Imagine all the places you could go…
Most people dream of packing up their lives and moving to an exotic place to live overseas and begin a journey of change, excitement and fulfilment. I mean, if this wasn’t the case, novels and movies such as Eat, Pray, Love; The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; or, my favourite, Under the Tuscan Sun, would not have been such big hits. With that being said, it’s not the “Why” that stops many of us, but the “HOW”? Teaching English is one of the best ways to do it.
We are so lucky…
My Spanish friend once said to me, “You don’t know how lucky you are to be born in an English-speaking country”. And it’s true; we really are quite lucky to have learnt the ‘common tongue’ from birth, especially when English seems to be quite difficult to speakers from non-English backgrounds. I mean, what is up with our non-phonetic spelling? It’s easy to take this simple skill for granted.
So many countries are screaming for native English speakers to come and teach in schools, academies or even privately. Countries in Asia, South America and Europe are always searching for English teachers. It’s one of the easiest ways to get yourself overseas, with a job waiting for you. But don’t think that being a native speaker is the only qualification you need. Many jobs require a bachelors degree AND a certification in TEFL (or TESOL). What is TEFL or TESOL? TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. They basically are the same thing. Someone at head office must really love their acronyms, right?
Me teaching Spanish students about Australia
TEFL Courses
Many years ago, Guy and I did a TESOL certification. I think the buzzword has now changed to TEFL, but either way these certifications are quite helpful. Back when we did the course, online courses were really only starting up, so 50% was taught in face-to-face workshops. We learnt how to use gestures, body language, special activities and games to teach English to non-English speakers. This course certainly prepared me for my stint in Spain, where I was an English language assistant, teaching English to both adults and students. I was able to recycle and build upon the knowledge I had learnt during my course to create fun and engaging activities that got students talking and, equally important, having fun.
I also taught about my favourite subject: food!
Teaching English
No matter which course you might choose, they will all generally cover the following useful aspects of teaching English:
- A background refresher on English grammar (do you know your adverbs from your gerunds?);
- The basics of an language lesson – structure, timing, revision, warm ups, closure;
- How to incorporate activities and games into your classes to reinforce learning;
- How to use repetition and non-verbal gestures or cues to aid language learning lesson; and
- Internet and other resources for teacher support, curriculum development and professional learning.
Teaching English abroad can be a fun and rewarding experience. What does teaching English overseas entail? Well when I did it, it involved a lot of activities to help with pronunciation, vocabulary and conversation building. I played games and sung songs with infants and I lead engaging debates and discussions with adults. Looking back, I loved my experience of teaching English in Spain and would definitely do it again. Aside from living overseas, experiencing amazing culture and festivals and travelling in our spare time, we made some wonderful connections with people we never would have met otherwise.
All the lovely cards and gifts from my students when I left Spain
myTEFL
Doing a course like myTEFL is a great way to prepare yourself for an international career in English teaching. A friend once asked us about these courses, and having looked into myTEFL a bit, we were quite impressed. They offer a variety of accredited certification options, both online and face-to-face. The online option is great if you already have a variety of commitments or some other language teaching experience, as you can study whenever and wherever you like. In fact, that was the most difficult part of the previous course we did years ago, as we had to take time off work and give up some weekends to complete the face-to-face aspect in order to get certified.
There are different course options available, from the basic 40-hour course through to advanced professional 120-hour courses, catering to your different needs and ambitions. As a guide, if you are curious and maybe after just a short-term sea-change, then the basic course is sufficient. If, however, you want a full career change, then opting for one of the more intensive courses (with more course hours and skillsets) is a great option. Just be aware that many countries require a minimum of 100 hours of TEFL training to apply for a working visa. If you have a destination in mind, it’s best to research what the visa requirements are before deciding what course is best for you.
Once you’ve finished your certification, myTEFL also offer free job search assistance and job placement guarantees. Imagine yourself in living and teaching English in China, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, France, Brazil, India, Poland, Japan… the list goes on! myTEFL even offer amazing in-country internships! I’m already daydreaming about teaching English by day and learning Tango by night in Argentina…
If you are thinking of having an exotic sea-change, and want to explore beyond your backyard, check out myTEFL for courses and get inspired to find your next destination! Not only that, but as we have partnered up with myTEFL, you can get 35% off their online courses by using this unique code TLING35 at the checkout! What are you waiting for? Make your dream a reality now!
Disclosure: By using the code TLING35, you not only will receive 35% off your online course, but you will be able to help me continue to run this blog (or eat; whichever seems more important on the day!).
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I didn’t know you took a TEFL course! I wondered about doing it before I went to Spain but ended up not doing it to save money. 35% off is a great deal!
I know! We did our course close to 10 years ago now! I like that myTEFL have the internships though – that sounds fantastic! I am so tempted to do it!
Thanks for the article! I recently finished a TEFL course and now I’m deciding if I want to take the leap and move to a new country. I’ve been living away from home for three years now so moving away again is scary. But I’m really excited about all the opportunities that the TEFL course provides!
Thanks Shelby! How exciting for you! Where are you thinking of heading?
Being from England myself I’ve had that said to me quite a lot too, ‘you’re so lucky’, but my response has always been just because I speak it, doesn’t mean I can teach it. Too many people assume that they can go off and teach English around the world without putting the effort in to learn how. This sounds like a great course.
Thanks Michael! You are so right though, being able to speak it is one thing, but successfully teach English is a whole other skill! That’s why this course is so great, as it teaches you how to teach!
Teaching your native language in another country can be a great way to earn some money. Teaching English is always an option – as long as one is certified in that language – I see you are (took the important exams). Good luck with your teaching 😉
Thanks Loredana. Teaching overseas is a great way to travel and earn money, but yes, having some knowledge and certification makes the difference!
Thanks for this overview! Teaching English Abroad is something I have always thought I would love to do – really fabulous way to combine travel with some form of income, and I’m so glad you both had the opportunity to work in Spain 🙂
You’re welcome Meg! I say do it! It is a great way to travel and earn, and anyone of any age can do it! 🙂
We wanted to do this 7 years ago but decided not to because we found out we would be left with only a few days to travel in a week and that’s not how we wanted to travel. But if we want to live in a country for an extended period of time, it is a perfect way to pay for it.
Yes, teaching English abroad doesn’t always allow you to travel for long periods of time between classes, but in saying that, it gives you the opportunity to live abroad and travel on off days (which is what we did). In the 8 months we were living (and teaching) in Spain, we visited nine countries and spent plenty of weekend trips within Spain itself. It is a different experience to travelling, but still a great one as you get to know your base as a local as well 🙂
that’s great! I think, it’s the best job we can have during our trips. Of course, it can be a bit difficult at the beginning, but also funny and it’s the best way to meet many people 🙂
Yes! I also found teaching English overseas a bit challenging at first, but these courses certainly help a lot! And meeting people whilst living/travelling overseas is such a great part of the journey!
I came across TEFL before but somehow linked it to just language learning and didn’t know it actually stands for teaching English as a foreign language. Thx for clearing that up!
You are welcome Geert! I think we had a similar idea prior to actually doing the course and researching it more. It turns out that TEFL is a MASSIVE industry and great way to live overseas.
Teaching English abroad sounds like such a great opportunity, for both parties involved. I didn’t realize they were looking for teachers in France and Poland…my curiosity is piqued for sure. Nice post and very informative.
Thank you Melody! Yes, it’s surprising how many places are looking for native English teachers! Some countries are easier to get work than others (depending on visas and education backgrounds), but it is a great option for living and travelling overseas!
Sounds like lots of people decide to take the TEFL to find Intl jobs and is such a great idea
It is a great option to live and work overseas!
I am Italian but speak perfect English and have considered taking a TEFL course several times, just in case I may want to teach English as I travel one day… You never know!
So true Claudia! I think it’s always a great thing to have up your sleeve! I wish I could speak Italian; it’s such a wonderful language!
Thank you for sharing your experience with us 🙂 Have you ever met a non-native English speaker teaching English abroad by any chance?
Thank you 🙂
Hi there! I worked in schools where English was taught by Spanish teachers, although I personally haven’t met a non-native English speaker teaching private English lessons abroad, however I know that there are some out there. I think if the English is at the required standard, it shouldn’t matter too much, however many idioms and cultural elements aren’t always transferred as comprehensively in comparison to a native speaker.