Meet Emily H., a recent TEFL graduate from Canada that right after completing her TEFL course moved to Brazil to teach English. Here is her experience getting TEFL certified online.
What encouraged you to want to complete your TEFL certification?
Teaching English has always been in the back of my mind ever since I discovered my passion for learning languages. While I was still in University, I took advantage of the “career counselling program” that my university offered because I knew that I wanted to do SOMETHING with my passion for learning languages but I wasn’t sure what. Through the program, I discovered that my main drive for learning languages and my career goals is that I value connection and communication. This of course made me think of translation and interpreting, which I knew that my fluency in French and Portugese wasn’t high enough yet to be an interpreter and that I would need more schooling to be a translator. However, I also realized that since I spent the last 4 years persuing a French Studies degree, I felt that I actually knew very little about my own native language! So, through reevaluating my life goals, I realized that becoming an English teacher would help me understand my native language better through the eyes of other eager language learners like myself – all while working with the values that I prioritize: communication, connection and helping people!
How did you decide the online program was the right fit for you?
When I decided to do the TEFL certification, I was working a full-time job and I didn’t have the time or flexibility (or energy!) to enroll in a full time, intensive course. I wanted a program that I could do at my own pace, where I could work on my TEFL certification when it worked in my schedule: especially since my job at the time didn’t have a regular schedule and sometimes, I would have 40 hour weeks and others I wouldn’t have any work at all.
Do you plan to teach English abroad or online?
Originally, my plan was to teach in Brazil, however, there were some complications with the visa process, and I’ve opted to teach English online. I’ve really enjoyed my experience with teaching online so far; it’s been a very rewarding experience!
Did you have any previous training or related experience?
When I was in University, I took part in Europa Macht Schule in Bremen, Germany where I helped teach English to local high school students for a semester. This was my first contact with being a teacher and I really enjoyed the experience while I was part of the program! When I came back to Canada from my year abroad, I was a French tutor for a semester, and I realized that helping people learn languages was something really enjoyable for me and that the time always just flew by whether the session was 30 minutes or an hour.
What did you find most challenging about the online TEFL course?
Sometimes I doubted if I was learning as effectively or efficiently as I would have in a more traditional online course. My weakest point is learning through reading, which is how I would initially learn about the topics. However, the exercises were very insightful and enjoyable and when the time came for my practicum, I realized that I had absorbed a lot more than I thought! The beginning of my practicum was a bit rocky because of my nerves, but by the end, I felt confident and ready to start applying to jobs and put my skills to the test in the real world!
What do you wish you would’ve known before taking this TEFL course?
I think I came into this TEFL course pretty prepared because I did extensive research about the difference between all the different types of certifications and programs that existed. I think that my experience with Maximo Nivel went rather flawlessly since I had the perfect balance of help vs independence for me to feel responsible for my own learning. If I could go back and change one thing, I would tell myself to be less self-destructive about the practicum, everyone makes mistakes and things will only get better the more you try!
Were you able to find a job immediately after graduating?
I actually didn’t start applying to jobs until a few weeks after I had graduated, however, when I did start applying for jobs, I had a very positive experience with the companies that I applied to where many of them were interested in my profile and helping me plant my roots and start finding my own style for teaching English.
Do you think a TEFL certificate should be required to teach English?
I don’t think a TEFL certificate should be required to teach English in all cases, however I do believe that a TEFL course should be strongly encouraged if not required for new teachers. I’ve definitely felt a lot more confident in my abilities as an English teacher because of what I’ve learned in my TEFL course. I think that TEFL courses provide a good ground of information about what effective English teaching is, how to be well prepared for your classes and useful tips and tricks that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own.
Are you considering teaching English in the long run?
I can see myself teaching English for the next few years while I polish my other language skills. I’ve discovered that I’m more passionate about teaching people languages than I had originally thought. I think that teaching English is a very unique and rewarding experience where I constantly strive to be a better teacher, not only for myself but for my current and future students. I really feel like I can create a career out of teaching English and that it will be a sustainable source of income no matter where I am in the world or what my future goals are. I also see teaching English as being part of my life when I decide to do a translation certificate.