What if
I don't speak the local language?
Can I still get hired to
teach English?
You won't be
required to know the local language.
What!?
Most EFL
teachers don't know the local language when they first
arrive. Typically, native speaker EFL teachers are not
given true beginners. Usually, your students will have
some English basics. Often not much, but enough for you
to take them to higher levels and for you to be able to
do some basic instruction in English.
How can I do that?
Your students
will usually know enough language - often about that of
a two- or three-year-old native speaker. Really quite a
lot - though they don't usually feel very confident
about their skills.
Your Native Speaker Language
Skills . . .
are why you are
hired: Your accent, Your native ability to know what
grammar is wrong or right, your ability know what sounds
right or wrong in common usage. Time and experience (or
a good TEFL certification course) will give you the
ability to explain these things - but in the beginning,
even if you can't explain it - you will still know what
is wrong and what is right.
Should I use the local language
when I teach English?
No! Your native
ability with English is why you are hired. If you start
teaching in the local language - you will not be much
different from the local teachers of English, who are
often paid much less than you will be. It is your
native talent with English that makes you valuable.
How will I find my way around
and/or buy the things I need?
No problem.
Most schools will assign another teacher or assistant to
you, to help you do the things you need to do - until
you learn the basics. After you live and work in a few
countries, you will find yourself quite skilled at
finding what you need, using either very basic language
or even just gestures. After all, you will most likely
NOT be their first foreign teacher - and they will
likely be familiar with most of your wants and needs -
from finding food you are familiar with, to cold
remedies, Internet cafes, or even good restaurants.
