10 top tips for new TEFL teachers

Landing your first TEFL job is pretty exciting! But now you’ve signed the contract and booked your flight, it’s perfectly normal to feel a few fears. After all, you’re about to do a brand new job in a country you may never have even visited before. And you’re doing it all by yourself. Scary (and thrilling) stuff!

To help get your new life off to a flying start, we’ve pulled together our top 10 tips for new TEFL teachers.

#1 Research the school and local area before you go

The more you know, the more prepared (and excited) you’ll feel.

Try this

• Ask the school to put in you in touch with its current TEFL teachers to get the lowdown on what to expect.
• Search for social media accounts and blogs by TEFL teachers working in the same country or city. It’s a great way to get a feel for the reality of life as a TEFL teacher – and maybe even make some friends before you arrive.
• Check out the basics, like the best places to eat and the local weather for the time of year – you’ll be far less upset to arrive in pouring rain if you’re not expecting a blast of tropical heat!

#2 Be TEFL ready

Pull together some brilliant materials in advance and those first few TEFL lessons will feel a whole lot less scary.

Try this

• Prepare a few TEFL lesson plans before you go. If you’re feeling under pressure, it’s much easier to adapt an existing plan than to start completely from scratch.
• Create a list of fun TEFL activities that you feel confident using. It will be a brilliant reference point when you need to fill a gap in your lesson plan.
• Gather as many small items from everyday life as you can fit in your bag. Leaflets from your local tourist office, shop receipts, takeaway menus and rail tickets can all be great starting points for lessons!

#3 Organise your arrival

Long plane journeys, jet lag and culture shock can be funny things, even if you’re normally a super confident traveller. Organise the basics before you go and make your landing as smooth as possible.

Try this

• Sort out where you’ll stay for the first couple of nights and who to contact if you’re delayed. It’s far simpler to organise travel arrangements when your head’s not fuzzy from 14 hours of travelling.
• Write a list of five things you want to do in the first fortnight. It will give you something concrete to follow if homesickness sets in after you arrive.
• Download a language App and learn a few phrases of the local language. It’s amazing how quickly a friendly smile will appear when you try out even the most basic of words.

#4 Be ready for your first TEFL lesson

Double check everything in advance of your first TEFL lesson to avoid a last-minute panic on the day!

Try this

• Confirm where the lesson is being held and how you’re going to get there. If it’s going to take you an hour on the bus, it’s best to know in advance.
• Make a list of everything you need to take to your TEFL class – from your lesson plan, to spare pens to an energy bar to keep you going. It will keep you focused when your head’s spinning with frantic nerves.
• Put out every part of your outfit the night before (yes, even your underwear!).
  If there’s one thing guaranteed to get you in a tizzy on your first day of TEFL teaching, it’s finding out that your perfect outfit is crumpled at the bottom of your backpack.

#5 Create a brilliant first lesson plan

Your structured TEFL lesson plan is your “avoid panic” guide – your crucial notes and list of activities that you can refer to if your mind goes blank.

Try this

• If the school’s not set a topic, base your first lesson around ‘Getting to know you’. Students love talking about themselves and you’ll pick up fantastic information that you can use to plan future classes.
• Break the lesson up into short activities – that way you can quickly move on if one session isn’t quite working out as planned. Include lots of time for small group work and the spotlight will be off you.
• Note every resource you’ll need on your plan. Make sure any electronic equipment will be available in the room and bring along back up pens and paper, just in case!

#6 Get your TEFL lesson off to a strong start

Start your first TEFL lesson strongly and students will forgive an occasional wobble later on.

Try this

• Write out your introduction and learn it by heart. Once you’ve got those first few words out of the way, you’ll relax far more!
• Start the lesson with your favourite TEFL warmer. If you seem confident, your class will trust you know what you’re doing (however much panic you feel inside!).
• Use simple activities that you know work in your first lessons. You can try out those innovative ideas once you’ve settled in.

#7 Get your classroom TEFL ready

Lay out your classroom well and you’re already on the way to a great TEFL lesson.

Try this

• Arrive early so you’ve got time to arrange the room and set out any materials you’ll need.
• Use tourist leaflets and materials you’ve brought from home to brighten up a dreary room.
• Move desks into a classroom layout that will make your activities work most effectively and help you manage the class.

#8 Get to know your students

Don’t be tempted to hide behind a desk nervously. Getting to know your students is a brilliant part of the TEFL experience.

Try this

• Stand at the door to smile and greet your students as they arrive. You’ll be amazed at how less scary a class seems if you’ve already exchanged a few positive words with them each individually.
• Make sure you introduce yourself at the start of each new class and explain what you’ll be doing. Students are far more cooperative when they know what’s happening.
• Give your students lots of opportunities to talk about themselves. It will help you get to know them – and to select suitable topics for future lessons.

#9 Keep learning

You may have aced your TEFL course but you’re just at the start of your TEFL journey. Keep learning and you’ll soon turn from a TEFL newbie into a great TEFL teacher.

Try this

• Ask colleagues if you can observe their classes. You’ll learn huge amounts from seeing what works (and what doesn’t).
• Unless you’re a grammar genius, invest in a good grammar guide so you can refresh yourself on the finer points outside of the hotspot of the classroom.
• Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes. If you don’t know something or get it wrong, confess – and find out the right answer for the next lesson. You could even make it into a game – anyone who spots a mistake, gets a prize.

#10 Take time out

It’s not all about work! You’re in a fascinating new country full of amazing people. Take time to explore it.

Top tips:

• Accept invitations from colleagues to visit their homes (with the usual safety provisos, of course). TEFL is all about seeing a country from the inside and this is a brilliant way to do it.
• Your time will fly by superfast. Plan in those trips around the country now.
• If you fancy a night curled up reading a book or just want to meet friends for a chilled out beer, then do it. It’s okay to take time out too.