My Experiences Teaching English as a Second and Foreign Language
Unless you’ve seen the long version of my resume, you might not know that I’ve spent time teaching English. I never worked in public or private schools, but I did teach in language schools—both in the United States and in Brazil. In the U.S., this type of work is called English as a Second Language (ESL). Abroad, it’s referred to as English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Here’s how I got into it, what the experience was like, and what I learned along the way. Getting Started Before moving to Brazil to teach English, I took two important steps to prepare: Training: I completed a distance course in ESL/EFL teaching through The English Language Centre in London. At that time, the program was mail-based rather than online. They sent me study materials and assignments, and I responded with lesson plans and exercises. It was a traditional distance learning model, and I still have the certificate to this day. Volunteering: I spent a semester working with ESL students in a Missouri public...