30 June 2013 / by Radmila Gurkova

Every soldier carries a marshal's baton in his pack

images


Dear trainee,

You are about to start your TEFL course and join a great profession where people hungry for knowledge meet to learn from each other. You are probably full of enthusiasm but also doubts. What will it be like? Will I meet the expectations? Will I manage to do all the assignments, exams and course tasks?

Will I make a good teacher?

This last question is the essence of every TEFL course. This is your aim and our task, the objective that you, as a trainee and us, as responsible for your training, both share.

Whether you are capable of becoming a good teacher is out of question. You are! Every one of us is. Napoleon used to see a great potential in each of his soldiers and his quote of “every soldier carries a marshal's baton in his pack” can be successfully applied to teaching. Every trainee can become a great teacher!

Your success as a teacher is prepared even before the first day of the course. Follow some easy tips and you’ll be able to make the most of your course.

  • Be open-minded


You will experiment new dimensions of communicating, teaching and learning that may go beyond your idea of a traditional teacher. The 21st century makes necessary a big change in the teachers' mentality in order to adapt to the new specific needs of the learners.

  • Be critical


There are no right and wrong methods of teaching, but approaches that adapt to your particular circumstances as a teacher. Learn to analyse every statement about teaching and to apply it according to your own personality and style.

  • Trust your intuition


You know much more about teaching and learning than you think now. Maybe you don’t have any experience as a teacher, but you do have it as a learner and this experience is very valuable when answering essential questions about teaching and learning. All we need to do is ask the right questions but the answers will be all yours.

  • Be constant


and dedicated, and self-disciplined. You will need it to carry out successfully all the tasks of the course. Even though we try to make learning enjoyable, there will be moments of hard work and preparation. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t achieve a good class in your first attempt. A great teacher is a product of a constant preparation and trials. Each attempt will be better than the previous; each class will be a bit greater.

  • Be pro-active


And don’t wait knowledge to come to you. Go for it! We’ll give you the tools but you will be the one to use them. You will be interacting with your trainers, peers and experienced teachers. They will be your best allies and the people you will learn from. The more you interact in the training sessions, the more you will learn, so take the reigns of your learning and be pro-active.

  • Be a good listener


To have a steady opinion about teaching and learning gives you confidence and self-esteem but remember that teaching is never about you, it is about the learners. Learn to listen to your trainers, peers, students and other teachers. Learning to listen is learning to learn.

  • Be generous


Teaching is though to be a lonely profession as teachers rely on themselves to bear the burden of preparation and self-development. Ever since we started Oxbridge we decided that we were going to share all the knowledge, expertise, material and preparation and that way make the day-to-day teaching process easier, more enjoyable and less time-consuming. The result is a company in which generosity and sharing is rewarded and allows every one in the community to become the best teacher in the world.

  • Be yourself


You can belong to a school and adopt a teaching style similar to other teachers but you will always remain a unique person and therefore a unique teacher. By the end of this course you will know well your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher and how to adapt your personality to the greatest benefit of your students. This uniqueness will be your trademark and your best letter of presentation.

And now, let me welcome you to the teaching profession, an enjoyable space for people willing to learn and communicate; a great society where every trainee carries the potential to become the best teacher in the world!

Welcome to Oxbridge TEFL!

27

October 2017
The teachers are in the epicentre of the Oxinity growth model
by Jonatan Buxeda
Today I'd like to share what we have...

17

October 2017
Frustration of Students: Common Scenarios and How to Manage Them
by Jushua Cutts
‘’Mistakes are he portals to discovery’’ Frustration is defined as the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something. This is a common feeling that ...

06

October 2017
Teaching kids: challenges and winning strategies
by Gabriel Ekoe González
In an increasing demand for English classes,  important points to consider when teaching kids are how to teach also what makes a good kids’ activity. Perhaps the most important thing to consider when teaching kids is their attenti...

04

July 2017
10 Real Reasons to do a TEFL Course in Spain
by Radmila Gurkova
TEFL Course in Spain - The time is now! July and August are the best months to decide to make the step into sunshine by signing yourself up to a TEFL course in September here in Spain. It's the perfect time to start something new. If you are a native English speaker or bilingual and you have an upbeat,...

04

July 2017
7 Tips on Giving Feedback to ESL Teachers
by Peter Nesbitt
Giving feedback to ESL teachers can be tricky, particularly when you have something critical to say. But yet it is also important, as without it, how can people learn? Sure, they can rely on their own self-evaluation of how they are doing, but if you have ever watched any TV talent show, you will see that a lot of people just aren't very good...

21

June 2017
Teacher Talks - Sharing expertise and experience
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Teacher Talks - Sharing expertise and experiences Things worth sharing We´ve had something up our sleeve for the last few weeks and we´re ready to do what we love and sha...

06

June 2017
Level testing: How to test a student's level?
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Level testing: How do you do it? Level testing...... Ooooh, lets talk! Unless you've been asked that awkward question outright: 'What level am I?' You won't know what's it like to to be a deer in the headlights and respond with something really daft in a high pitched voice like.... 'Yeah, really good!' Li...

02

June 2017
Teaching beginners: is translating really necessary?
by Radmila Gurkova
A big debate around teaching beginners has always been whether it is necessary or not to translate into the learners' mother tongue. Opinions are split and vary from definitely not to maybe sometimes yes or, in the other extreme, of course yes, translating is fast and effective. Translating seems straightforward and historically it has bee...

18

May 2017
Masterclass in ESL at Oxbridge to share and learn about expertise areas
by Gracia Guzmán
The Oxbridge English Teaching System (OETS) is made out of a wide and wide community of teachers from different countries and backgrounds. Offering a masterclass in ESL for different areas of expertise was necessary and easy at the same time, having in mind the richness of profiles of our community members. This is why we are currently devoti...

02

May 2017
Move to Spain - Have my life! It´s easy
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Move to Spain - Have my life! It´s easy! Last Sunday, this is how we spent our Sunday afternoon, chillin' up the Mountain at Montserrat! Just another mountaintop Benedictine monastery you know! ...