TEFL teaching abroad can be the start of an amazing adventure, and a life changing one at that, there are many things you'll need to take into consideration
.
None of this is written in order to put anyone off, TEFL teaching abroad is one
of the best opportunities you’ll have to embark on an incredible voyage of travel
and friendship, but by being fully aware of all the possible dangers and
difficulties you are left with the best possible chance of succeeding!
In the classroom
You may well have a great deal of experience teaching or observing teachers,
but that doesn’t make you an expert on the ways and expectations of teachers
in other countries and cultures. Despite this fact, many schools will not give
you a cultural induction, some may not even make you aware of their
rules and regulations, so it’s fully up to you to get accustomed in your new
role, understanding what is expected of you as a teacher and how to
communicate with your class and students.
- Behaviour and etiquette. One of the first things you’ll want to know is
local etiquette (what is considered rude or deemed impolite). While some
countries allow students to address their teachers by their first name, in
others this is considered highly inappropriate. Find out how you are
expected to communicate with your students, and how students should
interact with each other. For example, in Africa prolonged eye-contact
is seen as being very rude, while in parts of Asia it is impolite to strongly
argue your point of view to someone who has the opposite opinion.
- Dress code. Dress codes can vary between very relaxed to extremely
formal. In some Western countries it is acceptable for teachers to wear
jeans or even shorts, while in parts of Asia nothing less than a shirt and
tie combo or formal dress is deemed acceptable, and in some countries
even certain colours are seen as inappropriate. If you are in any doubt
always dress formally and in dark, neutral colours.
- Avoiding taboos. It’s very important to understand local customs
in terms of what topics of conversation are deemed unacceptable.
Some countries actively encourage political and religious debate in the
classroom, while in others parts of the world this can be offensive, or
even illegal! If in any doubt always make sure to avoid topics such as
politics, religion, royalty, and people’s personal lives.
Way of life
In the classroom you’ll find yourself needing to adjust and adapt to new
rules and teaching methods, while outside the classroom you are likely to
face more challenges trying to adjust to a new culture. Though every
country will bring with it a totally unique new set of cultural obstacles
and challenges, there are still many universal issues you’ll want to take
into consideration before you start your new adventure.
- Visa requirements. Every country comes with its own set of
immigration laws and visa requirements which foreigners will need to
meet in order to live and work legally. These laws can vary further
depending on your nationality and the country of your passport. Make
sure you’ve got all the info and documentation you need before entering
a new country.
-Wages and living costs. Be fully very aware of the realistic salary for
TEFL teachers in your destination country, and then compare this to
realistic living cost you’ll encounter, and see what you are left with.
While in some Middle Eastern states teachers are paid handsomely and
given free accommodation and every chance to save money, in other
parts of the world teachers are expected to survive on a low wage, which
would be unrealistic for anyone without savings to their name. Also take
into account any potential start up costs and the need for insurance.
- Qualifications. Different countries require their TEFL teachers to have
different levels of qualification. In some places a native English speaker
may be able to secure a teaching job with literally no previous training
or experience, while in others teachers may require a degree and 3+ years
of teaching experience in order to get a working visa. In general a
120-hour TEFL certificate is the minimum requirement to look for TEFL
jobs..
- Medical advice. It would be foolish to not consult your doctor and get
all the required jabs before travelling abroad, making sure you do this
months in advance as some vaccination need to be taken over a period
of weeks. It’s also advised to have full medical cover before setting off
on your journey. Even if you have a job waiting for you which offers
full medical cover, make sure you are covered during you travel before
and after your contract time.
of the best opportunities you’ll have to embark on an incredible voyage of travel
and friendship, but by being fully aware of all the possible dangers and
difficulties you are left with the best possible chance of succeeding!
You may well have a great deal of experience teaching or observing teachers,
but that doesn’t make you an expert on the ways and expectations of teachers
in other countries and cultures. Despite this fact, many schools will not give
you a cultural induction, some may not even make you aware of their
rules and regulations, so it’s fully up to you to get accustomed in your new
role, understanding what is expected of you as a teacher and how to
communicate with your class and students.
- Behaviour and etiquette. One of the first things you’ll want to know is
local etiquette (what is considered rude or deemed impolite). While some
countries allow students to address their teachers by their first name, in
others this is considered highly inappropriate. Find out how you are
expected to communicate with your students, and how students should
interact with each other. For example, in Africa prolonged eye-contact
is seen as being very rude, while in parts of Asia it is impolite to strongly
argue your point of view to someone who has the opposite opinion.
- Dress code. Dress codes can vary between very relaxed to extremely
formal. In some Western countries it is acceptable for teachers to wear
jeans or even shorts, while in parts of Asia nothing less than a shirt and
tie combo or formal dress is deemed acceptable, and in some countries
even certain colours are seen as inappropriate. If you are in any doubt
always dress formally and in dark, neutral colours.
- Avoiding taboos. It’s very important to understand local customs
in terms of what topics of conversation are deemed unacceptable.
Some countries actively encourage political and religious debate in the
classroom, while in others parts of the world this can be offensive, or
even illegal! If in any doubt always make sure to avoid topics such as
politics, religion, royalty, and people’s personal lives.
In the classroom you’ll find yourself needing to adjust and adapt to new
rules and teaching methods, while outside the classroom you are likely to
face more challenges trying to adjust to a new culture. Though every
country will bring with it a totally unique new set of cultural obstacles
and challenges, there are still many universal issues you’ll want to take
into consideration before you start your new adventure.
- Visa requirements. Every country comes with its own set of
immigration laws and visa requirements which foreigners will need to
meet in order to live and work legally. These laws can vary further
depending on your nationality and the country of your passport. Make
sure you’ve got all the info and documentation you need before entering
a new country.
-Wages and living costs. Be fully very aware of the realistic salary for
TEFL teachers in your destination country, and then compare this to
realistic living cost you’ll encounter, and see what you are left with.
While in some Middle Eastern states teachers are paid handsomely and
given free accommodation and every chance to save money, in other
parts of the world teachers are expected to survive on a low wage, which
would be unrealistic for anyone without savings to their name. Also take
into account any potential start up costs and the need for insurance.
- Qualifications. Different countries require their TEFL teachers to have
different levels of qualification. In some places a native English speaker
may be able to secure a teaching job with literally no previous training
or experience, while in others teachers may require a degree and 3+ years
of teaching experience in order to get a working visa. In general a
120-hour TEFL certificate is the minimum requirement to look for TEFL
jobs..
- Medical advice. It would be foolish to not consult your doctor and get
all the required jabs before travelling abroad, making sure you do this
months in advance as some vaccination need to be taken over a period
of weeks. It’s also advised to have full medical cover before setting off
on your journey. Even if you have a job waiting for you which offers
full medical cover, make sure you are covered during you travel before
and after your contract time.
Its really great and interesting blog you have shared. All the points are knowledgeable.
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