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<\/a><\/p>\nHaving both taught English in Asia, we\u2019ve spent many a lunch hour arguing over which country has the wildest, wackiest open-air markets. \u00a0Tami may have bargained her way to a pair of Buddha-shaped sunglasses in Korea, but Sarah haggled over smiling pig heads in Thailand.<\/p>\n
One thing from our time abroad that we absolutely agree on though, is the advantage of having a TEFL certification<\/strong>. \u00a0Without one, it\u2019s hard to be an effective ESL teacher in the classroom, and as one student put it, TEFL doesn\u2019t mean Teaching English For Laughs. \u00a0Ok, maybe sometimes it does. \u00a0But with a TEFL certification, you\u2019ll learn how to apply humor in a way that reaches your students, so you\u2019re not left with a room of blank stares after making a witty pun. \u00a0\u00a0We want to share some of our own personal stories that reflect our reasoning to why we think obtaining a TEFL certification is so valuable. \u00a0Sarah, who taught in Thailand, received TEFL training before teaching abroad, while Tami taught in South Korea without a certification (though she wishes she had).<\/p>\n A TEFL certificate will help you think on your feet: Sarah’s thoughts<\/strong> A TEFL certificate will give you confidence: Tami’s thoughts<\/strong> A TEFL certificate will teach you how to teach English: Sarah’s thoughts<\/strong> A TEFL certificate will teach you intercultural sensitivity: Tami’s thoughts<\/strong> IF I had a TEFL certification, I may have learned a thing or two about intercultural sensitivity and how laughing with (ok, maybe at in this situation) your student is an absolute no-no and will almost always result in your student resenting you. I later had a taste of my own medicine when I was practicing my Korean and accidentally told a student to come to bed with me in Korean….but that\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n
\nDuring my TEFL training, I was sometimes frustrated with the copious amount of ice breaker activities I had to learn. \u00a0It felt like I had an ice breaker for every occasion: ice breakers for when it\u2019s hot, ice breakers for when there\u2019s no electricity, ice breakers for when it\u2019s a Wednesday afternoon! \u00a0I didn\u2019t appreciate these until I found myself teaching on a random hot Wednesday, and the power went out. \u00a0Thanks to my TEFL training, I had a plethora of activities in my back pocket to draw from, and like a trooper I \u2018kept calm and carried on.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nWhen I was thrown into my first class with NO preparation, NO books, and absolutely ZERO confidence in my ability to teach a class, I quickly realized how valuable TEFL training would have been. \u00a0I was fortunate that I had incredibly understanding, adult students who appreciated learning about superlatives through numerous examples of why I had the craziest and worst boss ever. \u00a0With a TEFL certification, I could have been the most organized and effective teacher they had ever had!<\/p>\n
\nSure, I can speak English, but can I teach it? \u00a0I quickly realized the answer was no. \u00a0Despite “youtubing” School House Rock for hours, I couldn\u2019t figure out why my students weren\u2019t getting the function of a conjunction. \u00a0After my TEFL training however, I discovered the intricacies of linguistics, and a new way of thinking about my own language. \u00a0And that made me a better teacher.<\/p>\n
\nGoing back to Teaching English for Laughs…I certainly had a few of those. When having a discussion about Western vs. Asian dining customs, I asked students if they preferred to sit at the table or sit on the floor when they eat. \u00a0When I came to my last student, I was literally brought to tears when one student proclaimed he liked to \u201cshit on the table\u201d.<\/p>\n