11 signs you were born to teach TEFL
If you’re considering getting qualified and heading abroad to teach TEFL but aren’t quite sure if you’re the right character for the job, then be sure to check out this list of indicators that we think suit the budding language guru. Hopefully, it’ll show how you don’t need to be JRR Tolkien to take to grammar and language instruction – you just need a penchant for adventure and a flair for something new!
You hate routine
TEFL teaching certainly isn’t like your usual nine-to-five. Yes, there are some jobs that’ll see you hit the classroom by morning and leave in the evening, but for the most part it’s all about flexibility. Many teachers will be asked to run ad hoc one-to-one lessons in the evenings or on weekends, while others will find they take sessions in the early hours (especially for business English, before trading starts) or later in the night (when students finish school or work).
You don’t mind breaking out of your comfort zone
Opting for a life of teaching English abroad isn’t just about securing a steady pay cheque at the end of the month, it’s also about adding a little bit of spice to life. That means settling down in spots like the throbbing cityscapes of Korea, or the islands of Thailand, sampling other cuisines and cultures, whether chilli-packed Vietnamese pho or curious religious traditions – all things done better with a penchant for life outside of the comfort zone!
You’re overconfident
No matter how much training or skills tests you take leading up to your first TEFL lesson, that initial time you enter the classroom will always be a nerve-wracking affair! Don’t worry too much though, because if you’re already the overconfident type then standing up in front of that class of grammar-hungry kids or vocab-needing adults is sure to go just a little smoother!
You don’t like to be tied down
It’s certainly possible to combine the life of a nomad and a TEFL teacher. Many contracts, like those at summer camps or youth schools, will last only a couple of months, and these will often include board and lodging as part and parcel to the deal. That means, English teaching is a great option for those who hate being tied down to a single place. If you don’t like where you are or what you’re doing, you can rest assured you’re never too far away from the next destination and set of students!
You’re great with kids
Not all those who teach TEFL end up teaching kids. However, a vast proportion of the available positions out there will include some contact with the younger generation. In fact, there’s a heavy focus on English speaking from an early age in the schools of China, Thailand and Vietnam, meaning a love of kids will put you in great stead when it comes to finding a position abroad.
You always correct people’s grammar
That’s right, that annoying habit that everyone else decries could actually be a real bonus when it comes to teaching TEFL. After all, grammar is one of the central aspects of English language learning. So, if you’re a stickler for the Ps and Qs, a confident comma user, an apologist for the apostrophe, or any other sort of grammar champion, you’re in luck!
You’re always pining for that next adventure
Those who choose to teach TEFL are opening up a whole world of opportunity for themselves. EFL qualified folk have the ability to settle and work in a whole host of destinations around the planet, from the cays and tropical bays of Southeast Asia to the windswept Atlantic coast of Latin America. That means adventure is never too far away, if you’re up for it!
You like meeting new people
You know that excited feeling you get when you’re traveling and the chance to mingle with the locals arises? The chance to chat about their traditions, culture, food and day-to-day life? Or maybe you get it when encountering other travellers and expanding that network of people you know around the globe? If so, then TEFL might just be the perfect choice for you – you’ll be meeting co-workers, making ex-pad friends and mixing with the native folk all the time!
You enjoy surprises
A warning to all those who want to teach TEFL: Be prepared for the unexpected! Whether you’re encountering uber-hi-tech self-cleaning toilets in the megacities of Japan, watching whole families riding a single scooter in Ho Chi Minh City, or witnessing some other weird and wonderful worldly curiosity, you can be pretty certain there’ll be some eye-opening moments on any teach abroad adventure!
You don’t need home cooking or local foods
This culinary-based titbit might seem like something of a superfluous addition to this list, but trust us, it’s not! In fact, it’s possible that the absence of home-cooked meals or your native cuisine is the single biggest driver towards home sickness in ex-pats the world over (sounds ironic right?). So, if you don’t think you can forgo that all-American hotdog, the Monday night Tex-Mex or English shepherd’s pie, and settle for spicy noodles or gado gado instead, perhaps you need to think again about whether it’s time to teach TEFL!
You’re a snowbird
If you dread the months when the leaves begin to crumple and fall, go numb in the cheeks when the snows come, or brace against the cold winds, then why not consider doing a qualification that’ll allow you to live somewhere a little warmer all year round? Okay, so some EFL locations will be cold, but there are oodles of opportunities in the tropics, in Africa, even right on the beaches of Southeast Asia. Snowbirds assemble!
If you think you fit the bill to teach TEFL, then why not head over and check out all the qualifications we offer? Or, do you think we’ve missed something from this list. Feel free to leave it in the comments below…