There is high demand for native English speakers to teach ESL and EFL classes in universities, language institutes, and public schools all over the world. To qualify for such jobs to teach English abroad, it is best to have a TESOL certification.
Teaching English abroad serves as a good way to enjoy new experiences when you are out of your comfort zone. At the same time, you may commit a few blunders which you could have avoided. These include the following:
Being in vacation mode
In some cases, persons teaching English abroad treat their jobs as mere paid vacations. They display a lack of respect for the host country, the students, and even their colleagues.
Overstressing on grammar
In case you are not teaching advanced classes, there is no need to put pressure on your students to learn complex details like the differences between semi-colons and commas. Students will find it boring when you map out articles and subclauses on the board. The better way to teach is by making use of visuals, stories, and games to get your students engaged.
Limiting research
Good salaries are paid by many English programs and schools, which also do not overwork teachers and help the latter navigate the challenges of living abroad.
At the same time, there are many scam institutes that make the lives of teachers miserable and may even default on paying salaries. Identifying and avoiding such scammers is possible through due diligence in doing advanced research. Avoid letting your rush to land a job abroad to impel you to sign a contract without ensuring that the school or institute is legitimate.
Over-stressing on pronunciation
It is true that to master a language, one must learn the right pronunciation. However, as long as your students know how to communicate, there is no need to worry too much about how they pronounce their words and sentences.
After all, even native speakers of English do not have a similar pronunciation of words. Compare the speech of a Britisher and an Australian, and you will get the point. The vital factor is to focus on clear communication, as you will learn through TESOL online courses.
Wearing inappropriate clothes
This is an obvious point, but what you wear to the classroom reflects on how you present yourself as well as how you respect the traditions, cultural events, and special holidays of the new country. Do not hesitate to question people about what is suitable for the venues and occasions in the country. The weather of the place is also a factor, and so are various colours, fabrics, and styles that are held in respect in the host country.
Ignoring the norms of the culture
Each culture has its own peculiar and unique norms, such as bowing to each other or shaking hands. While making eye contact is appreciated in Western culture, it may be frowned upon in other cultures. Such aspects of daily life must be learned quickly.
Such norms may seem strange and foreboding, but once you know the reasons and evolution of the same, the better you will be able to connect with both students as well as their guardians.
Ignoring history
To build trust, one must take an interest in the backgrounds of students. Additionally, you can make a genuine investment by getting to know the history of the country where you are teaching. After all, you are there both to teach and learn new things. Showing an interest in the history of the place and people works well, as most people are proud of their roots.
Being mistaken by gestures
It is considered rude and disrespectful to ask questions to teachers in certain cultures. Hence, a student who has not understood a lesson or a concept may appear like everything is crystal clear for him while it is not. So, you must ensure that students have understood everything by asking them to paraphrase what you just communicated or to summarize a passage from their textbook.
To get the best results, invite students to submit questions anonymously in a question box, which can be read at a stipulated time every day. You can also provide struggling students with sentence frames or sentence starters such that they find it easy to ask questions with familiar phrases and words.
Not explaining your teaching style
In case you have a unique teaching style, explain the same to your colleagues and students why you are adopting the specific approach. By this, you can learn from them about what is effective and how you can enter into a collaborative dialogue.
Students will thus be more receptive to your style of teaching. It is possible that initially, they may be uneasy with style, but after establishing a consistent routine, they will know what they are to expect and learn.
Too much teacher talk time
It is easy to get caught in the rut of excessive talking on your part while you are teaching new learners. The more you talk, the less are opportunities for your students to talk. For learning English, students require time for practising to speak.
In sum, these are the common mistakes that you can commit while teaching English abroad.
