Getting ready to go teach abroad is a huge step! Besides your passport photos and making sure you’ve had all your vaccinations, there seems an endless list of things to do to prepare. But then you also think about the cultural aspects and begin to worry. What are the things you really should know about before going to teach abroad?
Understand Local Expectations
Depending on the program, and the local area, it’s important to realize the cultural aspect of being a teacher will vary considerably. In some areas, being a teacher is revered, and in other parts of the world, a teacher is seen as a servant, only. In some programs, you will have the chance to have an established system and be a co-teacher. In others, you will be left on your own to establish your own curriculum. This can sound daunting, but can offer great flexibility, so it’s really what your experience level and preference are.
Prepare to Adjust to the Culture
Culture shock is a real issue! Don’t expect for it to be “normal” for you to act like you do in the United States. Especially if you are in a Middle Eastern country, expect that it is important to know how interactions (and clothing arrangements) are to be between different genders. In some countries, varied sexualities are taboo, to the extent of being illegal, so it’s important to be aware of this as well. Make sure you study up on day-to-day customs which can help you acclimate.
Decide What You Want to Teach
When choosing to teach ESL, you need to decide what form you’ll like to specialize in. Some enjoy teaching children primarily, and there is a good market for teaching children to speak English as a second language. However, there is likewise an excellent market for learning to teach adults who might not have had the opportunity as children to learn English as well. You might prefer the vibrance of a young classroom of elementary kids, with puppets and object lessons. Or, you might like older students and the various ways to teach them.
Create a Safe Learning Environment
You need to have a safe environment for yourself and your students. This will vary widely in many areas globally, of course. You need a classroom which is protected from both natural elements and problematic ones in the community. You also need a clutter-free environment for learning. You can eliminate harm with backpack hooks so there’s no tripping in the classroom. Little things matter! You should also have access to safe water, food, and toilet facilities. Following the rules your employers give you will help both you and your students stay within cultural and legal bounds for your class. This includes not speaking of religious views in many areas. And make sure they’re Covid safe to travel!
NO Imposter Syndrome
It’s complicated and you’re probably nervous before doing this, but remember, many people have gone overseas to do exactly this. Qualifications are, of course, different from those which can be enforced in the US. This means that just about anyone can go to teach ESL overseas, with or without formal qualifications. However, that doesn’t mean you’re not going to work very hard and learn to do this job the best ways possible, both for your students, and your future career.
But You Do Need TEFL Accreditation
Getting a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification says that you’ve got both a native-English language speaking capability, and that you’ve qualified to teach ESL overseas. Courses for TEFL vary widely, however, so you need to check and see what is preferred by your program, or your employer. It’s ok to not have experience yet, but as you continue to teach, you can continue to get accreditation if desired. Check the curriculums and testing of several different programs before you settle upon one, and ask friends who have done the work you specifically want what they preferred.
Know Where It’s Most Expensive To Teach
Regardless of the amount of money you are offered, varying countries have varying prices, of course. If you are planning on teaching in South America, for example, the pay might be enough for your housing and food, but for few amenities. This means you are there for the cultural experience, but not perhaps for bulking up your savings. Some areas, like the Middle East pay more extensive wages, but might be more strenuous, both to your teaching capacity, and to the cultural expectations required of you.
Expect Adventure and Don’t Limit Yourself
You might have an idea of where you want to go but limiting yourself to just one space of the globe might not only make it harder to find a job, but will stop your adventures! Allow yourself to choose work which is well paid, safe, and which is in an area that is a new experience to you. This doesn’t necessarily mean eating crepes in Paris, or guaranteeing an anime convention in Japan. However, if you allow yourself to explore the world, you don’t limit your adventures to only the things you have already studied or feel secure in doing. Instead, you can have an astounding new adventure.
Teaching ESL can be a wonderful career, and has long foundational traditions in the world. Be aware before you go that it can be a portion of neocolonialism, so being respectful of cultural aspects is important. It’s critical to see your offering as a service to the community, to help give opportunities, not to replace their own language and cultures. This is why making sure you study well before you go, and continue to offer your own willingness to humbly learn is important. After all, being able to witness another culture, and to be taught by the students within it, is part of the experience you crave. This gives you a chance to offer yourself as not only a teacher, but as a world student, and the world (and you) will be better for it!
Read this next: How to Get Ready for Your Next Big Vacation
