TEFL Testimonials from the UK
We have included in this section letters recieved from former Kristal graduates who are working right here in the UK using our TEFL certificate.Dear Brian
Hope you remember me, I was the oldest member of your group in Eastbourne on 29th/30th April! Having left you on the Sunday, I sent letters to all the language schools in the area, naturally some replied, others did not. I reveived a phone call on the Thursday, had an intereview on the Friday and on the Monday one week after your course started teaching 14 Russian children for three hours a day at a large private school. All the pitfalls you had pointed out where there! Mixed ability, Ages from 10 – 17, no guidance, and get on with it on your own.
The best part about this position was that if I could make a success of it I would have good ground work for the future. I won’t bore you with details of how I prepared lessons, using the interenet, bying my own books. Etc, but the school was pleased with my efforts, that I am now teaching a Polish lady on a three week contract. In July I will be teaching 15 Italians for three weeks at another school in Eastbourne, and a possibility of part time work with the first school throughout the Winter! I know you are doing another course in Eastbourne in July and thought you might be interested in the experiences of one of your ‘old’ students.
Best regards
Roy H
Dear Brian
Thank you so much for a most enjoyable and stimulating weekend. Was that an average group? ! It is a credit to the course that we all came away inspired, and Hal is quite confident that if results are disastrous on Thursday (quite likely), he will head off to Greece and try to make his way for a bit! I have also come away with many ideas I can use in my class teaching. I think I told you that my other son, Fabian, would like to come on your course in November. I gather my nephew would also like to attend the course. He is a Kung Fu expert and wants to spend time in Japan when he has finished at university. I would be most grateful if you could send me the dates so that they can reserve the dates.
Once again, very many thanks.
With every good wish.
Christine M P
Dear Brian
I hope this letter finds you well and happy and continuing with your excellent work in TEFL training.
I felt I must write and tell you of the incredible changes in my life since I attended your course back in June last year! I would never have dreamt of the impact it has made, or of all the doors it has opened for me.
Shortly after receiving my TEFL certificate I approached a local college, who immediately offered me a teaching position as a sessional tutor. 6 hours a week. Within a month I was offered an additional 6 hours and found myself teaching four, three hour evening classes a week (ocnl entry level and level 1 a 36 week course).
As word got around that there was a new ESOL tutor ‘on the block’, I was approached by other colleges and organisation and offered more work. Although initial pay was £12 p/h as my experience in teaching increased, so did my hourly rate. I am now teaching 36 hours per week and earning £18 p/h. A simple calculation tells you that my income is around £33,696.00 – twice as much as I was earning prior to your course!
Although I work hard, I get a great deal of job satisfaction and enjoyment from teaching ESOL. I have so many funny stories to tell, my favourite involves a female Japanese student who informed me that she had been invited by the hospital to attend a free ‘semen’ test! She openly told the whole class about this, who fell about laughing. With the help of a dictionary, I pointed out to her that there must have been a mistake and on further investigation it became clear that she had been invited for a free SMEAR test!! I have students from all corners of the world and my work is never boring ! The gratitude they show gives me a real buzz and at last I feel that I am doing something really worthwhile.
I can never thank you enough for giving me the confidence and direction to enter into a completely new career at the age of 42.
Keep up the good work,
Thanks again.
Carol
Dear Brian
First of all, thank you for a most enjoyable course at the weekend. I really feel I have achieved something useful. When I spoke to the office this morning, our head of examinations had actually been concerned that none of us had a TEFL qualification - I must have read her mind!! Anyway I’m sure it will help me with my foreign students - thank you.
I told the office about your course and your work in Britain and abroad. They would be delighted to meet you or get involved in your examination work and await your contact. If I can help, don’t hesitate to call.
Brian
Dear Brian
Just a note to thank- you for a most enjoyable learning experience on the TEFL course last weekend at Cardiff. I shall put to good use all the tops and information I gained. I must also thank you for the way in which the course was conducted and shall try to aspire to being such a good teacher. This will clearly take some effort on my part. I was spectacularly impressed with the way in which you managed the weekend and the way in which you encouraged us to learn.
With thanks and best wishes,
Jeni G
Dear Brian
Just a note to thank you for the course last weekend at Folkestone. Both my daughter and I found it very enjoyable, as well as being instructive and informative. The mix of activities was excellent and we feel well equipped to embark on a TEFL career. I am particularly pleased that I was able to be there, as I had just come out of hospital and was not feeling fully recovered.
I hope to complete the follow – on home study course by Christmas, if school commitments allow it, and subsequently to use my training when we move to Spain at the end of the year.
Thank you again for your stress – free teaching style which made for an excellent weekend.
Your sincerely
Denise H
Dear Brian,
For better or worse I have finally completed the Module 2 Course.
I thought that you’d be interested to know that I had my first taste of teaching in the summer holidays.
It was a most enjoyable experience indeed. Two mini groups of bright, eager young German students were sent to me from the Jurgan Malthus Student Organisation.
They came each day to my daughter’s house in Eastbourne where I spent the summer.
We got off to a good start using the methods you taught at the seminar. The students thoroughly enjoyed their lessons and made good progress.
On the strength of the spell in teaching, I applied to a couple of adverts and have been asked for references and so forth.
I would be very pleased if you could kindly send me a reference for that purpose.
Thanking you
Patricia F
Dear Brian
Hope things are going well with the course. I see you’re back in Eastbourne soon, in April. Maybe the weather will have cheered up by then because it’s miserably windy at the moment!
I’m just writing to say you may be possibly be asked to give a reference soon for me, I hope this isn’t a problem. It’s just I never know when they’re going to actually write for one, so keep one ready! I’ve just started looking for work actually, there’s quite a bit down here. I’ve actually been offered to return to the school I was in last year, but as a teacher. But I’m not sure if that’s where I want to go. I’ll see.
Oh also, I went out and bought the Bill Bryson book you recommended, Mother Tongue. It’s quite a good book isn’t it? Very funny!
Thanks
Charlotte C