Teaching English Abroad
Even in places like China, Vietnam, and Thailand, foreigners converse and expect to be understood in English. Hence, many language schools have sprung up that allow one to learn it either as a second language or as a foreign language.
What Is the Difference Between EFL and ESL Classrooms?
English has many variants. People living in Britain, America, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are considered to speak native English, while the rest speak it either as a foreign language or as a second language.Teaching English abroad can be quite different depending on whether you teach English as a foreign language or as a second language. When teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), as a teacher, you will be in a classroom where English will neither be the native language of the students nor will the country be native-speaking. This is common in Europe, where a student learns multiple foreign languages. On the contrary, teaching English as a second language (TESL) mostly refers to teaching non-native speakers who reside in native-speaking countries, e.g. teaching English to foreigners moved to the US.
Why Teach English?
Teaching English as a foreign language or as a second language is an excellent career option. Here are a few perks you can expect if you acquire the required certification to teach the course.You Can Travel Around the World
English is a global language and learned by students around the world. As a teacher of EFL, you could get to travel the world. Regardless of where you go, there is always an opportunity to teach the language. This means you won’t be constrained by your job and can travel and work at the same time. The best part is that you don’t need to worry about the expenses as well.It Is Rewarding
Teaching a foreign language from scratch can be challenging. However, the progress you witness in your students, when they go from barely understanding the language to mastering it to some degree, is rewarding enough to keep you going.Moreover, when your students become proficient enough in the language to pass the required exams, you are bound to feel like a proud parent.
You Get to Learn Too
One of the perks of living in a foreign country for the job is that you get to be the student too. You are given the opportunity to learn the local dialect and language as well as learn about the culture and history of the place you live in.Why Get the TEFL Certification?
Teaching English abroad may require you to get a certification. You may want to acquire renowned certificates like CELTA or TESOL, but there are lots of institutes all around the world offering decent TEFL courses which result in certification. Just make sure you take a 120-hour TEFL course at least. Here is why investing in TEFL is a good idea:- The training merely lasts for four weeks. From the moment you decide to teach English abroad, you won’t have to spend a lot of time preparing for it.
- Since EFL and ESL teachers are in demand, you will have a job opportunity from the start.
- Since you get to travel the world, you can visit and sightsee various places.
- The courses allow you to learn which strategies are optimum for helping students learn the language.
- It is a reputable certification that will get you respect regardless of where you go.
- You will get paid regularly while traveling the world.
Conclusion
All in all, teaching English abroad has various benefits. Even though some might think it is an unconventional job, one thing you can expect from it is inner satisfaction. Just like teaching another subject, teaching a language is a way of imparting your knowledge to others and making a difference. The fact that your hard work benefits the generations to come is as an excellent reason to step into the field.It doesn’t matter why you decide to get a TEFL certification. Rest assured that you are in for a challenging yet fun ride.