A lot people ask me how I became a TEFL teacher. My family in particular don't really understand how I went from university applications, to upping sticks and moving to the continent to teach English within a matter of months.
Here's the thing, 'vocation' is a word that is bandied around a lot, but the truth is that most people don't have one. Sure, you have people who know with unwavering certainty, practically from birth, what they want to do. That's great for the doctors and lawyers of this world, but the rest of us, we mosey along with school, college, and maybe even university without knowing what we want.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or TEFL, is somewhat similar. It's not generally something people dream about from a young age. You are unlikely to find an eight-year-old who, when asked what their future career looks like, will tell you about their dreams of bringing an English grammar compendium to life for a room of foreigners. Few careers advisers will tell you about the benefits of a career in teaching your own language, and parents don't fall over themselves telling their kids to pursue a road that might take them overseas.
That's a shame, isn't it? It's shame for many reasons, but the biggest one is this: Most young people will, in fact, tell you about their dreams of travelling the world, having lots of friends, experiencing new cultures, and making money all at the same time. Adults usually tell them to be realistic, to set their sights on something more attainable. After all, it sounds like the lives of the rich and famous, right?
Wrong. I know of very few other professions in which all of these things are not only possible, but an occupational hazard. International House succeeds in bringing TEFL to the fore, and giving so many of those searching for a purpose, a chance to be fantastic at something.
So my list of things I wish I had known a year ago starts with what I wish I had known as a kid – that being a TEFL teacher is the dream job.
There are so many opportunities for career advancement
I don't know about you, but I like to feel like I'm going somewhere. Having a job that you love is fantastic, but if there is no upward trajectory, that job may start to get a little stifling.
I had no idea of all the different routes I can now take as a qualified TEFL teacher, but during my CELTA course with International House, they explained that the sky really was the limit! Apart from opening doors to any conceivable corner of the globe, the chance to transfer my skills into other areas in the field has been a real eye-opener.
Your journey up the career ladder starts with professional development. Many employers will view continuing professional development (CPD) as a positive way to motivate you as an employee. They may provide courses, and any number of other things so that you can grow with them as a teacher.
So what exactly can an ambitious TEFL teacher look forward to?
Once you have all the necessary experience and skills, take your pick of further career steps.
Successful TEFL teachers can become teacher trainers, course designers, heads of studies, conference speakers, authors, textbook writers, examiners, exam writers – the possibilities truly are endless.
Then again, you may not want to move from your cosy classroom, and great students. I know a teacher who has been doing this for 40 years, still loves every moment! Staying put doesn't have to mean monotony, with new materials being published every year and teaching methods being updated, there's every reason to never want to leave the classroom.
I wish I had known that I could grow both as a professional and as a person as by becoming a TEFL teacher.
Bilingualism here I come…!
Raise your hand if you were lousy at French or German at school. *Pauses to raise hand.* My teacher was lovely, my classmates funny, and the French language very romantic and everything, but I just couldn't get the hang of it.
Do you remember when the teacher stood at the front and preached verbs, progressive tenses, and the pluperfect to you? *Shudder*
Why is that? It's because we have no idea what a progressive tense or the pluperfect is in our own language. Why not? Because in the vast majority of cases, we weren't taught at school.
Part of my training on my CELTA course was how to break down language and understand how it works. Now that I am able to distinguish a main verb from an auxiliary verb, and am self- proclaimed Grammar Queen of my language school, I am much more able to learn the equivalents in another language. Progressive tense in Spanish? Yes please. Pluperfect in French, no worries.
As a TEFL teacher, you can practise what you preach and start your journey towards multilingualism.
I wish I had known that being a TEFL teacher would introduce me to skills I never knew I had.
It is NOTHING like a high school classroom
When people think teacher, they tend to conjure images of nice old Mr Jones, or Mrs Smith, sitting in their swivel chairs, or standing beside the whiteboard. What are they doing in those memories? Well, they are talking, and talking, and talking. Bell rings, and you trudge down the hallway to another lesson, where exactly the same thing happens. Sound familiar?
Perhaps you had a particular teacher, in my case it was Mrs Platt, who really brought the subject to life. Being in her lessons was a welcome respite. However, in most case it was the Mr Jones' of this world that initially put me off teaching as a career.
Forget about talking about the subject of English for an hour, about cleaning the whiteboard a hundred times a day, about bells ringing, about talking for an hour straight, about worksheet after worksheet after worksheet. Forget about all of that. That is not what TEFL is.
TEFL is about activities, puzzles, games, conversation, exploration, teamwork, and letting students get stuck in.
Talking too much as a teacher is actively discouraged and standing at the front of the class for an hour is definitely not required.
I wish I had known that TEFL teaching involves being a Mrs Platt, and not a Mr Jones, and that TEFL teaching is absolutely nothing like the classes I remember from school.
Enjoy learning from your students as much as they enjoy learning from you
I meet a lot of teachers who worry about keeping classes interesting for the learners, but also teachers who have the same worries for themselves.
On the face of it, and when considering a career in TEFL, the idea of teaching the same subject many times can be unappealing. However, don't forget about the variable factor: the students. You will have a steady flow of new and enthusiastic learners in your classroom, young and not so young.
All these people bring fantastically interesting backgrounds to your class, experience and expertise in all kinds of fascinating subjects.
Since I began my own TEFL journey, I have encountered pilots, politicians, bankers, architects, athletes, lawyers, and many more, all in my classes.
I am the teacher, and they always leave my class with more knowledge about English than when they came in. But they also teach me a great deal in return, which makes me a student along with them.
I wish I had known that TEFL is a job which would keep me motivated, interested, and curious about the world.
Are there any myths that you can bust about TEFL from your own experience? We would love to hear about them. Get in touch!
