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Why Complete a TEFL CourseCompleting a TEFL course provides individuals with numerous advantages, two of which will be examined. A TEFL course explores common perceptions about language and the context within which it is used. Since culture and language are closely related, as described by Bahumaid (2008, p. 47), this knowledge can often prove to be invaluable. As with any form of teaching, there are hurdles, which are often enhanced for the EFL teacher, being in a different culture and very often being inexperienced or new teachers. Completing a TEFL course helps combat these hurdles, providing EFL teachers with increased skills and knowledge of how to live and work in a foreign country, as well as encouraging personal and professional development through shared resources. Since an EFL teacher is commonly teaching within a foreign country, it is important to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive while living and working within another culture. Completing a TEFL course greatly enhances these skills. By providing EFL teachers with the material to be successful within the workplace, to increase their own understanding of the english language, as well as giving feedback throughout the completion of the course, completing a TEFL course increases ones own confidence in their skills and knowledge. Ultimately, this increased confidence will aid in one?s overall success while living and working abroad. Completing a TEFL course helps to enable one ?to move beyond the narrow perspective of viewing language solely as an abstract system to the wider socio-cultural context that reflects its use in the real world.? (Bahumaid, 2010, p. 48). Essentially, Bahumaid (2010, p. 48) explains, that by completing a TEFL course, one increases their understanding, not only of the english language, but also of the interactions between different speech communities and cultures. This understanding, then, develops and enhances the ability to live and work in a foreign country. Completing a TEFL course also provides an individual with the resources necessary to encourage both personal and professional development. By sharing with EFL teachers the repertoire and resources used to build upon existing knowledge, a TEFL course allows one to reframe their ideas and experiences to generate new understanding, as explained by Dowling (n.d., p. 2). It enhances personal development by increasing one?s positive attitudes towards different cultures through the teaching of various perspectives and approaches to teaching in a foreign country. These comparisons and contrasts ultimately aid in increasing ones personal awareness and understanding. Professional development occurs as well, as individuals are given a wide range of teaching tools and ideas to draw from that aid in one?s professional development, teaching expertise and ?emphasize the importance of both received and experiential knowledge.? (Dowling, n.d., p. 4). By completing a TEFL course, teachers have much more resources and material to draw from, both personally and professionally, than that of the teacher who does not complete the course. Overall, completing a TEFL course increase one?s knowledge, not only of basic teaching techniques, but also of what to expect when teaching abroad. This is essential knowledge that will ultimately create a more positive teaching experience. By completing a TEFL course, one increases their chances to have a pleasurable experience working and living in a foreign country. Taking a TEFL course also provides one with increased skills necessary to encourage personal and professional development needed to have a successful teaching experience and career. It increases the opportunity for one to enjoy the challenge of being an EFL teacher, as opposed to just finding the experience challenging. Essentially, completing a TEFL course opens many doors, personally and professionally, but it also provides an individual with a stepping-stone, which allows the overall experience of being an EFL teacher, much more enjoyable. References Bahumaid, S. (2010). The use of translation tasks for integrating intercultural content in TEFL course books: A case study. University of Sharjah Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 7, 1, pp. 47 - 71. Retrieved from https:// www. sharjah .ac.ae/Arabic/About_UOS/UOSPublications/Sciences Humanities/Issues/ Documents/??????%20??????%20?????%20?????/ No.%2012%20English%20For%20Vol.7-1%20 No.%200301173.pdf Dowling, S. (n.d.). Using online communities of practice for EFL teacher development. Pp. 1 - 14. Retrieved from http://shcstaffweb .hct.ac.ae/ sdowling/my_publications/OCoP_essay_before_pub.pdf
