Teffle This, and Teffle That

Previously appeared on www.nightcourses.com
June 2006

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a very popular course choice for many people in Ireland. Here's the nightcourses.com TEFL lowdown…

A few years ago not that many people knew what TEFL was, or how to pronounce it properly. But these days, everywhere you go it is all teffle this and teffle that. Teaching English as a Foreign Language courses have become a very popular choice for students wanting to travel after graduation, and also for those looking to take a career break, improve their own English language skills or establish themselves in another country.

There are no official statistics available for Irish global TEFL teacher numbers, but it is fair to assume that there are now many thousands of Irish people teaching English as a foreign language all over the world. There are an estimated 3,000 Irish English language teachers in South Korea alone, and many, many others throughout Europe, Asia and South America. Where Irish people used to inevitably find themselves working behind a bar no matter whichever far flung corner of the globe they turned up in, now they are just as likely to be sat in front of a class demonstrating the difference between “their” and “there” and explaining why “sat in front of a class” is bad grammar.

As English is the language of global commerce, and now spoken in most countries on all continents, there are billions of potential students throughout the world. Business types want to improve their English language skills for career reasons. Other people wish to learn English to travel, while parents in many countries decide to boost their children’s future prospects by encouraging them to learn English. All of which is great news for Irish people who run out of money half way through their round the world trip.

It is a good idea to do a TEFL course before you set out. Running TEFL courses is now a booming business in Ireland, and there are a large number of schools and institutions offering TEFL courses at locations all around the country. Interested students should, however, make sure they choose a reputable institution. The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) is an organisation set up by the Irish Department of Education & Science to control standards in Irish TEFL schools and organisations through an inspection/recognition scheme. ACELS standards require students to already have completed a primary degree and stipulate that courses be of at least 115 hours of study duration, including 25 hours of trainer-directed study. You can check if the school you are considering is listed with ACELS by visiting their website at www.acels.ie.

Even if you find an ACELS approved school near you, it is a good idea to check to see which body certifies their courses. Some certifications are more widely recognised than others. As a guide, those offered by Recognised English Language Schools Association (RELSA) and the Association of Teacher Training (ATT) are widely recognised, as are those from the Royal Society for Arts (RSA)/Cambridge and Trinity College London.

All these regulations seem a bit restrictive to some, who point out they have already been speaking and writing English for at least twenty years. However it is surprising how much (or little) most of us know about the mechanics of the language – it’s a little like the difference between driving and fixing a car. For example, not everyone knows their predicates from their past participles. One of the more embarrassing things about being a TEFL teacher is not being able to answer an eleven year old Brazilian boy’s question about grammar. “It just sounds right” is not a good enough reply. Good TEFL courses also give practical teaching skills, and allow time for valuable teaching practice to give you the confidence to stand up in front of a class.

Subjects taught on a typical TEFL course include Language Awareness, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Career Information, Language Skills, Testing, Error Correction, Materials Evaluation, Methodology and Presentation/Practice Techniques. There is generally significant homework assigned, and assessment can be through a mix of classroom practice, project work and a final exam.

Many TEFL qualified people find employment without leaving Ireland. With lots of people coming here to a) take advantage of our newfound economic wealth and b) take up the jobs we Irish don’t want to do any more, there are plenty of people around looking to improve their English language skills. Over 100,000 students enrol in English language programmes in Ireland every year, leading to a huge demand for qualified teachers.

TEFL courses are popular with many other people besides recently graduated twentysomethings. A TEFL qualification is useful for much more than teaching a few classes to fund a holiday. People looking to relocate to another country often use a TEFL job to establish themselves while they secure a permanent job in their chosen career. Obviously anyone looking to teach in an Irish primary or secondary school can benefit from the TEFL experience. Potential employers in numerous other industries and sectors will be impressed by an extra qualification on your CV. The teaching practice can be useful for anyone who wants to gain confidence speaking in front of a group or giving presentations. Some people go on to instruct new TEFL teachers themselves. Knowing how to speak and write proper is an advantage for pretty much every job available.

So it is no wonder that TEFL qualifications are among the most popular course options in Ireland at the moment. The mix of travel opportunities, potential money making and valuable language skills mean that more and more Irish people enrol in a TEFL programme each year. If it sounds like the kind of thing you could be interested in search the National Education Database to find a suitable TEFL course near you.