When searching for an overseas teaching job, English teachers have many things to prepare and think about beforehand. Two important things to consider are the country and city the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher wishes to work in, and the age and level of the English students. Once these four things have been considered, a teacher can begin searching for a school right for him or her.
City and Country of the International school
Choosing a country and city to spend the next 6 to 12 months of their life in should not be taken lightly by future foreign language teachers. Before contacting any school, the teacher should consider what he would like to do in his free time. Does he want to learn about history and culture, learn a new language, see the nightlife or travel between classes?
Without having a firm idea of what he wants to do, a TEFL teacher who likes a party may end up teaching at an English school in a small towns. A teacher wishing to learn about history could be stuck in a factory city teaching at an ESL school for migrant workers. Or the teacher may become discouraged because of the vastly different cultural norms that he was not expecting.
Where to Get a Teaching English Job
For a teacher who wishes to stay in a culture that is at least similar to his own, teaching in Europe or Latin America is likely the best option. They're exotic enough to be exciting, but not strange enough to cause homesickness quickly. To learn about history or very exotic cultures, teaching English as a foreign language in Asia or the Middle East will truly broaden a teacher's horizon. Teachers wishing to help poor people would be smart to look at teaching in a developing country.
If the teacher wishes to travel frequently, teaching at a major city will provide easy access to airports, train stations and buses, allowing quick weekend getaways. For teachers wishing to get away from it all or help poor English students, getting a teaching job in a village while hard, can be a heartwarming experience and a chance to get away from noisy cities. A large international city is best for teachers searching for a fast paced culture with a Western approach to life.
English Level of Foreign Language Students
After choosing a country and possibly a city or at least type of city, the next important question is the English level and age of the TEFL students. Many teachers, especially at the beginning say they are ready and willing to teach English to anyone. This is true for some teachers, but new teachers should be more cautious.
Teaching English to basic level students is very different from teaching advanced English. For teachers who like to have conversations with their students and have more flexible classes, upper intermediate and advanced English classes should be chosen. These students are able to interact more freely with the teacher and say what they think.
Basic level and lower intermediate English students are better suited for teachers who prefer a more structured class and enjoy playing English games. Due to the low level of English amongst these students, having more free style of teaching can work but requires a lot of skill from the teacher. So a more rigid teaching plan is better for this level, as beginning students often prefer having everything organized for ease of learning.
Age Affects how TEFL Teachers Teach at English Schools
The age of the students at the school is also of great importance. Teaching young children requires patience, a fun attitude and an ability to create short, fun, energy filled English activities. Older students require TEFL classes that focus on specific topics, words and grammar. If the teacher tries to play too many games or quickly jumps from one activity to another, it will make the students lose interest and not take the class seriously. Adult students require more reality based skills and knowledge. Using English games when teaching adults will often be seen as demeaning.
Teaching English will take a teacher all over the world and put him in many different situations. If the teacher chooses the wrong country or the wrong international school, his teaching job will be filled with frustration. By carefully considering where to teach English and what type of students to teach, teachers will have a much better time at their school. When applying for a job overseas a teacher shouldn't just pick any school, he should pick the school that best fits his needs.
When looking at an International School, a TEFL teacher should ask questions, be cautious, and guard his work visa.
After getting a teaching job there are video, and first day activities to consider, and IELTS may be important.
Daniel Clarke - Dan Clarke is a freelance writer and English teacher living happily with his wife and daughter in Nanjing, China. He moved to China 4 ...
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