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Welcome to TEFL Tips
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NEW ARTICLES
● Dealing with Parents If you teach children or young adults, you should also get to know their parents. It's important for them to see the progress their child is making and be able to help them (whether with discipline, organisation, or getting a private tutor) when necessary.
● Boys vs. Girls. Everyone knows that boys and girls are different. Boys can be seen running, jumping, and fighting with each other, while girls are happy to sit and have tea parties. . .
● What to Do First. Each country has different visa rules for different nationalities. While some countries give tourist visas upon arrival, others may require you to get on beforehand. . .
● Getting a Job with a High Salary. Although many will try to tell you that you'll never get a good paying job by teaching English, they're out there. . .


COMING SOON
● Teaching Reading. Reading is a skill that some students haven't mastered in the native language, so you must be patient while doing reading activities in class. . .
● Games. Games can be used just about any time in class. At the beginning for a quick warmer, in the middle to lighten the mood, or at the end as a reward. . .
● Homework. Mention homework and you're sure to elicit a couple of groans from your students. The problem is that often teachers assign long, unnecessary, useless exercises for homework. . .

Popular TEFL Tips Articles
● Getting Started: CV/Resume, Are You Ready to Teach Abroad?
● Specific Concerns: No degree, No TEFL cert, Europe for non-EU passport holders, Short-Term Jobs/Visas
● Teacher Training: Choosing a TEFL course, distance or on-campus?
● Making the Transition into TEFL: Interview and Demo Lesson, Dos and Don'ts, Questions to Ask Employers
● Money Matters: High Salary Positions, Extra Income, Teaching Online
● Living Abroad: Culture Shock, Learning the Language,
● Career Advancement: International Schools, Master/MA in TEFL,
● How to Teach: Beginners, Large Classes
● In the Classroom: Discipline
● Latin America: Cheap Flights and Respectful Travel.
● Peru: The Ultimate Guide, Best English Institutes, Jobs in Lima.

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TEFL Tips was written to provide info for newbie and experienced teachers alike. The index can be found at the right and is arranged by topics. Sample articles can be found above. New articles are added monthly.

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A lot of time and effort has gone into writing TEFL Tips. Please acknowledge this effort and do not reproduce any material on this site in any way shape or form without prior permission.

All posts and all purchased or public documents by Sharon K. Couzens de Hinojosa are copyrighted in compliance with international law.

Dealing with Parents

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Index
● Looking for jobs? Go to The LA Job List.
● Want information about teaching in Peru? Go to A Country Guide to TEFLing in Peru

Dealing with Parents
If you teach children or young adults, you should also get to know their parents. It's important for them to see the progress their child is making and be able to help them (whether with discipline, organisation, or getting a private tutor) when necessary. Two situations will be discussed below. How to make parents a part of their child's learning experience and dealing with upset/overbearing parents.

How to Make Parents a Part of Their Child's Learning Experience
With our busy lifestyle, being overworked, and the fact that many children who study English do so because their parents can afford it, means that parents aren't as involved as they should be. Many times they don't even know the names of their child's teacher. With internet, email, and cell phones, there's no excuse that a parent shouldn't know about their child's progress, after all, they are paying for it. Below you will find a couple of tips on how to let parents know what's happening in their child's class.

Hold a general meeting: Pick a time that will be convenient for most parents to attend. It might be later at night, or on a Saturday, or maybe both. At the meeting tell the parents about the books that you use, the syllabus that you follow, and show them some of their child's work. If you don't speak the parent's native language, make sure you have someone available who does.

Parent-teacher conferences: Although they can take a toll on the teacher, they are beneficial to both the teacher and the parent. By meeting together, they can talk about the child's strengths, weaknesses, and goals to be achieved. Just as in the general meeting, make sure that you have the child's work, grades, and tests available for the parent to see. These can be held once a semester or once a year.

Communicate regularly: I would argue about sending bulletins or newsletters home. There are a couple of reasons, first off, it's bad for the environment. And second, many of the parents may not even get them. Children lose them or simply forget to give them to their parents. The good news is that with email, communication is easy. And if your email system allows it, you can tag the emails and be notified when the parents read the email. If your school has its own intranet, you could try posting the information there as well.

There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind. First, be consistent. Whether you're going to communicate once a week or once a month, make sure you keep to your word. Second, avoid sending notes on Mondays and Fridays, those are usually the busiest. Aim for the middle of the weeks. Third, summarise what has been done in class and what will be done in the future.

Be available: If parents have questions, they should be able to reach you. I'd advise against giving them your personal email or phone number. However, they should know your work email and phone number and times when you can be reached.

Dealing with Upset/Overbearing Parents
Every teacher will have to deal with one or two of them during their teaching career. The opposite of the busy parent who doesn't know much about their child's education, this parent seems to know too much. Don't despair, there are ways to deal with them.

Stay calm: Parents can get angry over just about anything: the way you teach, too much homework, too little homework, other children, etc. You name it, and they'll find something wrong with it. I know it's hard when a parent is shouting at you and accusing you of being a horrible teacher. But, the first thing to do is stay calm. Don't become defensive. The parent will probably expect you to get angry and when you stay calm, you gain the upper hand. More likely than not you didn't do anything wrong, so there's no need to get upset.

Stay in charge: You're the teacher so based on your experience and education, you should know how to teach the child. If the parent is a teacher, or former teacher, you might run into difficulties. However, you need to explain your approach and reasons behind it.

Have a time limit: Some parents will wait for you outside the classroom ready to pounce on you and ask how little Johnny is doing. Every once in a while is ok, however, it can easily get out of hand. If this is the case, be firm and tell them that you have another class/have to prepare class/have a meeting and that you would be glad to discuss the issue, but first they must call the secretary and set up a meeting. Smile and walk away.

Get help: Sometimes things just get out of hand. If this is the case, don't hesitate to ask your principal, DOS, or director for help. S/he has probably dealt with parents like this before. In addition, parents tend to become more timid around heads of schools.

If you liked this article, look at the following about teaching and classroom issues.

How to Teach
● Beginners
● Exam Classes
● Grammar
● Large Classes
● Listening
● Mixed Level Classes
● Reading
● Speaking
● Vocabulary
● Young Learners
● Writing

In the Classroom
● Age and Language
● Boys vs. Girls
● Creating Responsible Students
● Discipline
● Error Correction
● Exam/Test Taking Tips
● Games
● Grading with Rubrics
● Homework
● International Exams
● Learning Styles
● Parents
● Testing/Assessing Students
● Videos/Movies






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A lot of time and effort has gone into writing TEFL Tips. Please acknowledge this effort and do not reproduce any material on this site in any way shape or form without prior permission.

All posts and all purchased or public documents by Sharon K. Couzens de Hinojosa are copyrighted in compliance with international law.

Boys vs. Girls

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Index
● Looking for jobs? Go to The LA Job List.
● Want information about teaching in Peru? Go to A Country Guide to TEFLing in Peru

Teaching with Boys and Girls in Mind
Updated 13 November 2009

Everyone knows that boys and girls are different. Boys can be seen running, jumping, and fighting with each other, while girls are happy to sit and have tea parties. In the classroom, you'll have to cater to both of them. In 2008, I went to a workshop given by Lucrecia Rodriguez. Below are her tips on activities that can be used especially for girls and boys.

Catering to Girls
● Give extra encouragement to girls when they do spatial activities, like computer design.

● Provide opportunities for girls to manipulate objects, build, design, and calculate.

● Use water and sand tables in science.

● Use puzzles to help with visual perception.

● Set up spatial lessons in groups to encourage discussion.

● Form groups and teams to promote leadership roles and negotiation skills.

● Play physical games to help develop gross motor skills.

● Encourage the quieter girls.

● Ensure that the work environment is clean, tidy, and well-lit. Put up pictures, posters, etc to encourage learning.

● Take photos of girls completing tasks successfully.

Catering to Boys
● Make lessons experiential and kinethetic.

● Allow for more movement and noise.

● Give boys chores, such as sharpening pencils, helping the teacher, handing out papers, etc.

● Give them breaks to stand up, stretch, and walk around.

● Give them clay and crayons to keep their hands busy. Allow them to doodle while listening.

● Use beadwork and other manipulatives to encourage fine motor skills.

● Keep verbal instructions short. A minute is good.

● Use pictures, graphs, and diagrams when explaining.

● Use male mentors and role models.

● Personalise the student's desk.

● Allow boys to be a bit disorganised.

● Arrange tables and chairs further apart so that they have their own space.

● Boys tend to rush to complete the task at hand.

● Allow boys to express themselves in ways other than writing.

● Increase computer based education.

● Use intellecutal competition, such as math, spelling, or geography contests.

● Read more non-fiction in class. Boys like facts and information.

● Use blocks and legos to help boys expand their verbal skills.





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A lot of time and effort has gone into writing TEFL Tips. Please acknowledge this effort and do not reproduce any material on this site in any way shape or form without prior permission.

All posts and all purchased or public documents by Sharon K. Couzens de Hinojosa are copyrighted in compliance with international law.

What To Do Upon Arrival

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Index
● Looking for jobs? Go to The LA Job List
● Want information about teaching in Peru? Go to A Country Guide to TEFLing in Peru

FAQ: What To Do First
Updated 13 November 2009
This article has also been featured in the ELT Times.

Entering the Country
If you're looking for information about what to do before you arrive, go to the Know Before You Go section. Each country has different visa rules for different nationalities. While some countries give tourist visas upon arrival, others may require you to get on beforehand. In addition, some countries require round-trip tickets or proof-of-funds before they let you on the plane or into the country. Check with the Embassy beforehand. You don't want to arrive only to have Immigrations refuse you entry.

Length of Stay
Most schools will want you stay for at least six months, though some will accept teachers for shorter terms, such as three months. Remember the longer you stay, the better pay and more benefits you will receive. If you do decide to leave, remember to write a letter 30 days beforehand and have it signed and stamped by the school. Keep one copy of the letter for your record. Visas might be a challenge and you'll probably have to border hop. Some countries allow only 180 days out of the year. Others give you 90 days, and then let you renew your visa for up to three months, and then have you leave the country. Others make you pay a fine if you overstay your visa.

Upon Arrival
Now that you're here, it's time to start interviewing. Wear professional clothes (no shorts, jeans, tank tops, or sandals) and go to the schools you contacted with your CV in hand. After interviewing you may have to do a short demo lesson, but don't worry, relax and smile.

Working on a Tourist Visa
It's not uncommon for people to work on tourist visas. Just don't tell the authorities that you are. If you are working on a tourist visa, you may have to border-hop every once in a while. You simply leave the country, stay in another one for a couple of days, and then re-enter and are given a new tourist visa that's good for X amount of days.

Or, if the country you are in fines people who overstay, you could just overstay your visa and pay the fine as you leave. It might be cheaper than border-hopping.

Getting a Work Visa
Primary and Secondary Schools are more likely to get you a work visa than other places, although universities will do so as well. Check with your employer about what you need to bring. Often you will need to get your original university degree Apostillised in your home country before.

Signing a Contract
Make sure you have a good offer. Read How to Accept/Reject a Job Offer. Remember that each school is different. Some institutes hire only those with working visas. Others hire teaching on tourist visas. Some will require you sign a contract, some require a working visa, and some are more flexible and just have verbal agreements.

If your school uses contracts, then after you've passed your interview and demo lesson, you will be asked to sign. Typical contracts usually include the minimum number of guaranteed hours, amount and frequency of pay, length of service, hours the teachers must be available to teach, whether teachers can teach classes outside of the school, and how the contract can be broken. Make sure you read everything, including the fine print.

Some places have "no compete" policies. This varies from school to school and can mean anything from not being able to teach at another school while you work for them, not being able to teach privates, or even not being able to teach in the same city for X months after you finish their contract. So make sure you ask questions about anything you don't understand.

Remember to always ask for a written reference when you leave a job, no matter if it's paid or a volunteer position. Have your employer write when you work, job title, levels worked with, and what your responsibilities were. It should be printed on school letterhead and carry your employer's stamp (if they have one), their signature, their name, job title, school address, phone, and email. Try to get two copies of this.

Housing
Some places will provide housing or assistance in finding housing. If housing is provided, be sure to ask for details, such as is it furnished? single or shared? are utlities covered? If you have your own housing, find out about costs, such as utilities.




Prevent Piracy
A lot of time and effort has gone into writing TEFL Tips. Please acknowledge this effort and do not reproduce any material on this site in any way shape or form without prior permission.

All posts and all purchased or public documents by Sharon K. Couzens de Hinojosa are copyrighted in compliance with international law.

Getting a Job

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Prices start at $20 USD per year.

Index
● Looking for jobs? Go to The LA Job List
● Want information about teaching in Peru? Go to A Country Guide to TEFLing in Peru

FAQ: Know Before You Go: Requirements
Updated 13 November 2009
This article has also been featured in the ELT Times.

If you're looking for information about what to do after you arrive, go to What to Do Upon Arrival. The majority of places will require you to be a native speaker and have at least a BA. That being said, there are places that will hire you without a degree, read Is a Degree Necessary? to find out more. While most institutes prefer native speakers, there are still many opportunities as long as you are fluent in English. In general, the majority of schools prefer that you have a college degree. However, in some places, teachers without degrees can qualify to teach English, but this is usually for more mature teachers who have life experience.

Other places will require teaching experience. A TEFL Certificate is useful, but a BA is preferred. TEFL certification classes will help you know about your subject matter and giving you practical teaching tips and experience teaching students. If you do decide to do a TEFL course, whether online or on-campus, learn what the characteristics of a good course are at Choosing a TEFL Course and Doing a TEFL Course at Home vs. Abroad.

Knowing about the English language is absolutely necessary. Whether you research at your library, observe classes, talk to teachers or enroll in a course, you should prepare yourself before arriving. Read more about TEFL certs, in Is a TEFL Cert Necessary?

If you have qualifications and experience, you might be able to teach at a school. There are bilingual and international schools. International schools are more competitive. They require QTS (Qualified Teaching Status) in your home country and usually two years teaching experience in a primary or secondary school. Read more about international schools in this article.

Learning about TEFL
TEFL Tips is a good place to start. Also try one of the many teaching forums, such as ESL Café. Your local library and teachers can offer information about Teaching English as well. Be sure to read Learning about TEFL and Teaching and General Teaching Tips.

Salaries
Some schools may offer you room, board, and a small stipend in exchange for teaching. Others pay you a salary. You may have to work for more than one school in order to get enough hours a week. Getting jobs at other schools are fairly easy. And if you’d rather teach at only one location, try to take on a couple of private students.

There are lots of ways to earn extra money, Read Make Money Online, Supplement Your Teaching Salary, and Teaching Online.

Cost of Living
Cost of living here in Latin America is pretty low compared to other places such as North America and Europe. Most teachers can easily earn 800 USD a month by teaching 25 hours a week. Most teachers can live off of 500 USD a month provided that they don't expect to live in the lap of luxury and learn tips from the locals. For example, learning how to navigate the bus system and cooking at home are great ways to save money, meaning that you’ll have more money to use to study Spanish or explore Latin America. For more money saving tips, read Creating a Budget.

Taxes
Taxes depend on the country you're in, your immigration status and how much you earn. Check with your school for more details about taxes.

Number of Hours
Many institutes and universities will have you work split shifts meaning that you'll get a break in the middle of the day to eat lunch and relax for a few hours. Sometimes classes finish at 9pm, or even as late as 10pm. Although at first it seems difficult, you will get used to it and can use the time in the afternoon to take a nap or run errands. Remember that you will usually only be teaching 20-30 hours a week, and then the rest of the time is prep time. If you manage your time well, you will have plenty of time to teach private lessons.

Private Lessons
There are plenty of opportunites to pick up private students. Try advertising at schools, universities, or try putting an advert in the local paper. Teachers usually charge between $5 and 20 USD an hour. Learn how to get private students in Getting Private Students. You can also teach online,

What to Wear
Smart casual is usually the rule here. Some places require you to wear a uniform, other say that men have to wear ties and women must wear appropriate clothing. Men should wear dress pants and a dress shirt. Some places require you to wear a tie as well. Women should wear nice pants or a skirt with a blouse. Jeans are usually not accepted and piercings and tattoos should be hidden. Depending on where you are, you may be allowed to wear sandals. The best thing to do is ask about the dress code.

Start-up Costs
As usual, when moving to a new place, you should bring money to tide you over before you get paid. 1000- 2000 USD should be more than enough.

Insurance
Most teachers will want health or travel insurance. Teaching and living in Latin America is exciting, but also poses many unpredictable situations, such as injury or illness in a foreign country. This is why teachers should secure international health insurance before arriving. Be sure to ask if they cover medically supervised emergency evacuations, emergency reunions or repatriation.

Getting a Job
Although some places want to meet you before having you sign a contract, it is possible to set up jobs before you arrive. The best thing to do is start contacting schools and let them know you are interested in working for them. Tell them when you will arrive and try to set up an interview.

If you're applying from abroad, it may take a couple of months to get a job. If you're in-country, many teachers are able to secure teaching positions within one or two weeks. Keep in mind that timing is also important. Coming during holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s is not advisable since many people go on vacations and teaching jobs are limited during these times.

Weighing Your Opinions
Don't just accept any job. Here are some things to consider before accepting a position. Make sure you negotiate as well. You want to get the best offer possible. Take a look at this article as well, which will help you accept or reject a job diplomatically.

CV Tips
You'll always need to present your CV for a job. Most countries prefer you to have a photo as well. Look at Writing a Teaching CV to find out more about writing CVs. Cover letters are also used, especially when applying by email. So be sure to read, Writing a Teaching Cover Letter.

Visas
You need to know about visas before arriving. You should know how long you can stay on a tourist visa. And be sure to ask about extensions and total length of stay. Some countries allow for unlimited extensions, some have none. Others say that you can stay for only 90 or 180 days on a tourist visa. Make sure you know the rules and the costs involved. Some countries will give you more days if you border hop. If you enter on a tourist visa and you'll need to find out if you can convert the tourist visa to a work visa, or if you have to leave the country, or even go back to your home country.

If you have a business or work visa, ask what you have to do to get your residency ID card. Ask who is going to cover the costs for this and how long it takes to get it. You'll need to know about the requirements. Sometimes you may need a medical check up or a police background check in order to get residency. And find out if you'll get help to do all this.

Shortly Before Arriving
A few weeks before you plan on coming, re-email schools in order to touch base and confirm your interview.




Prevent Piracy
A lot of time and effort has gone into writing TEFL Tips. Please acknowledge this effort and do not reproduce any material on this site in any way shape or form without prior permission.

All posts and all purchased or public documents by Sharon K. Couzens de Hinojosa are copyrighted in compliance with international law.