United States
US
Charlie Trottman
Teach Enrich Empower
Teaching James Bond Lessons
Before undertaking my TEFL course, I worked briefly in Siavonga, Zambia which gave me a brief insight into teaching abroad. I knew as soon as I put down my bags that I needed to start a course with The TEFL Academy in order to make sure I could offer students comprehensive, fun and engaging lessons at any age or skill level.
After completing the TEFL course, I now can confidently formulate lessons plans and deliver workshops, which has allowed me to secure a placement in Ikorodu, Nigeria, teaching English, Youth Participation and Governance for 3 months in February. Through undertaking the course, I now have a vast amount of resources to pack in my suitcase which have been examined in-depth by The TEFL Academy with patience and understanding of the essential components of teaching.
Alongside teaching abroad, I have been given the opportunity to teach English as a volunteer teacher with The Ethnic Youth Support Team, which relies upon my skills gained through The TEFL Academy in order to guide students in their studies.
“Alongside teaching abroad, I have been given the opportunity to volunteer.”
I am currently mentoring an Iraqi student and after finding out about their interest in James Bond, I was able to create a lesson plan using the TEFL format which would incorporate this interest. We now regularly practice various skills through ‘cloze gap’ worksheets and choral learning exercises which were unfamiliar to me before undertaking the course.
Through the teaching element of the programme, I have been able to consider the various needs of TEFL students and taught how to address behavioural problems in a way that would still allow students to be given the opportunity to learn. If my current student seems tired or frustrated with a particular problem, I now know how to address this fully by assessing their needs, taking into account the skill level and background of my pupils.
Recently, I have also held a talk at Waun Wen primary school on my time in Zambia which required me to put together a relevant and educational PowerPoint while speaking confidently as a teacher, a skill vastly improved by learning how to hold the attention of a class through the classroom management element of the TEFL programme. Before, I had relied upon experienced educators to help guide lessons and now feel confident speaking in front of a class at any age or skill level.
I’m now able to take a functional approach to teaching, instead of relying upon the teaching resources which are available at the time. The essays also helped me to research my lessons and think about which approach was appropriate for different age groups and skill sets. As I’ll be working with adults and teens in Ikorodu, this aspect of the course is invaluable to me as a teacher.
It is a great pleasure to be able to confidently work with a student and see their development in learning English, knowing that I have acquired the knowledge to help better their skills, while also gaining practical skills that could never have been acquired without taking a TEFL course. I’d recommend The TEFL Academy to anyone who has a burning ambition to teach English as a surefire way to begin pursuing their goal, as I am still using skills gained through the course in every lesson.
Find your campus!
Choose to learn at one of our global TEFL campuses
The TEFL Academy has over 70 TEFL courses running every month in locations throughout the world.
Our combined TEFL course will give you the qualification you need to become a confident teacher abroad, wherever you decide to study. Select from the search options below to find the right course location for you.
You need to choose country and city!
Accreditation Partners
The TEFL Academy was the world’s first TEFL course provider to receive official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies in both the USA and UK. This means when you graduate you’ll hold a globally recognised Level 3 (120hr) Certificate or Level 5 (168hr) Diploma, meaning you can find work anywhere and apply for jobs immediately.
