As you may have noticed, we have been advertising Global-English TESOL courses on our site for the past few months. Not only have we been promoting their company, but Quest Greek islands also took a
TESOL course so we could see just how useful and informative they actually are. Now, many of you will probably know a bit about teaching English as a second language already and you will know that it is a popular career choice for English speakers who have moved abroad.
The TESOL certificate is incredibly useful due to the fact that it can be used to find employment as an English language teacher anywhere in the world. The courses can be taken by anyone of any educational background, as long as you are seventeen years old or over.
There are so many courses like these all over the internet at the moment that it is difficult to find one that is suitable for you - and as there are so many, it is near to impossible to decide on which course to take. This is precisely why the Quest Greek islands team have decided to take the plunge and try it ourselves to inform all our readers what we think about it.
Communications with Global English
There is nothing more frustrating that wanting to find out information or needing a service, and having to wait. Many companies are very lapse when it comes to replying to you! I was very surprised when I sent an email to Global English and received a very fast reply.
I felt happy about doing a course with Global English because I knew that if I had a problem whilst completing my course, I could contact either my online tutor or I could just send an email to the email address on the main site. Anytime I needed help with my course or another matter, I would get in contact with either my online tutor or the information centre and I received a prompt reply enabling me to solve my problem very quickly.
Getting Started
The process of finding my chosen course with Global English and starting was very quick indeed. I found the Global English site on the internet, enquired about courses, was told how to pay and register for the course online and then I could download the necessary files and begin the course straight away at my own pace. This process from finding the Global English site to actually starting the course happened in 1-2 days.
I understand that if you select a course and pay online by credit/debit card, you can begin immediately.The team at Global English will give you a step-by-step guide on how to register and pay for the course that you have chosen. They will then tell you how the course works and how long you have to complete it. The time allowed to complete each course is very generous which allows each student enough time to complete the course.However, if you don't complete the course in time, you are able to purchase extra time via the Global English website.
Beginning the course
As soon as you have registered and purchased your course, you can log in to your student area and start the course. I took the 70 hour TESOL level 1 coursewhich included 4 modules. This means that the course is split in to four parts that you can work your way through in your own time.
For this particular course, you are allowed 6 months to completeand can purchase extra time if needed. I started module 1 by downloading the study booklet 1 (which is a PDF file) and the answer booklet 1 (a word document). I downloaded and saved both files and read through the study booklet to get a feel of what the course would be like. It is good that you can work offline which might be an issue if your internet connection is not so good or if you are on the move.
As you make your way through the study booklet, you will be given questions and excercises to complete, which must be completed in the answer booklet. The study booklet is about 40-50 pages long, so it is important to get in to a routine and pace yourself. The course is not just text; there are plenty of graphics and links to videos of real teaching, and useful online material and extra information. This makes the course more alive and illustrates teaching in practice.
Setting goals
Everyone is different and so there is no right or wrong way to study, just as there are no set guidelines for how long you should study for. I personally am unable to work in the quiet; I honestly find it nearly impossible to work without some music in the background, but I'm sure that this would really irritate somebody else! This proves that everyone has different learning styles, so the most important thing is to set yourself manageable goals and do your best.
Take your time and try to work at a time of the day and in an area where you feel is best for you. It may be thatyou find it best to work in the morning, in the afternoon or late at night. Set yourself realistic targets and don't overdo it or rush through the reading or activities, as it will show in your final grade!
For me, I found that my ideal learning situation was when I felt ready to work and learn, which was usually at night when I could listen to music in the background. I worked through the module and as soon as I felt that I was pushing myself too much and I wasn't taking it in, I would stop and call it a day. The key thing to remember is that you shouldn't push yourself to sit and study if you are not in the right mood or frame of mind to sit and take in the information. If you have any problems along the way, you can always contact your online tutor, who will be happy to help you with any problem that you have.
Completing each module
Once you have completed each module, you have to log in to your student area and upload your answer booklet (answer booklet only) on to the site and send it to your online tutor. They will read through and mark your finished work and return it to you, with your grade and feedback for that module within three days.
The online tutor is very helpful whilst taking an online course, as they can help you at any time of the course and can give you valuable help with some of the more difficult questions in the course. When your tutor has returned your work to you with a grade, they will also include comments on how well you have done and which areas you need to improve on. Before starting the course, I was told that the tutors will not tell you things that you want to hear because it isn't their job to do so. It is vital that you listen to what your online tutor tells you, because they really mean it! So, if they tell you that you've done a good job, give yourself a pat on the back, because they really do mean what they say!
Completing the course
After you have submitted your module and it has been marked by your online tutor, you may download the next module's study booklet and answer sheet. Then when you have completed each of the four modules, you can apply for your certificate, as long as you have passed successfully. Your certificate will be delivered to you and you will be able to use it to find work teaching English as a second language. Having a certificate in TESOL is very useful, especially to those living abroad.
My Overall views
I was very interested in taking an online TESOL course, because teaching English as a second language is a very communicative subject and therefore is difficult to learn outside of a classroom environment. As there is no practical side to this course, I wondered just how useful it could be and was surprised to find that the course provided enough information so that I didn't feel that the practical lessons were missed. Although the course can be completed within a short amount of time, it isn't always easy and requires a lot of concentration.
I, myself have had some experience in teaching English as a second language, but this course has taught me new approaches to the subject. I don't feel that there was anything missed out in the course and I think that is an ideal course for anyone who would like to begin a career in TESOL.
Taking a Course
Interested in taking a TESOL course with Global English? Visit the site and enrol today!
