Original Submission for My Motivation to take the ITTO Online Course
There are several reasons why I am motivated to enroll with the ITTO Online course and teach English as a foreign language. Having worked at a desk job as a loan officer as well as in the lab as a chemist, I am looking for a different experience that is both challenging and rewarding. Completing the ITTO program definitely meet these qualifications. Also, I believe the lessons from ITTO’s online TEFL program will give me the tools and the confidence to be an effective English language instructor. Finally, a TEFL certification from an accredited and well-known institution will open up quality English teaching opportunities in Bangkok (where I am interested in teaching) and around the world.
In the article “What Makes a Teacher Special,” students cite specific qualities that differentiate “special” teachers from mediocre ones. The top qualities are that a teacher is caring, motivational and keeps students interested. As a marketing major, I can think of a few creative ways to make learning interesting and rewarding. However, teaching and marketing are two different subjects. I believe the ITTO Online program will help improve on the teaching aspect and make me a more effective as well as creative instructor. I look forward to learning about lesson planning and different ways to keep the class interested.
Improving my teaching ability is one motivating factor in enrolling with ITTO. The other motivating factor for me is the challenge. I have never taken an online course before and I am also new to the teaching profession. I believe it will be exciting and quite a challenge to complete the course and be ready to teach a classroom of individuals with different backgrounds who don’t speak English as a first language. The task is to use tools and lessons learned from the ITTO program to overcome the initial communication barrier for beginning students. For intermediate and more advanced students, I believe the challenge is to create interesting, meaningful lessons using my TEFL education that will reinforce the basics while providing for opportunities to learn and practice more advanced aspects of English.
The TEFL certification from ITTO can open up new opportunities. Although there are teaching jobs out there that only require a bachelor’s degree, the majority of quality teaching jobs at well-respected institutions require TEFL certification. From my research, teaching jobs at top language schools in Bangkok like the Wall Street Institute and the TEFL Institute require TEFL certification. Some institutes not only require TEFL certification but specify that the length of the program be at least 100-120 hours. The Online ITTO program meets and exceeds this specification. ITTO will make obtaining quality jobs easier because it will allow me to qualify for many more teaching positions.
Overall, I believe the rewards and the challenges will keep me motivated to learn and complete the ITTO Online program. I know obtaining TEFL certification from ITTO will give me an additional boost in obtaining the right teaching job. Because I am new to online programs and to teaching, the lessons will be challenging, but they will also make my teaching more effective. With TEFL certification, some effort and experience, I am confident I can eventually be a very skilled English language instructor and a valuable part of the teaching community.
By,
Michael P. Thompson
ITTO TEFL Trainee 2007
