Make the Most of Your TEFL Adventure
Make the Most of Your TEFL Adventure
Make the Most of Your TEFL Adventure
So, you've had your leaving do, your rucksack's packed, you've checked your passport about 5billion times. You are officially, absolutely, ready ready for new adventures, ready for new challenges, ready to teach English abroad!
To make sure you have the best time possible once you arrive in-country, check out these tips for making the most of your TEFL adventure take a look and make sure you keep us posted with how you get on!
1) Keep an open mind
It's easy to think that the whole world turning Western, with a McDonalds, Starbucks or KFC on every corner. But it's really not foreign countries are just that: foreign! Things can be different abroad, which is probably what you wanted when you made the big move! It's important for you to keep an open mind about your new culture and lifestyle. You will see some things that might seem a bit strange, such as ballroom dancing on the streets in China. Keep in mind that you're there to experience a new culture, not to impose your own beliefs into your new country.
2) Do some TEFL training
Because of the insatiable demand for English teachers around the world, it's absolutely possible to find a TEFL job with no training whatsoever. I did this... and can safely say that it didn't have a happy ending for me, or my students.
Just because you speak English, it doesn't mean you can teach it. For example, do you know what the present perfect is? Would you know how to teach it? I didn't! Even the most basic of TEFL courses will give you a decent understanding of essential things like classroom management, grammar and lesson planning which will all make your time in the classroom infinitely more rewarding. Plus, more TEFL training usually equals more money and better working conditions. It's a no-brainer!
3) Never turn down an invitation
You'll be the new English person in town, so its likely that you'll have plenty of invitations for everything to a drink at your local pub to weddings. If you're finding your new culture a little hard to cope with at first, you might just want to hide yourself in your room and chat to your family on the internet. But don't do it! You'll isolate yourself this way, so get yourself out there and enjoy yourself!
4) Go with the flow
Life as an English teacher is amazing, but it can also be infuriating. Timetables change, contracts change, expectations change you can have the world promised in your contract, only to turn up to find a tiny apartment with dodgy plumbing. That's a worst case scenario, and many teachers don't have any mishaps at all. But, it's important to have low expectations before you arrive and go with the flow once you do get in-country. Don't stress the little things, and if things get really irritating, skip to number five
5) Shout up!
Your school has invested a lot of money in hiring you and they'll been keen to keep you happy so you finish your contract. They're not mind readers though, so if you're ever unhappy with anything, from your accommodation to your hours, say something ASAP (and not just to your mum, she can't do anything about it your school can)!
And if there's a problem that can't be resolved to your satisfaction, remember that TEFL jobs are like fish there are plenty more in the sea!
What's your advice for making the most of your TEFL adventure?
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