Question:
If one reads the book "Working Your Way Around the World", you will
find the suggestion of teaching English in order to help finance your
stay. That is to say, teaching more advanced English to the
continental countries for people who have English as a second
language. The book also states that the days of just showing up and
finding someone to tutor are over, and that you must be T.E.F.L.
certified. It appears as though TEFL is a strictly European entity,
because I can't find any TEFL certification courses here in America.
Please tell me if it is true that one must be TEFL certified in order
to teach English in Europe. Also, is it true that one can just go to
a school in Europe and teach there for free room and board? I have
also heard that you can trade your teaching services in order to learn
*their* language at the school for free.
Answer:
Teaching English as a second language and Teaching English as a foreign
language are two very different matters. The first assumes that the
teacher has a class of immigrants from all over the world who may have
no language in common at all. The second assumes a teacher in a country
where all the students have the same first language. Teaching techniques
and materials are very different in the two circumstances.
I have found that texts and other materials published in the US (and
also in Great Britain) are mostly of the first type, and are not well
suited to a class of Italians. I use a text from Oxford University Press
in a small class I teach at an adult school in Italy. It is an excellent
course for its intended audience, but is not particularly suited to a
group of students learning English in their own countries. For instance,
it often goes to great lengths to clarify a point that doesn't need
clarification for Italian students because the particular construction
is very much like the equivalent Italian construction. Other times it
glosses over a point that's particularly tricky for Italians, because
Italian speakers were not the particular target audience.
Also, such texts often concentrate heavily on practical English needed
to rent a house, fill out a form, buying clothes, and other everyday
living experiences. Most people in Italy studying English want to learn
either business communications on an international level or tourist
vocabulary.
Finally, many of the conversation exercises are not suited for
homogeneous classes all from one country. Such topics as "What is the
major holiday in your country?" may make for interesting conversation if
the class has a Chinese student, a Pakistani student, a Brazilian and a
Filipino, but it doesn't work if the class has 10 Italians.
I have had to improvise a lot and supplement the course with books
published in Italy, although these also have their failings.
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