{"id":15648,"date":"2021-09-16T12:49:24","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T18:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=15648"},"modified":"2021-09-16T12:49:24","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T18:49:24","slug":"tips-for-new-tefl-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tips-for-new-tefl-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 11 Tips for New TEFL Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>\n<p>Have you just completed your <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/professional\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL\/TESOL certification<\/a> and have jitters about teaching English for the first time? While the techniques you\u2019ve learned have prepped you for teaching ESL effectively, knowing some tricks of the trade outside your course also helps you put your best foot forward! We\u2019ve put together a list of tips for new TEFL teachers so that you can walk into the classroom (or log into a virtual one!) confidently and ready to win your students\u2019 hearts and minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Build rapport from the start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Making your students comfortable and ready to participate in class starts by creating a good relationship with them right from the beginning. The more you show genuine interest in them and radiate positivity in class, the more confident your learners \u2013 even the shy ones \u2013 will be opening up to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some ways to establish rapport with your English students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Incorporate fun ice breakers at the beginning of the class.<\/li><li>Learn more about your learners\u2019 lives outside of the classroom, and remember important details in your students\u2019 lives, such as their birthdays and hobbies \u2013 writing them down helps!<\/li><li>Tailor your classes to your students\u2019 interests and goals.<\/li><li>Boost your students\u2019 confidence by praising them even for small victories like mastering a grammar concept.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t forget to smile!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/build-rapport-teaching-english-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more ways for building rapport with your English students quickly.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Prepare, prepare, prepare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you are teaching in person or virtually, preparation is key to avoiding nervousness and getting caught off guard in the middle of a lesson. After all, you wouldn\u2019t want to spend precious class minutes looking for those videos that you wanted to use in a lesson!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Organize your lessons, teaching materials, and evaluation tools like tests ahead of time.<\/li><li>Allot some extra minutes to prep yourself before a class starts.<\/li><li>Bookmark or save important apps, websites, and files that you\u2019ll use in your online classes.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/208521809_578993280138842_4032008970080780608_n-1024x569.png\" alt=\"online ESL games\" class=\"wp-image-14700\" width=\"599\" height=\"331\"\/><figcaption><em>Online English teacher <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/juicy-mae-from-the-philippines-teaching-online-with-multiple-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Juicy Mae, from the Philippines<\/a>, always has a game up her sleeve<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Be ready with a backup activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your students have finished all the exercises to practice the past simple tense and you have some time left. What will you do next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students\u2019 learning pace differs a lot, and you\u2019ll most probably encounter learners who can master a lesson faster than others. In case you finish earlier than expected, make sure to always have an extra activity in your back pocket. This could be a cool-down game, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tefl-speaking-activities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speaking activity<\/a>, video comprehension exercise, or any time-fillers that you can use to make your students practice English before the class ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-games-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get low-prep game ideas for teaching English online.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Review new grammar lessons beforehand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While it could be easy to say that you know how to use the perfect tenses and conditional forms very well, it may be different when you teach them, no matter how simple it seems, especially to those who are learning them for the first time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From explaining structures to giving examples, your students most likely see you as a grammar expert, so ensure that you know a grammar lesson in detail before you teach it. This includes being familiar with exceptions to rules, providing useful practice exercises, and clarifying students\u2019 doubts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/how-to-teach-english-grammar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teach grammar more effectively with these strategies.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Build a student-centered classroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As an English teacher, you\u2019ll want to make your students maximize the class time to practice and improve in the language. This means giving your learners the opportunity and space to get involved in activities and minimizing teacher talking time (TTT) in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some ways you can apply this new TEFL teacher tip and boost student talking time (STT):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ask open-ended questions<\/li><li>Get your learners talking through speaking activities or games<\/li><li>Have students read instructions to class activities<\/li><li>Make students do activities in pairs or groups<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/what-is-ttt-when-teaching-english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out more techniques for increasing STT in your ESL classes.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Monetize-your-freelance-business-blog-image.png\" alt=\"freelance private ESL teacher\" class=\"wp-image-14196\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Monetize-your-freelance-business-blog-image.png 600w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Monetize-your-freelance-business-blog-image-480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/chris-from-the-us-running-his-own-efl-company-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chris, from the U.S.<\/a>, runs his own business and teaches adults in Japan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Be flexible and open-minded<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing that makes teaching English fun is that you can work with learners from diverse countries and backgrounds. This means that you need to be adaptable and understanding of different cultures, learning styles, and personalities. Let your students feel that they can share their thoughts in class without being judged, and <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/taboos-when-teaching-english\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">avoid taboo topics<\/a> that can spark negative debates among students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Attend professional development workshops<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From bolstering <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/classroom-management-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">class management skills<\/a> to dealing with different types of learners, there are many aspects of English teaching that you can improve, and this is where professional workshops and <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/tesol-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL\/TESOL conferences<\/a> come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many schools or companies offer teachers the chance to participate in workshops, training courses, or conferences like the <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teachers-experience-iatefl-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IATEFL Conference and Expo<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/esl-teachers-takeaways-from-tesol-elevate-virtual-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TESOL Elevate Conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, if you\u2019re an independent English teacher, attending these events also helps you to upskill, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/finding-your-niche-freelance-online-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">expand your niche<\/a>, and grow your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/professional-development-for-esl-teachers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about professional development for ESL teachers.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Assign homework<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone likes the idea of doing homework. However, when learning English, giving home-based tasks to your students is the way to go if you want to encourage them to practice the language outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, homework doesn\u2019t just mean sending grammar worksheets and articles to read! You can make it more engaging by assigning students an interesting documentary or movie to watch, for instance, or a song to memorize and sing in the next class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Shella-Chua-Blog-Interview-Image-.png\" alt=\"Shella Chua ESL teacher in Taiwan\" class=\"wp-image-14917\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Shella-Chua-Blog-Interview-Image-.png 600w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Shella-Chua-Blog-Interview-Image--480x270.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/shella-from-the-philippines-teaching-at-an-international-school-in-taiwan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teacher Shella<\/a> works with young learners in Taiwan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Put yourself in your students\u2019 shoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of the most important tips for new TEFL teachers. There may be days when a student doesn\u2019t understand certain vocabulary easily or feels frustrated about his or her speaking skills. In these cases, don\u2019t panic! As a teacher, it\u2019s essential to be patient and recognize where your learners\u2019 difficulties are coming from. In most cases, you\u2019ll have to find techniques to help a student understand a concept better. Some students learn in a structured way, for instance, while others comprehend certain topics best through hands-on examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, it\u2019s not uncommon for students, especially adults, to feel tired after a long day at the office or if they\u2019re going through something in life. Remember to show empathy towards your learners and, if necessary, adjust the level of difficulty of your lessons while they cope with their struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Learn from experienced teachers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having troubles with certain types of students? Not sure which app to use for teaching English online? You don\u2019t have to deal with these problems alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have family or friends who teach English as well, don\u2019t be afraid to reach out to them for help or advice. On the other hand, you can also join the online community of English teachers, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/2362365774037093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bridge TEFL\/TESOL Jobs Group<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/bridge.teo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teaching English Online Group<\/a> on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Value your free time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s great that you\u2019re passionate about your craft, don\u2019t forget to take some time off and practice self-care too! You can always allot some space in your schedule to practice your hobbies or relax to boost your mental health. Do you want to go surfing or do yoga in the morning before work? Don\u2019t think twice and just go for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, remember that you don\u2019t have to be available to your students 24\/7. It helps if you establish your working hours and let your students know when they can contact you if they need any help. It\u2019s also important to advise them of your holidays in advance and set automatic email replies if you\u2019re out of the office for a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/avoid-burnout-when-teaching-online\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Let this guide help you avoid burnout when teaching English online.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting into the field of English teaching offers a rewarding, diverse, and sometimes challenging experience. Aside from equipping yourself with the lessons you\u2019ve obtained from your TEFL\/TESOL course, apply the TEFL teaching tips above, and rest assured that you\u2019ll do great once you start teaching ESL in the real world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Looking for a new TEFL\/TESOL job or wanting to stand out in your current position? <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/set-yourself-apart-as-an-english-teacher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find out how to set yourself apart as an English teacher.<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;ve finished your TEFL\/TESOL certification \u2013 hooray! Now, apply these tips for new TEFL teachers, and you&#8217;ll be ready to jump into the physical or virtual classroom with confidence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":15709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"post-language":[],"popular_posts":[],"class_list":["post-15648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/TEFL-Tips-for-New-Teachers.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Krzl Light Nu\u00f1es","author_link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/author\/krzlnunesgmail-com\/"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15648\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15648"},{"taxonomy":"post-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-language?post=15648"},{"taxonomy":"popular_posts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular_posts?post=15648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}