6 Tips on How to Teach English Abroad Effectively [TEFL Teachers Guide]

For the most part, teaching is a selfless act. Yes, doing this keeps you on the road and satisfies your wanderlust. But essentially, it is a giving profession. Your daily goal is to transfer your skills to your students, to help them learn and improve their abilities, and to ensure that they have a better grasp of the English language every time a class ends.

As it is, make it your mission to teach English as well as you can. There will be ups and downs but at the end of the day, there is nothing like coming in prepared and getting ready for all the challenges to see you through.

6 Important Tips to Teach English Effectively

1. Commit to your goal of teaching English abroad while traveling.

It will take a good a balancing act to divide your time well between work and leisure. Focus. Remember your vision of sustaining yourself while on the road. Teaching English is definitely a good way to do it. Keep your eyes on the goal and work hard!

2. Ready your paperwork.

As mentioned, a TEFL certificate is indispensable - without it, no one will be keen on hiring you. It helps if you finish your TEFL course before leaving your home country to travel, but you can certainly do it wherever and whenever. Your passport is an important document too, as well as a visa, if appropriate.

3. Set goals.

Create a timeline and make yourself accountable in fulfilling your goals. For example, if you start your TEFL course today, set a specific date when you expect yourself finishing it. If you start looking for a teaching job today, identify a target date when you should have secured a position already. Always be organized. Set your goals and take action.

4. Volunteer to teach English in local communities.

Volunteering is a great way of exposing yourself to different cultures and norms. Not only does it make you a well-rounded, well-adjusted, and flexible person, it also helps you deal with different personalities which will help you greatly in doing your job as an English teacher.

In addition, this is a great way to practice your teaching skills, as well as enhance them. Volunteer as much as you can. Reach out to local organizations and be involved in their activities. It is a win-win situation: you help them and they help you, too!

5. Research!

Research the cultural practices, traditions, and way of living as well as cost of living in the country where you’ll be teaching. Researching is part of your preparation. Keeping yourself well-informed of the do’s and don’ts in any particular country can save yourself unnecessary embarrassment, or even unnecessary inconvenience.