- Can I do this? I’m not a “teacher.”
You mean you don’t have a Bachelor of Education degree. How do you know you’re not a teacher? Have you ever tried? And have you ever tried this? Teaching English abroad is like nothing you have experienced or attempted before. Wanting to do it is the most important factor in being able to do it. Think about it. You speak English fluently. Without knowing it, you’ve amassed a vocabulary of tens of thousands English words. Your knowledge of and ability in English likely exceeds your expertise in any other subject area but you take it for granted. Your students overseas won’t.
A Bachelor of Education program is not five years of study in philosophies and methodologies of teaching, child psychology and classroom management. Much of that time is spent learning the content to be taught; geography, chemistry and so on.
When it comes to teaching English as a foreign language, you already know the content! Your understanding of it may need some tweaking, but you don’t need a B.Ed for that. In fact, there is training available that is specific to teaching English as a foreign language and in most cases it doesn’t take more than a month to complete.
- I am a retired public school teacher, so I know I can teach. Do I need additional training?
That is largely up to you. It depends where you want to go, what you want to do and how well-prepared you want to be when you arrive. Your education, skills and experience are all applicable and will be appreciated but even experienced teachers benefit from training in the specifics of TEFL philosophies and methodologies as well as inter-cultural training in classroom management and enhanced language awareness.
- Speaking of language awareness, my grammar isn’t very good. How can I teach English?
How do you speak it? You can’t remember a thing your grade school English teachers taught you about verb tenses or other parts of speech but you use them every day. You actually know your grammar very well, you just don’t know how to label it. A good teacher training program will reintroduce you to English grammar in an EFL context and help you discover a hidden talent you never knew you had -- the ability to teach it!
- I’ve never been outside of Canada and I’m a little bit scared. Is that normal?
Yes, and very healthy. Going abroad to teach English is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Culture shock and homesickness are realities that most teachers have to face. Teaching English isn’t a vacation but I mean that in the best possible way. EFL teachers get paid to live in countries most people pay to visit, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. There is a huge difference between travelling to foreign country and living in one.
It is an opportunity and a responsibility. Vacations are generally about what you can take from a very superficial experience in a short amount of time: pictures, souvenirs, often a sunburn. Living abroad is much more of a two-way exchange. It is immersive, longer-term and very personal. You will make friends and change lives. In Canada English is a given. Overseas it is a gift.
You give them English and they’ll give you a new community, a new culture, a new language and a new life.
- But is it safe?
A good question. Generally speaking, yes, and much more so than most people would think. Most Canadians see other countries at their worst, when disaster strikes or violence erupts. That's when they make the news. Of course, that’s generally when and why the rest of the world gets to see Canada as well, but we don’t realize that.
There will always be certain places at certain times that should be avoided. If recent events have shown us anything, however, it is that the world’s problems are no longer limited to beyond our borders. Teaching English and travelling the world helps to break down barriers and build bonds. Go Teach believes strongly in the opportunities afforded by teaching EFL and the inter-cultural exchange it enables.
Research and preparation can make all the difference to your EFL experience. That's why Go Teach exists as a website and that's why we're pleased to recommend courses and resources designed to set you up for success.
- What about visas? Do I need a degree to get a legal job teaching English overseas?
It depends. Market conditions and immigration requirements vary from country to country. Having a degree always helps, but not having one doesn’t necessarily have to hurt. Let’s face it, a university degree doesn’t make you a teacher. That’s why there are teacher training programs devoted exclusively to preparing and producing Teachers of English as a Foreign Language.
- Are you talking about TESOL certificates?
Yes, and other TESL/TEFL certificates, the Cambridge CELTA and more. There are literally hundreds of teacher training programs available worldwide. Some are university programs while other are affiliated with universities or colleges. There are also many offered by private training companies.
For more information on the many acronyms associated with teaching English abroad, click here.
For more information on the various training opportunities available to you, click here. Teacher training is a pivotal decision for aspiring EFL instructors and, at a time when the number of courses continues to grow, comparing and considering the various certificates can be difficult to do.
Go Teach can help help you with that process but ultimately you need to make your own decision based on everything about you that is unique: where you want to go, how long you want to teach, your existing education and experience and so on. There is not one "best" option for everyone. That said, Go Teach is pleased to recommend certain courses and resources as meeting an overall standard of and commitment to quality and support.
- Do I have to take a course?
Of course not. You don’t have to do anything. The heyday of the backpacker teacher may have come, but in many parts of the world it hasn’t yet gone. There are still jobs out there for untrained travellers to teach conversation lessons from country to country but it is a waning opportunity. With the EFL industry professionalizing, immigration restrictions increasing and student expectations growing many backpacking travellers are opting for training to ensure their employability.
Canadians with university educations usually have no problem finding work in many countries in Asia and Latin America where a bachelor's degree can be required while an EFL teaching credential is often only preferred. Larger schools in those countries often have in-house training programs and ongoing professional development, allowing new teachers to train and learn on the job.
Everyone is unique. After learning more about the world of teaching and travelling, many people decide in favour of a certificate program regardless of their education and related experience. Training opens doors and prepares teachers. It is a professional and productive choice that builds confidence and unlocks potential.
Bottom line? You are in the midst of taking an all-important first step; informing yourself. The more you know about the ESL industry, the communicative classroom and the amazing opportunity that is teaching and travelling, the more you likely you are to seize and make the most of it.
You speak it. Go Teach it!
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