully you wont be Lear
ning
Num
spending much time at your ranch, bers

as youll be out socialising and exploring,

but its important you feel comfortable in your new place!
Unpack, relax and plot routes to familiarise yourself with your local
surroundings. Key tip: keep track of landmarks in case you get lost,
and always carry around your address with you.

c Getting Ready for the First Day of Class

Do a dummy run of your commute to work so you can time it to
perfection, Remember in other countries things wont always run
to time (as they might do at home) and getting lost might be a bit
difficult! Get your clothes ready and laid out to minimise things to
worry about.

Set your alarm clock the night before, then set another alarm!
Dont be late on your first day!

Dont worry about remembering everyones name! Youll get

there in the end. Dont put too much pressure on yourself for the
first week, and just take it all in. Its also a good idea to take

eru
on, P
et Less
Pupp 13
 photos from back home or other real objects
into your classroom to liven up your first class.

Things to find out before you open that

door to the classroom:
sroom
ese Clas
A Chin
Is this a new group of students?

Do they know one anothers names?

Do I need an ice breaker that works

on names? Or an ice breaker to get
them talking to ascertain how good
their English is? Or both?

Your
Day o
ff, C
hina
14
 s
dent
r Stu
g You
M eetin

c First Day at School

This is it Judgement Day. Only kidding, lighten up! Yes, its nerve-
wracking and your stomach might be dancing to a Run DMC
beat, but theyre just students and believe us, they want to learn
from you! What are you afraid of? Half the battle is won because
the students actually WANT to be in the classroom and they have
a healthy respect for you.

c Key Tip
Remember to give your students the opportunity to practice their
English skills. Its easy to slip into the habit of spending all of the
lesson in the front of the class doing all of the talking, but they are
not going to learn if they are just listening to you all day.

c Planning Lessons
You want your lessons to be fun, and you want them to work.

Ice-b
reak
ers
15
 You want your students to walk in the door
looking forward to their classes.
You want your students to walk out the door
knowing some new English!

The magic word is preparation! To make Gett

ing
to K
now
your lessons matter; ensure you can You

answer these questions before you go

into the classroom.

1 Whats the aim of your lesson? Is it a new topic

for example going shopping, colours, the weather?

2 What is the new language in the lesson? Are there any new
structures needed. E.g. Id like or how much

3 What skills will be developed during the lesson? Speaking,

reading, listening?

4 How are you going to break up the lesson into different stages/
different activities? What will the students be doing at each
stage? What will you be doing at each stage?

Dont be nervous be prepared! Use every resource available to

keep your lessons fun and educational try our neat little e-book
full of 20 free tried and tested classroom activities!

16
 Exploring Your New Home
Dont let yourself get all cooped up like a
chicken in your spare time, get out there and
see your new hood! Get off the beaten
track, use your new local contacts to get
l
Loca
e Like a some amazing deals and visit amazing
Explor
places you wouldnt find as a tourist.

You might be working from Monday to Friday or you might work

over the weekends, whatever the case its important to get out
there and explore using your spare time. Dont be scared to
try something new after all youve already moved to a new
country so dont try telling us youre not afraid to try new things!
You cant fool us!

Want to see how its done? Read TEFLer Sophie Wongs recipe
about How to Have the Perfect Weekend here; shes currently
TEFLing in Taiwan! Or how about TEFLer Bridgets Theres Nothing
Weak About the Weekends fresh from Thailand.

Oh and keep the social networking with friends back home to a

minimum if you were really having such an amazing time, would
you be sat at your computer? No! Youd be out enjoying yourself
for real!

If youre ARE online though help the TEFL world by sharing tips
and blogging on Chalkboard.

Get o
ut Ex
plori
ng
17
 ye
oodb
ing G
Say

c Saying Goodbye to Your Students & Friends

Whether youve been teaching English for a few weeks or a few
years, saying goodbye is difficult for everyone involved. Foreign
teachers are a huge novelty to other teachers and especially to
your students, so leave on a high note and allot time for a decent
goodbye theres no creeping out the back door here! Have a
picture taken with your class and if you can, leave one behind for
them to have as a memory of you.

Swap contact details with EVERYONE! You never know when

you might need to contact them again (but maybe give certain
people contact details that wont invade your privacy if youre
unsure) and its great to get an update of how your students are
doing every now and then.

c Moving On
Have you got a return ticket back home or are the adventures
continuing elsewhere? Youd be surprised at

18
the amount of people who go on to TEFL
in more than one location and forget
about heading home. Whats to hurry
home for anyway?

If youre heading on to a different Your

stud
ents
will
country, dont forget to research visa miss
you
regulations and check baggage limits
on airlines. You dont want to be hit with
an unexpected bill. Leave a forwarding address at your last
address if necessary too.

c Returning Home
Try and anticipate the reverse culture shock. When you set
off for your TEFL adventure overseas, you expect things to be
totally different. But when you return back home, you think that
everything will be exactly the same as when you left which is
actually rarely the case. Youll probably be really excited to get
back home and see your friends and family but what happens
when the novelty of being home has faded?

You might feel distanced from your friends and family because
youve experienced a totally new culture and way of life, but
its important not to forget your experience. Try and find a way
of to fit your TEFL experience into your life back home. Taking up
cooking/language classes can be a good idea.

em!
lmiss th
you wil
And 19
 It might seem as though nothing has changed
in the time youve been away, even after
a few years. You will begin to notice about
how much living overseas has changed
you. Be prepared to be bored and/
s exo t i c or drift apart from some friends, but the
t be a
me won best relationships never seem to die.
Ho
Home will always be home, and eventually
youll settle back in to home, or head off on even
more TEFL travels!

...or a
s col
ourfu
l!
20
 1 3
How am Must remember to join
choose w I going to this forum to chat to
here ..
go and I want to other TEFLers out there.
TEFL??
!
2
Oh yeah!
Job application
jackpot!

Do NOT lose this

link to
the most helpfu
l TEFL jobs
info Ive ever se
en!

TEFL Chalkboard
I must
check
Top 10 o
TEFL De ut this
e-Guid
stinatio
ns 6
e... ember
Oooh! Must rem
5 to take so m e le sson
sr oom
4 Packing L
ist! plan and clas
Ive got to w it h me!
Vaccinations! activiti es
tment
book an appoin

Packing
Must rem Found th List!
ember to is blog a se 20 free
check th what to p bout I found the
e most u this
medical p to date ack! activities in
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advice o
this hand n helpful e-b
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21
 ing
Teach
Craig

7:30am Wake up and shower. Choose between a traditional

breakfast of miso soup & rice or stick with the classic of toast &
orange juice.

8:00am Leave house and cycle along the coastal path to a

junior high school.

9:00am - Lessons start. Teach the joys of the English language.

12:30pm Eat school lunch with the students. Talk in a mixture

informal English and Japanese. Deflect rumours about my love life
every single day.

1:00pm Clean the school with the students and other teachers.

1:15pm Plan the following days lessons with teachers before

cycling to elementary school.

1:30pm Quickly prepare fun lessons before the

onslaught of energetic children.

Japan
ese C
ount
rysid
22 e
1:45pm Lessons start. Hand out stickers for
my reward scheme (hint: they love them)

3:30pm Return to the Board of Education.

Grab a Pocari Sweat energy drink along
Som
the way. e of m
y St
uden
ts

3:45pm Plan lessons for the following day.

Talk to my boss about sport/fish/politics/English jokes.
Head home

6:00pm Try cooking Japanese food for dinner

7:00pm Go to football training with students/Go to taiko

(Japanese drums) practice/Teach my adult language class/Meet
friends for dinner and drinks.

10:00pm Reply to emails or Skype home with friends and

family. Read books/study Japanese/try to understand Japanese
television.

11:00pm Go to bed at a sensible hour like a good boy (with the

air conditioning on maximum in the summer)

11:05pm Look forward to tomorrow.

c You can chat with Craig Hunter

on Chalkboard here!

ht
oat NIg
Toky
23
www.onlinetefl.com