2012年2月15日星期三

True or False: Teaching ESL Abroad is the Job For You?

Look before you leap - Know yourself, and what you want in a job teaching English as a second language, before jumping into a position abroad. Enlist the help of your friends, family, or anyone you trust, who will help you answer the questions below as completely and candidly as possible. There are no right answers here; the only correct answers are honest ones.1. First, take an inventory of who you are. This is not who you want to be. This is who you are, today.- How would you describe yourself: physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually?- How would your best friend describe you?- Your parents? Siblings?- Your enemies?2. Next, gauge your knowledge of English. Are you qualified to teach ESL? Begin by listing all the English classes you have ever taken. Specify whether these were literature, grammar, or writing courses. Also list any foreign language classes - these classes are helpful, since they are where most Americans learn English grammar.- List the classes.- How well did you do in these classes?- Did you enjoy these subjects?- In general, do you enjoy expanding your vocabulary, learning languages, exploring speech and communications concepts, analyzing literature, reading, writing, or any related activities?- Have you taken at least one grammar or linguistics class? (Very helpful.)- What English language skill do you enjoy using most? (i.e., listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, or vocabulary)- What English language skill(s) do you think you can teach? Which do you think you can enjoy teaching?3. Third, analyze your preferences around working with people and teaching ESL:- Do Rosetta Stone Italian you like working with people?- What type of people energizes you the most? Children? Adults? Teenagers? Students? Professionals? Other groups?- Which ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds are you drawn to work with? Why? What experience have you had working with people with these backgrounds?- Do you do well, or are you willing to try, facilitating large groups of people (e.g., 19+)? Mid-sized (10-18) or small groups (3 to 9)?- Do you prefer working with individuals, one-on-one?- Have you had experience teaching or tutoring? What did you enjoy about these experiences? What did you dislike?- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?- Are you a perfectionist?- As a teacher, would you view yourself as the imparter of knowledge or a facilitator of learning?- Have you ever been in a situation where a person was angry? How did you interact with that person?- How about someone who was depressed?- Do you have clear boundaries?- Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone?4. Now, list your past job titles. Next to each job title, list the skills you employed and those that you learned. It doesnt matter how easy, or how unrelated the skill may seem to you, write it down.

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