In order to earn a TEFL certificate with ITA, you must complete 20 hours of TEFL practicum. It was one of the things I was excited about, but it also added a little stress. Where should I teach? Will I be any good at it? What if I don’t like it? What if I take this course and I’m actually terrible at teaching English?!?
Earning TEFL Practicum Hours With Paper Airplanes
I don’t actually remember the first time I heard about Paper Airplanes. I think I may have seen it on a list from ITA. It sounded interesting and I kept it in the back of my mind. Then I sat through an ITA webinar on completing your TEFL practicum and all I can say is I just knew. That’s when I got a gut feeling and went with it.
“Paper Airplanes is a nonprofit organization registered in the USA that matches conflict-affected individuals with personal tutors for 12-16 week sessions conducted via Skype and other video conferencing platforms.” They offer several programs, all formed in response to student demand.
Application and Training
I applied to volunteer as an English tutor, was accepted, completed training (which was incredibly educational by the way!), and began tutoring for the summer semester in June. The great thing about PA – as the cool kids call it- is that they’ve already created the lesson plans for each student level. It’s a really great way to get experience teaching without starting from scratch. In fact, you don’t have to have any kind of certificate or actual experience teaching English. It’s helpful, but not necessary.
Fast Friends
PA partners you with a student based on information provided in your and their application. I was so excited to find out who my partner was! I had no idea what to expect, but we have become so much more than student and tutor. We are friends – and if we lived in the same place – I can guarantee we’d be going to get pizza and watching movies together.
Together, we decided Saturday mornings at my time in the U.S. was the best time for both of us. I didn’t know how I would feel about waking up with a set appointment to tutor every Saturday morning, but it is always one of the highlights of my week.
I usually have a short look over the materials provided by PA on Friday night so I have a better idea of what to take into consideration. We have a 1.5-hour Skype call to complete our lesson. We’ve become so efficient that we usually have plenty of time left over to catch up and talk about our weeks, podcasts, TED talks, food, culture, traditions, and more. It’s great speaking practice for my student. I LOVE our sessions and I have a smile plastered on my face for a few hours following each one!
Inspiration and a Change of Plans
When I started working towards my TEFL certification, I wanted to teach abroad. My experience with Paper Airplanes has been so rewarding that it kind of opened my eyes to other ways to use my experience. Having extra time to sit around and ponder the options during a pandemic has actually been beneficial. I don’t know exactly what’s next at this point, but I know I’m happy with everything being a PA tutor has brought me – so happy in fact that my partner and I even met through the break and are starting the fall semester together again this month!
Interested in Volunteering to Complete Your TEFL Practicum?
You can check out the different programs, dates, deadlines, and requirements here. I can’t recommend it enough!
January 2021 Update: I’m still volunteering and have taken on an additional volunteer role because I just can’t get enough!
