Online learning is great, you can do everything at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. But there’s just one downside: when you get stuck. It’s not like in the classroom when you can just ask your tutor. But all is not lost; there are a few steps you can take to keep you on track to gain your TEFL certificate.
1) Don’t Panic
No one expects you to be an instant TEFL expert, so don’t panic if you’re not clear on something. You also get three attempts on any checkpoint, so there’s no harm in having a go then seeing what feedback your tutor comes back with. Fewer than 1% of i-to-i tutees eventually fail their courses. if you’re willing to listen to your tutors’ feedback and improve your answers accordingly, you’ll be fine.
2) Go Backwards to Get Forwards
Each learning module is designed to contain all the information you need to complete its checkpoint. So if you’re confused, go back a couple of steps, re-read the information and it all may just become clear.
3) Have A Go
As you get three tries at every module, there’s no harm in just having a go. Your tutor will give you detailed feedback on your answers and clarify any areas where you’re not totally clear. And, you never know, you might even pass.
4) Get Some Help From the Helpdesk
If you’re still totally adrift with your course, you can get in touch with a tutor directly via the TEFL Helpdesk. Just email [email protected] and they’ll be more than happy to help. Be aware though that the Helpdesk isn’t instant, they can take up to 48 working hours to respond to queries, so you’ll need to be patient.
5) Check Chalkboard
There’s a great group on Chalkboard called ‘Help I’m Stuck on My TEFL Course!’ where people post questions about their course to be answered by other members and our in-house team.
Make sure you take a look at past questions and answers, often people get stuck on the same questions, so you should be able to find some advice which applies to you. Alternatively, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, just post a new discussion post: https://www.i-to-i.com/tefl-chalkboard/groups/19-Help-I-m-Stuck-on-my-TEFL-Course-
What do you think? What did you do if you got stuck on your TEFL course?
I’m confused as to why I failed my last attempt at checkpoint 2. Asking students to try to think of situations for the present continuous doesn’t really makes sense) was one feedback reply. Can I get some more feedback as to me this means it makes a bit of sense and I understand what I am asking! I also got the feedback (could do now which would continue for a limited period of time) that’s is what I wrote and the feedback is (could do is not the meaning of the present continuous) I am asking the students to think about a situation that they could role play in the present continuous. My example for them was eating dinner which is the present continuous. This portrays in my opinion, what I want the stun dents to do. Some help with this issues would be much appreciated. Regards Eoin Cowley
Hi Eoin – I’ve forwarded your message on to our helpdesk, and someone should be in touch with you regarding this soon. Elle
I am having trouble with question 2 on my checkpoint 2 assignment. I have attempted this twice and am now stressing a bit since I don’t really understand what is expected of me. My tutor’s feedback is as follows: After my first attempt, “Complete a lesson plan to teach the structure, and the meaning of the structure you analysed in Question 1. (Don’t teach more than one meaning of the structure). Right now you have students using multiple structures with multiple meanings. Once you have determined the structure and the meaning in the two sentences, make sure everything is focused on that”. After my second attempt: “Everything in your lesson needs to be focused on the present continuous to talk about things happening now. They should finish the lesson being able to use the “be + present participle” with a number of different verbs.” The target language was ‘trying and raining’ (present continuous) and I was using the idea of a timeline to show that the present form has the verb+ing. Could somebody please clarify this? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards Keyuran
Hi Keyuran, thanks for your message. I have passed this on to our helpdesk so someone should be in touch with you regarding this soon
Hello, I am really stuck on checkpoint 2, doing the lesson plan, is there any extra advice/help I can get? I only have 15 days left of my course and just cannot seem to get through this checkpoint? Thank you
Hi Danielle – sure; you can contact our help desk at [email protected], or call them on +353 (0)1 5269 506 and they will be happy to help!
I DONT UNDERSTAND CHECK POINT 1
Hi Awal, if you send [email protected] an email detailing what it is you’re stuck on, they’ll be able to help.