6 Steps to get Started on Your TEFL Course

• Write up your goals and motivation
• Create a study routine
• What is your learning style?
• Setting up your study area
• Become familiar with course layout/ dashboard
• Self-Care

1. Write up your goals and motivation

One of the best ways to get started on your TEFL course is to write up a list of why you’re doing it! Sit down with a piece of paper or even your note app on your phone and write your reasons why you decided to do your TEFL Course. Do you want to make money working online? Do you want to teach children, or do you want to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience doing a TEFL internship in Thailand? Whatever, your reasons for doing your TEFL Course write them down. This will help you stay on track and give you the push you need. Some days are going to be disheartening, so a gentle reminder of why you’re doing could be all the push you need!

2. Create a study routine

Completing your TEFL Course online comes with many benefits including being able to study it on your own time. Many people have other responsibilities in their lives such as work, college, etc. Therefore, it is important to create a study routine for your TEFL course. Have a look at your week and see where you have some free time. Once you have allotted some free time slots in your week for studying, make a note of it or put it into a calendar.

Google Calendar is free, and you could use this to factor in all your time slots for study. One tip would be trying to study at the same time every week as this will help you to form a routine with your studies. Don’t forget all our TEFL Courses come with a 6-month study time, so factor in that time frame. You may have several TEFL courses on the go at a time but don’t forget there are extensions! 

3. What is your learning style?

Everyone has a different way of learning and studying. There are 4 main types of learning styles based on the VARK Model. The 4 main types are Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinaesthetic Learners. Visual learners learn better through pictures and movies for example while Auditory Learners learn better through music and lectures. Reading/Writing learners learn through lists and textbooks and Kinesthetic learners by movements and a hands-on approach.

There is plenty of ways to learn through each learning style and doing some research on them would benefit you. Not only will it help you to study better but they are good to know for when you become a TEFL Teacher. This will help you to be able to teach better as you will understand your student’s different learning styles. To get started check out this link with verywell mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/vark-learning-styles-2795156. Once you have established your learning style, you will become more efficient at studying.

4. Setting up your study area

The next step to get started with TEFL is if you were doing a course in person, there would be a destined building you would go for it, for example, a classroom. When you go to a place of learning you know you are there to study which can help you focus on what you are doing. However, if you are studying from home, you are in your classroom and at home! This can make it difficult to focus on studying as you could get distracted with household tasks or even just watching Netflix! Start your TEFL course by setting up the correct study area and having your study schedule set out helps with focusing on what you are doing. The first step to studying at home is to find a destined place to study.

You do not need a separate room; it can just be a spot at your kitchen table. Having a regular place to study helps you set up a routine, which leads to getting more study done. Have all the supplies you need set up before studying such as your laptop and notebook and pens. However, don’t be afraid to switch it up now and again! Sometimes, studying in the same place can become boring so move to a different spot in the house if you can.

5. Become familiar with course layout/ dashboard

Before diving into your course, check out your course dashboard. Click on your course when you log in and check out the YouTube video explaining the course and the dashboard. Take some time to get familiar with how your course is laid out and the modules you are about to study. Being familiar with where everything is and how it works will help with your self-studying journey. One thing to know for example is that you must complete the current module you are on before you can assess the next one. This will help you stay on track with your studies.  If you are completing a Level 5 TEFL Course, make sure you become familiar with Plagiarism and Academic referencing, you will find all this information on your dashboard as well. For students completing their Level 5, it is also worth knowing that there is a Live Tutor Support held every Tuesday at 6 pm GMT. This is a great way to get some support and your questions answered about your TEFL Course.

6. Self-Care

As mentioned above, creating a schedule for your TEFL Course is so important to succeed. However, also creating a routine of self-care around your course is just as important. When you achieve a learning goal within your TEFL Journey, how are you going to celebrate this? It is important to celebrate the small wins as well as the big ones. Break down your TEFL goals into small manageable goals and reward yourself when you get it done. When self-studying any course, you are the teacher as well as the student which can be hard at times. Make sure to factor in self-care even if that means a night off now and again from studying!

In conclusion

Getting started on your TEFL course can be hard but completely rewarding. Creating a proper study routine is crucial for getting your course completed on time. Once you have your learning style understood and found the best ways to study your course, you are halfway there. Knowing your learning style also helps with setting up your study area and knowing what you need to study. As mentioned above you have a 6-month study time on your course and extensions are always available.

Don’t forget all the courses including our Teaching English Online Courses are available from The TEFL Institute.