8 Teaching Hacks for TEFL Teachers
Who doesn’t love a hack, we’re constantly searching for them - whether that be in cleaning, getting ready, or organisation. Did you know… teachers on average spend almost 20 hours of unpaid overtime each week on lesson plans and marking! We’re here to help you reduce that time and use your time wisely.
1. Cheap props
Including activity and movement into your classes helps to keep your students awake, alert and entertained. Using props is a cheap and easy way to make quick lesson plans. Depending on the age group you are teaching, you could point at objects and the students can answer back in English. This is just one example! We have seen people make puppet shows and take them on a walk around the school or outside. Using props gives you an unlimited amount of lesson plans.
2. Homemade whiteboards
Is it just us who have noticed, whiteboards are EXPENSIVE! When you’re abroad you can’t just put one in your luggage and take it with you, or it may be difficult to purchase one in a new country. Whatever the reason, homemade whiteboards are the best!
Use a plastic sheet cover on the table, vinyl spots (stick them on tables, walls, or any flat surfaces to get a small area which you can write on). EXPO Dry Erase Markers with Ink Indicator, which basically allows you to write on desks! Other resources we’ve seen being used are plastic plates and old glass frames. All of these surfaces are easily wiped and long-lasting. Who doesn’t love whiteboards!
3. Learn names
Best ways to learn your student's names - As you will teach your students repetition is one of the best ways to learn something new! Create a floorplan and have a sheet with where every student is sat. Use their names as often as you can! Learning your students' names is a great way to build a good relationship with them.
4. Encourage participation
There are a few ways you can help quieter classes become more energetic, and uninvolved students become more engaged. One way is with a ball. Even with adults, bringing the element of a ball into the lesson adds a lot of fun. When you ask a question, throw the ball and whoever catches it must answer the question, and on and on.
5. Reuse resources
Somewhere out there someone brilliant has made a lesson plan on the subject you are about to teach. Google the lesson you’re about to teach! Or ask your fellow colleagues, we’re almost certain they will be happy to help. Here are some useful websites and tools you could use: Busy Teacher, TEFLtastic, Absolute TEFL: The Ultimate Teaching Guide.
6. Storage!
Not only will you repeat your own lessons, but you’ll also have work to mark, and lots and lots of important loose paper. Organisation is key and we have one word for you; LABELS! These days you can get wallets and folders that are super compact. Keep your lesson plans labelled nicely in them. Have specific colour coded folders to put your unmarked and marked work in for each class. As you complete work, move it on and then you’ll know exactly what you’re taking back to school as well as how much work you have left to do. Obviously, keep these folders somewhere accessible to you.
7. Visuals and videos
In today’s world videos are all the fuss, so there is definitely already a video made on whatever you want to teach. Students of all ages will find videos stimulating and will learn from them. So why not incorporate them into your lessons, this will not only save you time but help your students too.
8. The easy path to create a lesson plan
Simply start in the middle. Many studies show that the main learning points are taken in when taught in the middle of your lesson. Once you have key points and a middle planned work outwards from there. Use the beginning of the lesson to build up to it and add engaging activities towards the end to reiterate the main points.
