I have recently completed a TEFL course, which, if you are unfamiliar with the programme, is a course that teaches one how to teach English to foreign students or non-native speakers of English. It then gives one opportunities to go overseas to teach English, or the chance to apply for online teaching jobs.
Previously, I didn’t think that I would ever want to teach. When people asked me, ‘What are you going to do with an English degree, teach?’ I would always crinkle my face in disgust and say ‘never!’. I didn’t think that teaching was a very worthwhile job. You know how the saying goes: If you can’t do, teach. And if you can’t teach, teach P.E. I never wanted to be labeled as someone who can’t do, so instead teaches. I never wanted to go back to school, even as a teacher, because there are a lot of bad memories from school that I have. I wanted to get clear of school the minute I finished my last exam and handed in my school shoes to be donated. Yet here I am. With a TEFL certificate, applying to teach online to as many jobs as I can find. And I’m actually excited about it. The TEFL course has taught me to appreciate the art of teaching, and has made me realise that it isn’t any less worthy to teach then to perform any other occupation. If I can help someone better themselves, I consider that a job well done.
And so find myself embracing the world of teaching, and feeling proud to do so. I don’t think people give teachers enough credit for all the hard work they put in. To make a class educational, engaging, fun, and motivating can be a very hard thing to accomplish I have recently be come aware of. So give teachers a break. If you can teach, teach!
What Am I Doing? 