In this article Chris Soames looks into your options as a native speaker.

If you’re a British TEFL teacher, you’ll be asked the question ‘do you teach American English?’ more often than you’ll hot dinners. Your response should always be a firm, but polite, ‘no’.

This is nothing to do with snobbishness or a belief that British English is somehow ’superior’. It is simply an acknowledgement that you are not American; you’ll probably have little knowledge of American English or culture other than what you see in Hollywood films. Usage of American English is different from that of British English, and beyond knowing the words ‘trashcan’ and ‘garbage’ American conversation won’t be natural. Teach the English that you know!

Our advice to TEFL teachers is to always teach the type of English you are comfortable with speaking. If you try and adopt a different variety, it will sound strange and stilted; this means that your students will sound unnatural, too. Don’t some language schools prefer you to teach American English/British English?

Yes. Whilst there are many variants of English, the two main types are British and American English. Some English language schools have strong preferences for one particular type; so before deciding on a particular language school, check if it has any preferences. However, many language schools adopt a flexible approach to teaching English, and are happy for you to supplement their materials. Should I avoid teaching words that I don’t use in my type of English?

No, of course not! Whatever type of English you speak, it is interesting and desirable for your students to know that ‘garbage’ and ‘rubbish’ is the same stuff! That American people walk down a sidewalk, whilst British people walk down a pavement! Don’t forget to include lessons that discuss the differences in pronunciation, especially at immediate level, as it can only improve your students’ understanding of English conversation. ‘Let’s call the whole thing off’ is a great song that demonstrates these differences. Don’t I need to teach the Queen’s English/proper English?

No, No, No! British teachers are guiltier of this than those of other nationalities; they have this strange, outdated idea that they should teach their students to speak ‘proper English’. This is not the English that they themselves speak, but they still think it’s desirable. It’s as if they consider their spoken English not quite up to scratch!

Joking aside, how often is it that you hear the Queen’s English? Chances are it’s once a year, when you turn on the TV or radio to listen to the Queen’s speech. Teach your students the Queen’s English and they won’t be able to understand the average English conversation; so unless your students are going to be mingling in older aristocratic circles, it really isn’t necessary for them to talk like this! Teach Natural

Think natural! A common mistake that English teachers make is to teach spoken English in a formal fashion. They teach students to say ‘What is your name?’ ignoring the more natural, ‘What’s your name?’ It is the misplaced belief of some English teachers that foreign students should learn spoken English as it is written in a Jane Austen novel.

Remember written English and spoken English are very different animals. Whilst both forms of English are desirable, it is preferable that students speak a more natural form of English as opposed the high-class, literary kind!

About the Author

“Chris Soames represents the I to I Gap Year Travel, which provides fulfilling and life-changing travel experiences to anyone with a desire to get out there and make a difference for the better.programs.

Look before you leap – Know yourself, and what you want in a job teaching English as a second language, before jumping into a position abroad, suggests Lisa Jenkins. Enlist the help of your friends, family, or anyone you trust, who will help you answer the questions below as completely and candidly as possible. There are no right answers here; the only correct answers are honest ones.

1. First, take an inventory of who you are. This is not who you want to be. This is who you are, today.

- How would you describe yourself: physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually?
- How would your best friend describe you?
- Your parents? Siblings?
- Your enemies?

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2. Next, gauge your knowledge of English. Are you qualified to teach ESL? Begin by listing all the English classes you have ever taken. Specify whether these were literature, grammar, or writing courses. Also list any foreign language classes – these classes are helpful, since they are where most Americans learn English grammar.

- List the classes.
- How well did you do in these classes?
- Did you enjoy these subjects?
- In general, do you enjoy expanding your vocabulary, learning languages, exploring speech and communications concepts, analyzing literature, reading, writing, or any related activities?
- Have you taken at least one grammar or linguistics class? (Very helpful.)
- What English language skill do you enjoy using most? (i.e., listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, or vocabulary)
- What English language skill(s) do you think you can teach? Which do you think you can enjoy teaching?

3. Third, analyze your preferences around working with people and teaching ESL:

- Do you like working with people?
- What type of people energizes you the most? Children? Adults? Teenagers? Students? Professionals? Other groups?
- Which ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds are you drawn to work with? Why? What experience have you had working with people with these backgrounds?
- Do you do well, or are you willing to try, facilitating large groups of people (e.g., 19+)? Mid-sized (10-18) or small groups (3 to 9)?
- Do you prefer working with individuals, one-on-one?
- Have you had experience teaching or tutoring? What did you enjoy about these experiences? What did you dislike?
- Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
- Are you a perfectionist?
- As a teacher, would you view yourself as the imparter of knowledge or a facilitator of learning?
- Have you ever been in a situation where a person was angry? How did you interact with that person?
- How about someone who was depressed?
- Do you have clear boundaries?
- Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone?

4. Now, list your past job titles. Next to each job title, list the skills you employed and those that you learned. It doesn’t matter how easy, or how unrelated the skill may seem to you, write it down. If possible, interview your past supervisors and co-workers and ask them to tell you what they think you brought to the table, and how your work improved over time.

5. Enumerate your preferences and needs for cultural surroundings and daily environment.

- Do you need all the comforts of the average American city at all times, are you ready to completely rough it, or ok with something in between?
- What type of living space do you require? An apartment with electricity and running water? Or can you do without appliances, and indoor plumbing? Can you live in a temporary structure such as a tent?
- Have you ever been camping before? If yes, for how long and how did you enjoy the experience?
- Is having roommates ok? Do you want a private space? Need couples housing?
- Do you enjoy exploring cultures different from your own? Are you willing to research, respect, and comply with the cultural norms of another culture? Does your willingness extend to only certain cultures? Which ones?
- How much weight can you carry?
- Are you in good health? Will a doctor approve your travel abroad?
- Are you on a special diet?
- Do you need any medications?
- Are you able to commit to a contract teaching job (usually 10 to 12 months, but occasionally there are shorter assignments)?
- Do you have enough savings, personal contacts, access to resources, and guts to try freelance teaching/tutoring?

At this point, you should have a more complete picture of who you are, a general degree of interest in English and language learning, what some of your personal tendencies are, and whether you need a more Westernized, urban location, are looking for an experience with a very specific group of people, or ok with most any situation. At the very least, you should know by now whether you know enough English, or like English enough to learn what you need to know to teach it; whether you are a natural public speaker, have enough guts to try being one, or want to stick to tutoring; and the extent of your inclination to explore and be a part of another culture.

6. As a final exercise, rewrite the above responses into an essay that more succinctly addresses the following:

- Who are you?
- What do you have to offer in your ESL job?
- What attracts you to teaching English abroad?
- What do you think you will gain from the experience – the pros, the cons, and the degree of unknown? Do I believe the pros outweigh the cons and unknowns?

Whew! You made it to the end. Where you go from here, is up to you. The world holds unlimited possibilities for employment, and teaching ESL abroad is one of myriad niche. I guess the ultimate question is then, is this the best niche for you?

About the author

Do you have what it takes to pack your bags and leave home for ESL jobs abroad in Korea, Japan, Taiwan or another foreign country? Learn about TESL careers at home and overseas from Lisa Jenkins on JobMonkey.

What can you gain from traveling abroad teaching English? Evelyn Saunders explains

If you are looking for a career that takes you to places all over the world, you might want to start with the skills you already have – your language. Teaching English As A Second Language or ESL can help you visit the countries you always wish you could see.

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What does it take? First of all, read up on the profession. Understand what kinds of opportunities are available. Make sure you know the qualifications for specific jobs. There are classes you can take to become better qualified. And if you are worried about paying for those classes, don’t worry about that as there are student loans and grants out there to help you out.

Second, become an active member of TESOL (Teaches of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and your local affiliate. Volunteer. Attend a conference. Give a presentation on any teaching idea you have.

Third, find out what jobs are available where you want to go. Talk to people. Ask questions. Consider all possibilities. A number of web sites carry information about jobs overseas, but try to talk personally with people who have spent time in the field. Remember that each person’s experience will be colored by their own expectations, perceptions of the world, and their working situations.

Fourth, ask yourself if you are you mentally prepared for teaching overseas? Too often, teachers who go to another country soon return home disenchanted because things did not turn out the way they expected. While the employer bears some of the responsibility for preparing the new recruit, this does not exempt the employee from gathering as much information as possible about the host country and the place where they will work. Study up and consider the following:

Fifth, go with a purpose in mind. Teachers who have clear professional goals and can sustain themselves by nurturing their professionalism through outside activities and (and don’t blame the foreign culture for personal misfortunes) have the best chance of a successful teaching experience.

Sixth, study the language and culture of the host country. Although many training programs focus on the linguistic elements of the profession, an equally compelling reason should lead us to focus attention on diversity training to help teachers in the acculturation process they will need to undergo in a foreign land. Teachers themselves should make an earnest attempt to learn something about cultural adjustment and training that will lead to successful experiences abroad. Learning the language is a key step to adjustment, so you are able to become an active participant in everyday life. Tapping into what is “hot” and “what’s not” with our students shows them we are not removed spectators.

In addition to looking at the country you want to move to, look also at the school you will be working for. Ask for the email addresses and phone numbers of three of their current teachers? (The more the better, as it gives you a more honest picture of the school.) You can also check up on a school by checking blacklists and grey lists. There are web boards that list disreputable schools in various countries. Korea, in particular, has a large number of dedicated blacklists. So many, in fact, that the best advice may be to avoid working in Korea completely. Search the lists for schools you are considering. Post a question to the board… ask if anyone has had problems with the school you are considering. While this may yield results, blacklists are notoriously unreliable. Just because a school is not on the list does not mean it is a good one. Most bad schools, in fact, will not be found on any of the blacklists.

Last, enjoy the process and see where your new career can take you.

About the author

Evelyn Saunders, a retired teacher, is the editor for student-loans.net, a provider of private student loans and information on student loans and consolidation. For more information, please visit www.student-loans.net

By Kelly Blackwell

Are you facing a personal financial crisis that seems endless and unsolvable? Find a teaching job abroad and go from the bottom of the financial food chain to the top.

When you are struggling to make ends meet a radical change in your life is called for. It is a fact that teachers are not well paid, but international teachers working in international schools receive good salaries and most positions come with an expatriate benefits package.

An expatriate package for an international teacher can include a yearly flight home, housing, utility contribution, health insurance (with pre-existing conditions covered), retirement contribution, contract completion bonus, and more. All of this adds up to money you do not have to spend from your salary.

Currently I save fifty percent of my salary without breaking a sweat or doing without the things I love. I know I save half because I am paid 50% in the local currency and 50% in US dollars. I do not touch the US dollar portion of my salary except to send it home. Can you save half of your salary right now?

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Living in a developing country while earning an excellent salary for a developed country means that your money goes much further. In many developing countries things like groceries, household help, transportation, utilities, etc. are much more affordable than at home in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. You can maintain a high standard of living using only a fraction of your salary and have disposable income to save, pay of debt or travel.

If teaching in a developing country does not appeal to you, you can take this opportunity to teach in Europe or the UK where you will be paid in a currency that is holding its value well in the global financial meltdown of 07-08. What European and British schools do not offer in expatriate benefits is compensated with the strength of the Euro and the Pound.

With current technology it is easy to manage your financial life over the internet using secure websites provided by your financial institution. Sending money between countries is as easy as pressing a button or completing a form at your local bank. You can even use Skype to call your bank’s customer service desk at home for next to nothing.

In addition to relieving your financial burden, securing a teaching position overseas will enable you to explore new cultures, teach children who are eager to learn and provide an excellent private education for your children.

I do not teach abroad for the financial benefits, but because of the experiences teaching abroad offers me. I have travelled extensively throughout Asia, most recently spending the summer in China right before the Olympics. I’ve also spent a great deal of time travelling around the UK and Europe. Additionally, I enjoy teaching students who want to learn, who are respectful and who have parents that are supportive.

The only downside I can see is that my friendships span the globe and that makes it difficult to meet up with people as often as I would like. On the other hand, I have many people to visit with when I travel!

There are over 4000 international schools worldwide and if you have a teaching qualification and 2 years experience then you are eligible to teach abroad.

About the Author

Do you want to know how you can land yourself a teaching job abroad so that you can put an end to your financial problems? Land your own lucrative teaching job abroad with Kelly’s proven strategies!