“Overall, I found the course informative and engaging, and I learned a lot. Here are some key areas I feel can be used for improvement, with of course positive feedback.
While I found creating lesson plans with different ESA methods helpful, the course seemed heavily focused on environments with guided syllabuses. I would have appreciated a more in depth lesson/unit on recognizing student needs and crafting lessons for one-on-one settings, as this is often the case.
While I learned to teach specific skills, information on catering to speech-focused learners felt lacking. Although teaching involves a combination of methods, some individuals heavily prioritise speaking. In my past teaching experience within an alternative setting, I was requested to tailor my lessons to student preferences and created a customised syllabus based on their topic interests (Tourism, dating, music, drama, etc.), and I had a very hard time understanding how to do that. A lesson on building syllabuses based on individual needs without pre-existing guidance would have been beneficial, because often students aren’t aware of what they want to know. Organised environments often provide learning goals or direction, which through my experience, is mostly not the case in teaching environments and EFL teacher is accepted into.
Although the course effectively explained testing and needs identification through testing, I felt a significant gap between that step and actual teaching. For example, a segment demonstrating how to build long-term lesson plans based on identified difficulties would have been valuable. This step between identification and practical application felt missing.
Now that I teach privately, I've noticed many students, particularly older learners, prioritise conversational fluency. For instance, I work with a company vice president (a long-time acquaintance). While she excels in professional communication, she feels she lacks the ability to engage in small talk and showcase her personality beyond the professional realm. I am finding it incredibly difficult understanding what approach to take as she is not too interested in theory.
Another valuable addition to the course would have been a unit on "the first lesson." Even for experienced EFL teachers, navigating the first lesson in various settings can be challenging. This initial experience often sets the tone and builds teacher confidence for subsequent lessons.
Ideally, such a lesson would provide a framework for a simple first lesson across different contexts and environments, along with the course's consistent excellent templates for lesson plan creation. The first lesson can be particularly intimidating, and entering the classroom without a clear plan can hinder confidence in the initial stages. While teachers eventually learn through experience, guidance on the first lesson can significantly boost confidence and contribute to creating effective lesson plans that optimise student and teacher success.
These are just some things I felt were missing in the course, however for the most part, I did really enjoy the course, and learn a lot in, definitely gaining additional confidence to be able to teach English as an EFL teacher (however intimidating it may be when you actually have a certificate)”
“ITTT's course equipped me with so many amazing teaching methodologies and strategies. They also provide so much support when it comes to the job search and different websites and resources for expat life abroad. I already have an interview coming up with a language school in Latin America. I am excited to see what the future holds and ITTT's courses have been a great resource.”
Thank you, Jessica, for sharing your positive experience with ITTT's 170-hr course! We're thrilled to hear that the course equipped you with valuable teaching methodologies and strategies. Best of luck with your upcoming interview in Latin America! If you ever need further support or guidance, feel free to reach out.
“I thought it was very informative and I feel that I will be more prepared for teaching English as a second language. My focus was to teach on line so I took the extra 50 hours to prepare for that posibility. I downloaded the material to use”
Thank you, Teri, for sharing your thoughts on our 170-hr course! We're thrilled to hear that you found the course very informative and that it has left you feeling more prepared for teaching English as a second language. Preparing for online teaching with the additional 50 hours sounds like a great choice. If you ever need further support or have additional feedback, feel free to reach out. Wishing you the best in your teaching endeavors!
Thank you, Holly, for your positive feedback on our 170-hr course! We're delighted to hear that you found the program great and that you're happy with the result. If you have any more comments or if there's anything specific you enjoyed about the course, please feel free to share. We appreciate your kind words and are glad to have had you as part of our program!
“I found that TEFL was the great opportunity to learn and improve as a teacher. I was given the materials and could work through it at my own pace on my own time which made it easy for me to manage whilst work as the admin executive and e-hailing driver. Everyone is given six months to complete the course but I spend three months to fully understand about what to expect when teaching. I have learn a lot something new on teaching skills, I am now well prepared and look forward to my new career on teaching either online or one on one appointment.”
Thank you, Wei Jun Chin, for sharing your positive experience with our 170-hr TEFL course! We're delighted to hear that the flexibility of the course allowed you to balance learning with your work as an admin executive and e-hailing driver. Congratulations on gaining new teaching skills, and we wish you all the best in your upcoming teaching career, whether online or in-person. If you ever have more insights to share or need further assistance, feel free to connect with us. Good luck!
Thank you, Nawal, for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you found our 170-hour course helpful and that it provided you with various teaching methods and additional ideas for your classes. If you have any more insights to share or if there's anything else we can assist you with, please feel free to let us know. Wishing you continued success in your teaching journey!
“I found it very useful, even though I am an experienced teacher I learnt concepts and topics that I have never studied before. When I needed to complement the lessons, the videos came in very handy, they are clear and interesting to watch and help a lot to clarify aspects.
I enjoyed studying on my own pace however I would suggest having forums or a place where you can comment and share ideas with other learners.”
Thank you, Nury, for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that you found the course useful, and it's fantastic to know that even experienced teachers like yourself discovered new concepts. If you have any more thoughts or if there's anything else you need, feel free to reach out. Happy teaching!
