If you are reading this, you most likely are already considering teaching ESL, either as a brief respite from your current routine or as a long term career path. A question many bewildered family and friends left behind ask, ‘why would anyone choose to leave all that is near and dear behind to become a teacher in foreign lands?’ As a TEFL Trainer, I start each course asking eager new teachers just this question. Answers vary, but there are definitely a few common ties between many of the international learners that walk through the TEFL doors.
Adventure, travel, and cultural immersion
The desire to move beyond being ‘just a tourist’. By living and working abroad, you truly become assimilated into the local environment and see beyond the superficialities you would likely experience on just a one week trip. You truly get to experience each country as a local would and your local friends always know where the best places are to visit, eat weird and wonderful foods, and show off your new salsa moves. And, many locals love having a foreign friend with whom they practice their English, so new friends are easily made.
Language
Many ESL teachers choose their teaching destination based on the foreign languages they themselves are studying. By immersing yourself in the language and culture 24/7, you are continuously challenged to try and apply what you know as well as learn something new. Being from Africa with no Spanish exposure whatsoever, I arrived in Costa Rica knowing only ‘Hasta La Vista, Baby.’ After 3 years, estoy casi media Tica! And, of course, knowing more languages absolutely helps you to understand and love the ever-intimidating and misunderstood grammar, making you an even better teacher!
Money
It is not uncommon to hear people say that there is no money in ESL. Those people have clearly never obsessively wasted hours away on ol’ Dave’s ESL Café or TEFL.com, two of my favorite job-finding websites. In fact, student debt is what initiated my personal adventure into the world of ESL and how I ended up teaching in Taiwan and then South-Korea. After 2 years, I was debt-free and in love with travel and teaching. There are many opportunities to advance in ESL, from teacher to trainer to lecturer or curriculum designer.
The love of teaching
On the first day of TEFL, I ask our new teachers why they would like to teach ESL abroad. On the last day, I ask them what was the most rewarding and enjoyable part of their experience in the month we have together. Answers vary, from learning grammar, foreign language class, meeting new BFFs, etc. However, there is one response almost everyone mentions, that moment in a student’s eyes, the flicker of understanding followed by a ‘Aaaaaaaaah, I get it,’ that moment when you know you helped someone learn, and the ‘Thank you, teacher. That was a good class.’ that follows.
There are many other reasons to study and teach ESL. It helps open many job opportunities and advances in your career. For some, it changes your life after school, a divorce, or even retirement. It gives you confidence and builds skills like public speaking. Regardless of your reason for wanting to teach abroad, it is a package deal that dishes out many little gifts on the way. Most of all, I hope it brings you a great love of teaching.
