Episode 132 Discover the Secrets to Finding Your Perfect English Teacher!

In this episode we're looking at another tip to improve your English: finding the right teacher for you. It's OK to Change Teachers: Remember you might need different teachers at different times in your development. In addition you might look for teachers that can help you solve a particular problem or help you with a particular kind of English, such as Business English or English relevant to your work. English Qualifications Today I talked about four different ESL qualifications: ESL - English as a Second Language ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages DELTA - High level diploma run by Cambridge English. It includes learning how to teach and using different techniques, teaching practise, observations and specification for kinds of ESL teaching. It can take 9 - 12 months to complete. CELTA - Also run by Cambridge English. Includes detailed lessons on English, grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure etc, lessons on how to teach and teaching practise and observations. Can take 1-3 months to complete. TEFL and TESOL - Run by multiple organisations online and in-person. Some have teaching involved but they are often only online. Teaches some elements of English, although not in depth and some teaching suggestions. Multiple choice test usually. If you've never taught English before it could take a week to complete a TEFL course. But remember, it's important to think about why you are looking for a teacher. In addition, you must bear in mind the number of years someone has been teaching. Someone might have a TESOL but has been teaching English for 10 years and has taught all over the world. In this case they are likely to be a better teacher and more knowledgeable than someone who as only just completed their CELTA course. Teachers to Help with Your Work If you are looking for help to develop your English for work, then it's worth looking for an English teacher with experience in your particular field or job, that way they can teach you vocabulary and sentences relevant to your job and help you progress faster and more effectively. The best place to look for teachers who specialise in your area of business is LinkedIn. Additional Vocabulary Biased - someone who's suggestions or opinions are affected by their experience or preferences Bar one - idiom - except one Viable - good or something that works correctly Mean to you - idiom - someone who is purposefully unkind Intimidated - someone who makes you feel uncomfortable Build your confidence - common collocation - to make you feel more confident Knock it down - idiom - to break down or damage someone's confidence or skills That's a topic for another day. - common sentence to let someone know there is another thing to say about this, but it's not our priority right now. take on - phrasal verb - to 'take on another language' to start learning something new or 'take on' more responsibility, to be responsible for more things pick it up - phrasal verb - to quickly and easily learn something I'm super nosey - I'm really curious and interested and ask a lot of questions! live off something - phrasal verb - to have enough money to manage corner of the market - idiom - this part or segment of the market scope around - idiom - 'scope' often means look, so this means to look around niche teacher - a newly developing field of teachers who are self-employed and running their own business, often focusing on a very small corner of the market. Vice versa - this way, or the other way; both ways work