Why did you decide to get TEFL Certified with Smaller Earth in Prague?
I decided to get my TEFL certificate because I saw a great opportunity not only to be able to experience something new in life, but I also saw an open window that would allow me to be able to fulfill one of my most sought after dreams thus far in my life, to travel the world! With the course being held in Prague it made my decision that much easier and very accessible being that I already live in the Czech Republic, in Olomouc. I have lived in Olomouc for a little over a year now, and moving here was was a stepping stone to reaching that dream of traveling. I just never thought that becoming a teacher and teaching English as a foreign language would be the way I would be working to complete my dream and I'm so happy that I have began to travel with this course.
Did you teach abroad? How did this TEFL Course impact your experience?
As for teaching aboard, again since I already live in the Czech Republic, I guess the answer would be yes. I have a job at a language school, already! It had only been three days from when I completed my course, and I had a demo lesson and nailed it spot on. This TEFL course impacted and prepared me immediately; from organization in lesson plans, to being fully capable of applying the communicative method, not being afraid to give a lesson in front of people I don't know, and especially the ability to explain English grammar in a correct, but also fun and simple, way.
What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering this TEFL Course and teaching abroad?
Stop considering and just jump into the teaching world. If you have any plans of traveling, enjoy interacting with new people, or just want to learn something that will impact your life, you're looking at 4 weeks in Prague as an adventure with possibilities you could never imagine. This course will gather all the things you may be thinking about now and some of the points I named into a nice package and get you fully ready and excited to get a new chapter started in a part of your life that will surely never be forgotten.
What was the highlight of your experience?
This is a tough question to contain within a paragraph or even a page. But the highlight would be the attention to detail within that four weeks. For how much you need to learn, it was amazing on how we were able to get so deep into the English language and yet to be able to retain 100 percent of it. Yes of course it takes a lot of study, review and focus, but the details just made it easy. The detail on how to study, how to break down lessons section by section, what to take notes on and what to just listen to, the daily activities (we pretended to be students at times which was a blast, if you let your guard down and become fully engaged) and very detailed feedback from your lessons that day, what to improve and what you did great. I haven't been in a school atmosphere for nine years and the details in everything made my experience easier and actually fun. I never thought I would enjoy the classroom experience like I did with my time here.
Anything else you would like to share?
I mentioned earlier that this course will get you ready for things unseen and adventure; this is so true if that's what you're looking for. My goal is that in six months, I will start my travels around the world, making a one year stop in different countries; teach English, then move to the next country and do it again. For how long? I don't know but talking with the heavily experienced and travelled teacher trainer, Adrienne Hutchison, I got everything I was looking for and a bunch more that I never expected, such as stories, tips and tricks about how to survive and get acclimated to new countries and countless advice on how to approach different activities, books and students. It can't all be explained here as I would fill pages.
Lastly, Prague is a city that can't be taken in within a month or even two. Get lost (but have a map in hand so that you won't be completely hopeless!) in the city for a day and just wander around. It is the best way to discover places that the general tourist would never venture into because they stick to close to the beaten path. Walk at night as much as possible, and enjoy the free Czech language survival lessons while taking the TEFL course in Prague.