what exams are necessary

[lisbet]

Hi I'm an English woman and I have lived in Spain for 32 years.Therefore I speak Spanish fluently which is sometimes a great advantage. I would like to teach English to young learners, teenagers and adults. I'm 56 years old and I worked in an academy for three years as an assistant teacher a few years ago. I would be grateful if somebody could give me information about what exams I need to do and how to go on about it.
Regards lisbet

[SunShine]

lisbet, you have a great advantage, living in Spain already, which makes your TEFL course choice a lot easier. I found that my boot camp style is only suitable for young people, anyone over 30 would be struggling. My advice would be to take a longer course, maybe over 12 months, as swatting over the 12 verb tenses plus 50 teaching ideas, which you are expected to know in your final exam, is not easily done over a period of a month. Don't forget, there are other things you need to do, as well, not just the grammar. I do emphasise that I am talking about my particular course, not generalising, as I am aware that all courses vary quite a lot. So do your research, you are not in a hurry, and search all sorts of forums for real experiences, don't rely on the course providers' websites. I noticed that the one I did had a web site which didn't allow for ex-students' comments about the experience - now there's a surprise.

[Alex Case]

I've never thought about it that way, but looking back to when I was a teacher trainer, older trainees did have more problems getting from the theory to practice (some I am noticing with trying to learn Korean only 5 years after a much more successful attempt to learn Japanese). All passed, though, and with fewer tears than the younger ones. Still, an extensive course might make more sense (it's usually 3 months part time, not 9 or 12, as any less intensive and you will have forgotten everything by the next time your teaching practice comes round). Make sure, though, that you make time available and don't try to do all the things you do now plus a part time TEFL course.