If you are reading this, chances are you are already a language teacher and at some point in time you have thought about giving your students more than you already are. You might have thought about doing the TESOL certificate or Trinity CELTA. The money they are asking for, however, could be daunting for some beginning teachers – 30,000HKD. Some teachers working tight schedules simply do not have the time to complete the 125-hour-long course. Some other teachers desire more individualised tutoring than TESOL classes could offer them. For them, the certificate itself might not be as important as the learning experience itself.
If this sounds familiar, or is exactly your story, then here lies maybe just what is for you.
As an English teacher and TESOL tutor, I find the classroom experience teaching student teachers less than satisfying for them, as there is too much for them to master in so short a period of time. For administration reasons, coursework itself very often lasts for more than seven hours a day in most training schools. It is simply impractical to expect working teachers to give up that much of their time (everyday!) given the already suffocating schedule most teachers work under.
An easier way out for teachers looking for new perspectives is to have one-to-one non-threatening consultation sessions. There are ten topics, encompassing different aspects of language teaching (teaching grammar, lesson planning, approaches to language teaching, etc.). As teachers we should have a certain degree of understanding about our own learning style. It is therefore perfectly up to you how you want the lessons to be conducted. I have had students with whom I was most of the time playing the devil's advocate. On the other hand, I have had some others who need more help and guidance before they feel ready to share their thoughts.
Whichever kind of learner / teacher you are, teaching is not a one-way act. It is my hope that you look at it more as experience sharing. My perspective may not be the 'right' one. You will very often see multiple approaches to the same issue. Teaching is about making the balance right and I am only there to help you strike the balance.
What can I offer?
Unlike most teachers working in Hong Kong, I have experience teaching English not only to Cantonese speakers, but also those of Mandarin Chinese, French, and Japanese. I have taught in grammar schools as well as language schools. I have had young learners, businesspeople, and adult learners who are old enough to be my parents. The experience with each learner group is unique. Apart from academic knowledge, student teachers under my care very often find real life experience sharing and case discussion helpful in their training.
How much is it?
The charge is 500HKD / hour. This includes the materials and usually a set of questions for you to ponder after the session. You are of course welcome to share you thoughts with me by email during the off hours.
About me:
I am an English teacher as much as I am a TESOL tutor. I teach freelance in several schools. Depending on the school, I teach English to Hong Kong teenagers and Japanese businesspeople. I also teach TESOL to English speakers. Fluent in three languages (English, Cantonese, and French) and having working knowledge of Japanese and Mandarin Chinese, I offer a unique perspective to language teaching and learning.
Venue:
If you want we can go to a studio in Tsim Sha Tsui, or to a place of your choice.
Contact:
Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a complete beginner, if you are ready to look at teaching from another perspective, feel free to contact me by email ([email protected])
