I was recently introduced to the idea of getting TEFL certified, but I had no idea how to balance my life on the road with classes. The desire to return to teaching was getting stronger and stronger, but I knew I wasn’t ready to be back in a classroom just yet. By a stroke of luck, I was introduced to TEFL Org UK through a friend and quickly found an online accreditation program that would fit my lifestyle and support my goals!
Taking online courses is a great idea, but finding the time to sit down and study quickly became a struggle! Who wants to sit and learn about grammar when you’re in a new country with so much to see? Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been keeping a journal of what it has been like taking TEFL courses on the road and have come up with my top 5 actions that have helped me stay focused!
1. Set an end date! Grab your calendar and set a goal of when you want to be finished with the course! One of the ways that has helped me plan out my course load is working backwards. Plans will no doubt change, but this will help you stay focused on the end goal; a TEFL certificate!
2. Download the lessons! Often times I do not have the most reliable internet connection, so the idea of doing online courses while travelling initially turned me off. The benefit of using the TEFL Org UK online course is the ability to download lessons in advance, so you aren’t dependent on a solid WiFi connection! My recent trip to Nepal is a prime example. Visiting Nepal during rainy season, most of my time was spent inside with little to no power has the monsoons hit. Knowing this may be the case, I downloaded all the TEFL courses I had planned out in advance, and was still able to stick to my schedule!
3. Routines! I absolutely love being on the road and experiencing new cultures. However, the toughest part for me is the lack of routine. Whether you are a morning person or evening person, try to do your lessons at the same time every day. Having a routine will help you feel like you have some control in your day.
4. Practice what you’re learning. If you’re already travelling, take what you’re learning and put it into practice! The best way for me to put what I’m learning into action is through communicating with people whose second (or sometimes third or fourth) language is English. Listening to how they form their sentences, what words they seem to use most often, or what mistakes they make has elevated my learning more than I could imagine! This has been a massive tool for when I’m working my way through the TEFL course, highlighting what is most relevant and having me revisit past lessons I’ve completed.
