Insights on the Diaries of Novice Efl Teachers: Challenges for Tesol

Insights on the Diaries of Novice Efl Teachers: Challenges for Tesol

TAYLOR, Laura

Key words: NESTs, teacher development, culture shock, teacher stress ABSTRACT When offered the opportunity to travel to another part of the world on a free airline ticket, and then once there be given a free house, food, medical insurance and a pension, many Native English Speakers (NESs) with no actual teaching experience embark on new career paths as English teachers in foreign countries. In certain cases, the catchphrase, ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ becomes applicable to this group of individuals. NESs may experience differences in culture and challenges in the workplace which are difficult to overcome. This may lead to increases in teacher stress and a lack of motivation. By examining the detailed diary entries of four novice Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) at a South Korean private preschool, the challenges they faced are soon evident. Each teacher is able to discuss in detail how they went from being ‘ambitious newbies’ in the field of TESOL, to frustrated individuals ‘going through the motions’ while waiting for their contracts to finish. This presentation discusses some of the thoughts that novice NESTs experience while teaching English for the first-time. It then goes on to offer suggestions on what these challenges mean for the TESOL industry and possible ways that these challenges can be overcome.

Article
PeerReviewed

IBU Publishing

2013-05-03

1819