TEFL Resources

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Our TEFL resources give our TEFL teachers some helpful hints, advice, and general TEFL information for their future TEFL careers. Teachers can also investigate the worldwide web for online TEFL resources or how to find other information regarding TEFL teaching resources.

• Have questions about TEFL?
• The Interview
• Some helpful tips on being a GREAT TEFL PROFESSOR
• How to successfully survive your first week as a TEFL professor

Have questions about TEFL?

Go to our FAQ's to find out more or Contact Us directly with your questions or concerns!

The Interview

Before you go into your interview you should be prepared to answer some easy and some tough questions and also be prepared to ask your own questions. Teaching English interviews can be anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, include one interview or a series of interviews, and can include telephone-interviews, in-person interviews, or sample teaching interviews (in-class demonstrations). Read the following of what may be asked of you to better prepare yourself for future teaching interviews.

About you

• Why do you want to teach English?
• What are your strengths and weakness?
• What do you do in your free time?
• Do you speak other languages?
• Do you enjoy traveling and learning about other cultures?
• Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

About your training

• What was the most important thing you took away from your TEFL training?
• What do you feel you’re are best at and what can you work on in your teaching career?
• How did you pass your training? (pass, fail, A, B, etc)

Current or past teaching experiences

• Are you working right now?
• Have you worked in the past?
• What did you learn from your past position(s)?
• Why are you looking for a new job?

Institute/position and the country/city

• What interests you about working with us?
• What do you know about us?
• Why do you want to live in this city/country?

You as a teacher

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What levels and ages would you like or prefer to teach? Why?
• Are you able to plan lessons? Can you improvise if need be?
• Are you able to discipline? Do you have an experience where you have had to control/stabilize a situation?
• Are you a leader?
• How would you make grammar fun to your students?
• What kinds of materials do you teach with?
• What are the differences when teaching to a group or one-on-one?

Your expectations

• What kind of position would you like to work in?
• How long are looking to work?
• Do you see yourself fitting in with the culture?

Your own questions (it is always important to have all of your questions answered)

• What are working days like?
• How many hours per week will I be expected to teach?
• Do you pay for overtime if I teach more than my expected hours?
• What non-teaching tasks will I be required to do? (creating materials, administration work, etc.)
• What is my salary and how am I paid?
• Do I have a contract? Is there a probation period?
• Do you offer benefits like paid holiday or health insurance?

Remember to always be very polite and honest during your interview(s). Be sure to sincerely thank your interviewer for their time and be clear on what the following steps will be, for example, should you contact them, will they contact you, how long, etc, and be positive and persistent!

Some helpful tips on being a GREAT TEFL PROFESSOR

• Learn your student's names
• Be overly prepared and be prepared to improvise
• Find out what your learners know, and grow from there
• Show the same respect you expect in return
• Learn about your learner's cultures
• Don’t only rely on a text book
• Listen, listen, listen
• Motivate your students with variety
• Be enthusiastic in each class
• Speak with your students, not at them
• Show interest in your student's native languages
• Don’t talk too much; students should do at least 70% of the talking
• Understand your student's frustrations, learning a new language is difficult
• Never yell
• Always reflect after each lesson
• Don't over correct your students, only correct errors relevant to their level
• Find your passion for teaching!

How to successfully survive your first week as a TEFL professor

• Know where, who, and how you will be teaching your new classes
• Be prepare and always over prepare
• Practice your lessons in the comfort of your own home, speak out loud, and get to know your teaching voice
• Get familiar with your teaching surroundings
• Meet fellow staff if you have any
• Be prepared for a heavy work load until you get into the groove of things
• Speak to your friends and family after each teaching day - get your ideas out in the open
• Don't let any mistakes or fall-backs affect you, just stay positive
• Try to make friends with other English teachers, use each other as resources
• Smile and laugh at yourself, this week, and every week thereafter
• The first week can be hard but remember everyone goes through it and it only gets easier