Understanding ESL and TEFL..a bit

Having taught all of eight business English classes, I am still very much a rookie English teacher.

I am however starting to understand the twin phenomena of ESL and TEFL, or TESL if you prefer.

The ESL Phenomenon

I am well familiar with the ESL...or English as a Second Language...phenomenon.

It is an accepted fact of life in Toronto, where many new immigrants speak little, if any English. No doubt these people struggle with English as much as I continue to struggle with Spanish.

I am now seeing another side of ESL as well as the TEFL by product.

This other side of ESL is best illustrated by my two students.

Gilbert is general manager of a company that operates three automobile dealerships: Honda, Fiat and Alpha Romeo. In his day-to-day dealing with his staff, customers and local suppliers, his working language is Spanish.

However, when interacting with anyone from his key suppliers Honda, Fiat or Alpha Romeo, he is required to communicate in English.

My other student is Gustavo, who is an executive with Alacatel Lucent, a French-based supplier of electronic cables and equipment.

Like Gilbert, Gustavo speaks Spanish in his day-to-day work activities.

However, also like Gilbert, when interacting with people from Alacatel Lucent from outside of Central America, Gustavo must communicate in English, the common language of international business.

In order to improve their ability to communicate in English, both Gilbert and Gustavo have arranged for Pro Language to provide them with business English lessons.

TEFL Methodology

Pro Language is one of seven privately owned and operated English language schools in San Jose.

From what I can tell, Pro Language is a well respected organization that hires people like me to teach English to its clients' employees.

The magic factor that allows people like me to teach people like Gilbert and Gustavo is TEFL methodology.

TEFL...or Teaching English as a Foreign Language...is a huge industry.

Hundreds of organizations and agencies offer a wide range of courses and programs to help interested people learn how to teach English as a second or foreign language.

Realistically, what most people taking these courses and programs want is the TEFL certificate or equivalent. With such a certificate, they can get a job doing what I am doing (without a certificate) teaching English in a foreign country.

In fact, it is the same TEFL methodology that allows organizations like Pro Language to hire people like me, with or without a certificate.

Programmed Training

To this point, the TEFL process I am following is the most programmed training or educational process I have ever seen.

The text books, workbooks and instructors' manuals are carefully crafted and scripted. I won't use the expression idiot-proof, but quite honestly that is the term bouncing around in my head.

From an administration and teaching perspective, the TEFL methodology works well for organizations like Pro Language. It also works well for people with minimal teaching experience who want to teach English in foreign counties.

How well does the methodology work for people like Gilbert and Gustavo? At this point, both seem to find the material too basic.

At his last class, Gilbert, suggested that instead of only covering one lesson per class, the recommended approach, we do two.

So last night, without explanation, I guided Gustavo through two lessons.

This approach worked very well. It was a good class for both of us...and we finished early.

Gustavo was happy with many of my tips and suggestions. And I was happy to learn that even with the highly programmed approach, it is possible to customize the course to meet individual students' needs.