My personal account of learning to teach English: Baby You’re a Firework!
• May, 29 2023
Image Caption: Not only one, but nearly two beautiful rainbows seen from my balcony.
If you are reading this, you may be considering signing up to complete TEFL Iberia’s 4-week intensive Trinity CertTESOL course. Just ten weeks ago, that was me.
Channelling my inner Katy Perry, I “let my colours burst” and can happily report that “after a hurricane comes a rainbow”!
A journey to becoming a TEFL teacher
Landing on the TEFL Iberia website, you are invited to apply to train as an English teacher in order to “unlock a world of possibilities” by following a few easy steps. The staff at TEFL Iberia enthusiastically offer support along the way, answering questions about life, the universe, and English, so the process is as smooth as can be.
Exciting, isn’t it? But what are you really signing up for? Read on, and I’ll tell you about my own experience.
My journey to TEFL Iberia began when my brother was born. But that is another story. Fast-forward: Last year, I completed a Masters’ and was anticipating an exciting future in marketing. After 6 months of fruitless searching for an internship, I discovered TEFL Iberia’s website and decided to sign up for the 160-hour intensive Trinity CertTESOL course. Here I am, ten weeks later, teaching in two language academies and writing this blog post as part of a marketing internship. Go figure! Again, Katy Perry nailed it: “Maybe a reason all doors are closed is, so you could open one that leads to the perfect road.”
Image Caption: Here I am on my first day
So what can you expect from the course?
I’m not going to lie, completing the Trinity CertTESOL in only one month was challenging. This intensive course is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to teach English as a foreign language, but it does require a significant amount of time and effort. However, every member of the team at TEFL Iberia gave unwavering support throughout, making the experience highly rewarding and definitely worth the effort. What's more, my fellow trainees and I collaborated brilliantly, giving each other support, encouragement and well-needed respite over a glass or two.
I’m not going to lie, completing the Trinity CertTESOL in only one month was challenging. This intensive course is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to teach English as a foreign language, but it does require a significant amount of time and effort. However, every member of the team at TEFL Iberia gave unwavering support throughout, making the experience highly rewarding and definitely worth the effort. What's more, my fellow trainees and I collaborated brilliantly, giving each other support, encouragement and well-needed respite over a glass or two.
There is always more
During the course, we had the privilege and joy of teaching adults who were engaged and keen to learn. I still need to figure out how to better manage younger students who may have shorter attention spans, less patience and other priorities. Since the course focused mainly on face-to-face classes, finding myself broadcasting to a class online has been an interesting leap of faith. On the other hand, there’s nothing like jumping straight in and learning on the job! The important thing is that we were given a great foundation at TEFL Iberia because we had already proved to ourselves that we are capable of so much more than we realised when we first embarked on the course, so nothing is impossible.
Use your time wisely
Learning to teach English to speakers of other languages requires a lot of work and preparation, which means you need to be disciplined and organised with your time. You will learn to balance classroom time with lesson planning and homework and still remember to take time to eat and sleep. Keeping to deadlines definitely helped my time management (the course is well-designed, so trust in the process!), but I found that my secret weapon actually came in the form of my fellow trainees and outstanding instructors who never failed to prop me up whenever, and for whatever, I needed. I feel like I have made life-long friends, and all in less than a month. Now that’s a good use of time!
Get to know Barcelona
If you do not speak Spanish or Catalan, you may find it challenging to communicate beyond the classroom or to navigate the city when hunting for resources you need to support your studies. Luckily, the team at TEFL Iberia were there for us again, answering our many questions and making us feel at home.
Studying in Barcelona provides an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and way of life. You will have the chance to explore the city, meet new people, and experience the local customs and traditions.
Professional Development
Completing the Trinity CertTESOL can significantly enhance your career prospects in the field of teaching English as a foreign language. You will gain practical skills and knowledge that will enable you to teach effectively in a variety of contexts. I am currently teaching 7 different classes, with students ranging from 7 to 70 years old, and I can honestly say that what I learned at TEFL Iberia has given me a great foundation and the confidence to dive in.
Personal Growth
Classroom activity: Create and decorate your own Easter-themed cake!
This challenging but rewarding experience will push you out of your comfort zone and help you grow as a person. As I mentioned before, you will develop valuable skills such as time management, adaptability, and resilience, which will benefit you in all areas of your life. Whatsmore, you can use your own life experiences to enrich your teaching. My favourite hobby is baking. Why? Cake makes all things better! And you can even use it in the classroom.
In conclusion
Image Caption: Fireworks in Badalona
Completing the Trinity CertTESOL with TEFL Iberia proved to be a transformative experience that helped me to grow both personally and professionally, just as Katy Perry says, “Boom, boom, boom, even brighter than the moon. It's always been inside of you, and now it's time to let it through.”
The challenges of the course may seem daunting, but like a firework, you have the potential to shine bright and make a lasting impact on the world.
If you are passionate about teaching English as a foreign language and are willing to commit yourself fully to the course, then this is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and kick-start your career in this exciting field. “Baby, you’re a firework!
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