1: Two lessons in, all going smoothly

After two days of the course I now know what it means to be involved in the EFL world. In Teaching English Abroad: Talk your way around the world, Susan Griffith says one of the most important things is your ability - and willingness - to act and mime while teaching. Self-conciousness isn't the order of the day it seems, she gives the example of one teacher trying to teach the word 'chicken' by flapping her arms and 'pecking' her way around the classroom! Well, I haven’t had to do that yet but I feel it may be just around the corner!

Perhaps the most important thing I’ve done in my first two days is to witness an authentic EFL lesson. It was an hour and a half long, but with an experienced EFL teacher it seemed to fly by. I am now planning my own lesson for Monday, and thirty minutes seems an eternity. There is only so much theory, vocabulary and grammar you can learn in two days, so I presume the harrowing thirty minute lesson scheduled for Monday is to give us first hand experience of life at the head of an EFL student class.

The sixteen trainees in my class are of various ages and professions. It is most refreshing to be learning with friendly, like-minded people and there is a real feeling of solidarity. For the next four weeks we are all in the same boat and it seems everyone is willing to help each other as much as possible to get through the course succesfully.

With assignment one due in soon, lessons to be planned and grammar to be learned, Saturday night is looking bleak! I have started the CELTA course with four weeks to knuckle down and, hopefully come out of the other side succesfully with certificate in hand! I am looking forward to Monday with anticipation and more than a few nerves! If anyone has any pearls of wisdom for next week's first lesson teaching, then please drop me an e-mail!

Dan

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