- guardian.co.uk, Monday September 27 2004 15.43 BST
The staff at the online Tefl admissions service CactusTefl report that the single biggest reason for applications being rejected is not to do with proving academic prowess, but the lack of clear presentation, grammar and accuracy. Too many mistakes on the application form could mean cruel rejection for all the wrong reasons. Here are 13 unlucky errors to avoid:
1) to recieve
2) sentance
3) correspondance
4) practice/ to practise (incorrect usage)
5) definately
6) independant
7) Febuary
8) advice/to advise (incorrect usage)
9) could of, should of etc
10) it's / its
11) their / there / they're
12) alot of...
13) patients - i.e. "Thank you for your patients"
If any of these cause you concern, have a look at Paul Brian's website Common Errors in English
Dyslexia
By the way, if you are dyslexic, you're not necessarily excluded from a Tefl course. It's important to mention it when you apply. At interview you will then probably be required to prove you have suitable learning strategies in place to cope with your dyslexia, probably backed up with a report from an educational psychologist or doctor.
