7 Tips to Own that TEFL Cover Lesson
In an ideal world there would be no such thing as the TEFL cover lesson. Not many teachers enjoy being thrown head first (figuratively, of course) into a class with a bunch of students they don’t know mid-term. It’s bad enough getting to grips with your own students at the start of the year, only to have to break the ice all over again to cover a measly 50 minutes or single two-hour lesson. Still, it’s got to be done – so why not own it?
Start by checking homework
Get ready for every trick in the book when it comes to homework checking in that TEFL cover lesson. Students will tell you that certain pieces weren’t due until the following week, or that their usual teacher never even set those tasks in the first place. They will say that the homework was done as a group activity and doesn’t need to be marked; that their pens all simultaneously broke, and that their textbooks are missing – even if you can see some surreptitiously poking out from backpacks and drawers. Don’t fall for it. If your colleague has noted that homework is due, the likelihood is that homework is due. And if it’s not done, be prepared to dish out punishments in the form of increased workload for the next week – that’ll prove you mean business!
Spend some time getting to know the students
Every first-time EFL teacher knows just how important it is to spend time getting to know your students in the initial sessions of the year. That can mean breaking the ice with name games, stories, fun activities, team-building exercises and more. It can mean backtracking and going over old material to get a better grasp of the English level of each pupil, or simply cranking up the Student Talk Time (STT) and forgetting the curriculum for a bit. Remember that a TEFL cover lesson is hardly any different than starting with a new class. There will be fresh faces and new learners to get to know, so be sure to set some time aside for introductions and preamble.
Games, games and more games
So you’ve pulled the short straw and have that dreaded first TEFL cover lesson. To make matters worse your colleague has left no guidance for the class, and you really have no clue about where they are in the plan of study, have no textbook to look to, and feel as lost as an A1 learner in an English country cricket ground. Never fear! Games are your friend. Be sure to always have a backup of fun and engaging EFL activities and you’ll find those TEFL cover lessons simply breeze by. Yep, it may irritate the other teacher, but hey, the students love you!
Don’t be the strict supply – be the cool one
No one likes a strict supply teacher. In fact, I’m pretty sure even strict supply teachers must vacate the classroom thinking “why’d you have to go so hard?”. The fact of the matter is that classes will see a different teacher as an indication that the lesson is going to be a little easier than most. They’ll be gearing up for someone who’s not prepared for their style of learning, not in tune with their curriculum, and not sure about what the target language is. Even if that’s not the case and you’ve really done your homework on the students you’ll be taking, it pays to approach the class with a laid-back attitude and a simple acceptance that you might not quite get everything you were planning nailed within the session!
Try not to repeat target language
While every EFL teacher knows the importance of repetition of target language throughout the year to reinforce learning, a TEFL cover lesson is perhaps not the best time to start regurgitating past lesson topics. What’s the saying? You can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Well, flip that, because in EFL it’s pretty hard to teach new dogs old tricks, at least if you don’t want to risk losing their attention – attention which seems to get distracted much speedier with a cover teacher mind you!
If in doubt, rely on STT
Ah, the elusive and apotheosized STT: the holy grail of TEFL teachers in schools right over the globe. Student Talk Time refers to any moments when your learners are speaking English instead of you, the teacher. It’s considered one of the most powerful ways to elicit vocab and grammar skills, and it encourages pupils to spur each other on during lessons. Believe it or not, a TEFL cover lesson is arguably one of the best times to stretch those STT muscles. As a teacher unknown to the pupils, you’ll be uniquely placed to defer the talking to them, even if that means letting chatter go on behind your back and in-between the planned activities – so long as it’s all in English, of course!
Be sure to leave notes for the usual teacher
No matter if it’s just a one-off TEFL cover lesson or a period of a few weeks during the middle of term that you’re filling in for, leaving notes for the usual teacher of the class is really important. Why? Well, at some point you’re going to have to hand over the class again, and when you do it’s best to have all your progress in writing. That could mean updating your colleague on how far you’ve come in the textbook, notes on behaviour, on test scores and the like – all of which is crucial info for passing the baton back, especially if end-of-term report writing is rearing its ugly head!
Have you got any more tips on how to own that TEFL cover lesson? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments. Or, if you’re ready to get qualified as an EFL teacher, head over to our courses page for more info…