TEFL teaching tips for beginners

So you’ve got yourself a TEFL certificate and you’re ready to take on the world, one lesson at a time. You’re waiting for your first student to pick up a call, or you’re stepping into a classroom for the first time, and amongst the excitement, there are some nerves in there. Will the students like me? Will I be a good teacher? Was this a good decision?

Amongst all the objectively cool stuff - the location independence, the chance to make money on your own terms, the possibility of exploring the world - you will have to experience some human emotions (we know, what a drag!). It can be a little bit daunting, launching into the world of English teaching, even though it’ll likely be the best thing you ever do.

So let’s help you through those first lessons, and get you feeling as confident as possible. Remember, if you’re nervous about something, it’s probably because it means something to you. 

Preparation is everything

Benjamin Franklin said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Shamefully, Benjamin Franklin didn’t have a TEFL certificate , but what he says still applies to teaching English as a foreign language. When you’re starting out as a teacher, it really pays to prepare.

From a practical view, having an arsenal of lesson plans and ideas for how you’re going to teach is a great idea. When you establish who you’re teaching, make sure you have the right materials. 

Beyond that, you can learn from those who have done it before. Our podcast series, ‘ I Taught English Abroad ’, is packed full of “first lesson” stories, some more dramatic than others. When you are doing your TEFL course, your tutors won’t need to be asked twice to tell you about their first lessons. Online TEFL communities on Reddit and Facebook will be full of people you can speak to, and LinkedIn is also packed with teachers. People love telling stories and giving advice. Hearing from people who’ve been there before is a great way to prepare.

One of the main things they’ll likely tell you is to “expect the unexpected”. Nobody has a perfect first lesson, and ultimately, you can try to prepare for almost any eventuality, but something might surprise you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself - just prepare for what you can control.

Body language

Confidence, or at least portraying it, is crucial. How you’re perceived by your students is key to a good lesson. Equally, how you perceive them is important.

Let’s tackle the perception of yourself, first. While you don’t need to be an archetypal taskmaster of a teacher, you will need to carry yourself with an air of authority and control. It’s up to you to control the learning environment, and your body language has to say “listen to me”, while being welcoming and receptive. It can be tough to get right at first, but think of the good teachers or authority figures you’ve known in the past - how did they present themselves?

As for the body language of your student , or students. How enthusiastic do they look? Do they appear reluctant to learn? Or frustrated by the material? Reading their body language is important because they might not be able to articulate how they feel about a particular lesson or idea. 

A big part of teaching is reading the cues of your students. What are they getting or not getting? Building connections with students is vital to building language proficiency. Great lessons happen in classrooms where there’s trust and appreciation.

Pace

In 2001, S Club 7 said “Don’t Stop Movin’”. An admirable ethos, but as a TEFL teacher, you will occasionally have to slow things down. When you start your English teaching career, you might get nervous and feel a need to bombard your students with too much, too fast.

It’s only natural. Take a deep breath and take control of your tempo. Remember that it’s a learning experience for both you and your students, and you shouldn’t try to teach too much at once. If anything, slow it right down, keep the pace low, and ease into the teaching experience. Yes, the material and the curriculum are important, but get to know your students first: their learning goals, who they are as people, what kind of learners they are, and so on.

When you’re nervous, you might speak too quickly. There are lots of ways to combat that , but the main thing to remember is there’s an educational prerogative to being extremely clear - you’re teaching people who don’t speak English as their first language. Slow it down, maestro!

Fun, icebreaker activities

Here’s a little secret for anyone teaching their first TEFL classes. Are you ready? Come close, we’ll tell you. Here it is:

Everyone’s a bit nervous when they start.

Yep, teachers get nervous, students get nervous - everyone feels some trepidation. So, why not try some icebreaker activities ?

Again, getting to know your students is important. You’ll conduct better lessons if you understand the people you’re teaching, and they’ll respond to you more if they relate to you as a person. Heading off the initial awkwardness with some easy discussion points or games is a really good way to get things moving along.

It also gives you a chance to enjoy your first lessons with new students. They can enjoy themselves too, knowing that the hard work will begin in earnest once everyone’s a bit more comfortable in the learning environment. 

Remember it takes time to get into your comfort zone

Here’s a thing - starting something new can be scary, and everyone would agree with that. It’s a challenge, whether you’re at the beginning of your working life, you’ve had a dramatic change of career, or you’re looking for some rewarding part-time work in your retirement years. No matter your circumstances, you’re testing yourself when you enter the world of TEFL. 

We do not doubt that loads of teachers - specifically the ones who study with The TEFL Org - are fantastic teachers from the word “go”. Nobody, however, is immediately perfect at teaching. Why? Well frankly, it’d be weird if you were. 

Once you’ve done your first few lessons, take some time to reflect on your TEFL qualification. Where did it help you most? Was there anything on there that surprised you in a real-life teaching situation? 

If you’ve completed a TEFL course, and you want some extra teaching practice before you start a teaching career, don’t panic. We’ve just launched our new 40-hour Observed Teaching Practice course , where you can get priceless feedback from experienced TEFL tutors. It’s perfect if you need that extra bit of confidence before heading into the classroom on your own for the first time.

Let’s go!

So, to summarise, here are some key TEFL teaching tips for beginners:

• Let those who have been there before you help you out
• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
• Remember there are nerves on both sides
• Diffuse any tension with games or fun exercises
• Don’t bombard with info 
• Look back on your TEFL course

Remember, if you ever need advice, our tutors and customer service team are here to help. You’re never alone when you’re a TEFL teacher - there’s always someone who’s been there, seen it, done it and can tell you all about it.

Looking to get started in the TEFL world, but you’re not sure how? Take our TEFL course quiz and find out which qualification is right for you.