TEFL Nightmares

A TEFL teacher who laughs at the things her students and co-workers do, then shares it with the internet...

[deathbyteaching]

When they fake interest in my personal stories just to keep me off track

[teflnightmares]

Even though I’ve quit for the next year, my boss asks me to continue at the kindergartens

Yeah, right. That’s not going to happen. That’s why I quit. 

[teflnightmares]

When the topic is conspiracy theories and one student launches into a 20 min. monologue about the illuminati

[teflnightmares]

Hey! I'm currently a college student in the US working towards a Bachelor's. My main question is, that I was born in Puerto Rico, and there's an english-as-a-native-language requirement. I was raised bilingual, and have almost no discernible accent speaking either language. Does being born there affect me, or is it enough just being a US citizen born with that sweet, sweet SSN?

That’s a great question. My recommendation for you is to call around and ask. Where are you looking to teach? Find a recruitment agency in the nation and ask if there are any differences because of that.  However, being from Puerto Rico, the SSN might be enough. Even if that’s enough, I would still recommend getting a TEFL or Celta certificate as that can help to improve your pay and the difference in pay for having the certificate will cover the cost for the certificate in less than 6 months-if you do the Celta (since it’s a bit more expensive) and usually less than 2 months if you do the TEFL. I did the ittt tefl online course (https://www.teflonline.net/) and it’s $190 and really helped me to fully focus on what was necessary to know. I did it midway through my first year of teaching abroad and it had a lot of things I wish I had known earlier. 

The tefl might be your ticket in if they have any hang ups about where you were born, but I really don’t see it as a factor since you are a US citizen. Give it a try and let me know what you find out! I’m sure other readers would be interested to know! Good luck :D

[teflnightmares]

When I realize spring break starts in two weeks!!!!

[deathbyteaching]

When my students hug me

[teflnightmares]

yes.

[teachingfeelslike]

When I have to tell a parent about their child’s misbehavior and they insist that it NEVER happens outside of school…EVER.

[teflnightmares]

Ughhhh, always.

[teflnightmares]

When I’m trying to read my students’ essays...

what does this say!?!?!?

[teflnightmares]

oh my god your blog is a blessing.

It used to be my outlet...looks like it will be again, soon! 

[teflnightmares]

Hi! I'm an EFL teacher as well, and I just found your blog, and I had to say it's freaking hilarious, I could relate to all of your posts, and I genuinely laughed out loud.

Thanks so much! 

[teflnightmares]

Hey! I am studying English in college right now, and I've seen a few programs where I can teach abroad. I have an interview for one tomorrow, actually. I plan on getting my BA, but I was wondering- how does teaching abroad work for you as a career? Are you happy? Well paid? Because I think that it might be a good career choice for me, one that will really make me happy... Please, let me know how you started teaching abroad!

Hi there, sorry about the very delayed response. I’ve been on a kind of internet blackout for a while. Anyway, let’s get to your questions...

Teaching abroad has worked out wonderfully for me as a career! Otherwise, I would have moved on long ago. I’m very happy doing what I do and I have been at the same private after school program for 3 years now. While my boss drives me absolutely insane (he’s very, very strange), my students are wonderful and after three years with my groups of kids, we’ve really gotten in sync and work well together. 

As far as pay, well, let’s be honest, we all wish we could be making more. Because I live in a country where rent is quite cheap and food is modestly priced, I’m actually earning well above the median average for the country. I’m able to contribute to my ever-present student loans and am living very comfortably. It just takes a bit of budgeting, like any income.

I live on a coastal town and I really appreciate what teaching abroad has done for me. I lived in LA for the majority of my life, but after moving to a quite town next to the sea with a more relaxed pace of life, I really feel as though I’ve found my place. My schedule is afternoon based because my students come to my classes after school. I am very blessed because I teach the students who are motivated to learn and are interested by English. Because of my schedule, I am able to have a lovely morning, a walk into town for coffee and sunshine and enough time to prepare my lessons before classes or even go for a run or a swim. 

I would highly recommend becoming a “traveling English teacher” as I call it...however, I don’t think I’ll be doing much more traveling around. I’m really loving my time here. Maybe you’ll fall in love with your new place, too! 

[teflnightmares]

Do you not do this anymore? That makes me sad because I love it! :)

I’m planning to start again...this year has been unbelievably busy. Don’t be sad! 

[teflnightmares]

Awful blogger, party of me.

So apparently I’m an awful blogger and realize I haven’t posted anything in a long, long time. Thank you to all for the wonderful messages and encouraging notes you’ve left. I’m going to do my best to respond to the majority of the messages I’ve found in my inbox after not checking it for like...a year. I’m also hoping to spend some time putting up some new gifs that you can all relate to and help to find some of the humor in shaping young minds...into your own personal squad of minions. Catch ya’ll soon! Thanks again!

[teacherthoughtbubble]

When we hear some gossip about a couple of our students

We’re all like:

[teacherthoughtbubble]

When people tell me it's impossible to get our students to enjoy poetry

I’m like:

[teflnightmares]

When a student *finally* does the homework I assigned 2 weeks ago...

and is super proud...

[teflnightmares]

hey.. where are you teaching? Im going to do my certification this summer and now I'm a little scared of having to deal with kids.. I'm not very patient but I want to travel.. haha

Hi there!

I am currently teaching in Croatia, but I've also taught in Los Angeles, South Africa, and South Korea. Kids can be a little daunting to deal with or, at least, they were when I first started. The important thing to remember is that teaching is a great way to be creative and find new ways to teach grammar and vocabulary. It takes a bit of work to find develop these things, but if you keep the lessons interesting, the kids shouldn't be too disruptive or scary. I wasn't a fan of kids when I started either. Now, it's really fun. I get to be pretty ridiculous with my classes. Keep in mind that you may not only teach kids. I currently teach equal classes of kids and businessmen. Depending on where you go, you can try to specify that you want to work more with adults, which can be just as rewarding. 

Good luck on your certification! It really is an awesome job to be able to travel the globe and share your knowledge of English or any other subject. Also, if you're looking to head to Korea, I recommend going through Adventure Teaching. They placed me in Seoul and it was excellent. They guided me through the whole process and found a school that was best suited for my skills.

Have fun out there!