So you want to be a TEFL teacher, but what’s the point in trying out this new career if you’re going to be about as useful as an underwater hairdryer? Everyone loves a good teacher, but the bad ones stick in your mind too, and you don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons. Check out the list below to see if you have the qualities that make a really great teacher.
Patience
A good teacher needs to be able to stay calm. Whether you’re teaching hyperactive kids, boisterous teenagers or eager adults, you’ve got to keep control of the class. As we’ve mentioned, your enthusiasm will help to keep the class engaged, but their interest will always wane at some point, which is when you need to be patient and keep going!
Approachable
If you’re a big grump who sits around with a face like thunder, you might want to consider softening up a bit. You don’t have to be your students’ best friend, but learning English for the first time can be tough, so they need to feel comfortable approaching you with questions. The more relaxed they feel with you, the easier it’ll be to teach them!
Open-mindedness and flexibility
Things don’t always go to plan in the world of TEFL, especially if you’re teaching kids. Timetables can change, lessons can be cancelled and students sometimes don’t respond how you’d hoped, so you should be willing and able to adapt. Part of this comes from good preparation and organization: with a variety of lesson plans and activities to hand you should be ready for almost any eventuality. But mostly it comes from your willingness to embrace the new culture and career that you’ve become a part of!
A good listener
Not all students want to learn how to write English, but everyone learning a new language wants to know how to speak it. For you to be a really terrific teacher, you’ll need to keep your ears open and ready to correct any mistakes that your students make. Don’t worry if you think you could be a better listener, a good TEFL course will help you to develop these skills.
Motivation and enthusiasm
It’s not a crime to lack a bit of get-up-and-go on a Monday morning, but can you motivate yourself to get the most out of your students throughout a working week? You’ll usually be on your own in the classroom, so you’ve got to be able to stay motivated. Remember to show your love of the language and your enthusiasm for the progress that your students are making, however small.
Take a back seat… and enjoy it!
Lastly, remember that teaching is about your students and not about you. Be prepared to catch your breath, take your lecturing hat off and let them have a go. And remember, you’re lucky to be doing such a fulfilling job, so step back and appreciate it!
What do you think makes a great teacher?
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Another really good advice is, even if you can speak the lingo - dont...the same as taking the back seat...i know some japanese but i only use the most basic single words - such as What, Where and why?...the rest i give puzzle looks and saying "i dont speak japanese"...it makes them try and ask friends...my listening skills for japanese are good, but sometimes i havent got a clue what they are saying - usually its relating to the work in the text book or work sheet and you can work out by pointing etc and then use simple english or written examples for them...
So my second advice is - think outside the box - i guess this is similar to being open minded and being flexible...sometimes you have to abandon you plan and think on your feet, try a different approach
There isnt a book that will tell you how to teach so being adaptive is also very important because you have to deliver what the students want in fun and interesting ways - adapt games they know, add new rules for higher levels...find things relevant to their interests - such as music, books, movies etc
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