How to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

At English 1, we often receive emails from our new teachers asking, `How can I teach English as a foreign language?' Over time, we've realised that the `how' isn’t really a `how' at all — it’s more of a `when'.

Before you start teaching English as a second language, there are a few key steps to take: choose a TEFL course, find the best price, select a country to teach in, and secure a job. Once you’ve completed these steps, the question of `how to teach English as a foreign language' will transform into, `when can I start teaching English as a foreign language?'

There are hundreds of TEFL courses available; you just need to choose the right one for you. TEFL courses can vary in length and location. One of the most popular ways to obtain your TEFL certificate is online. Here, you can choose how many hours you would like to study. For visa purposes, it’s always best to opt for the maximum — 120 hours is generally considered ideal.

`How to teach English as a foreign language' should also be followed by the question, `How much does it cost to teach English as a foreign language?' From our research, a typical online TEFL course can cost anything from 400 USD upwards for a 120-hour course. If you shop around, you might be able to find some discounted TEFL courses.

However, if the thought of spending almost 400 USD on a TEFL course makes you uneasy, why not apply for a teaching position with English 1? English 1 will sponsor your TEFL course, and you will have a job — what more could you want?

Once you have completed your TEFL course, the next logical step is to put it to good use. The best thing about teaching English as a foreign language is that you can teach almost anywhere. Popular destinations include China, Southeast Asia, the UAE, and even Europe, and the UK.

Make sure you choose a location where you are confident you can obtain a visa with a legitimate company. If you violate visa regulations, you could be expelled from the country for a long period of time!

The final step in your TEFL journey is to find a company to teach with. Remember, once you have completed your TEFL, you will most likely be moving abroad. As mentioned, it is crucial to choose a company that can offer you a legal working visa. While salary is important, when you teach English as a foreign language for the first time, salary isn't everything.

It's important to consider other benefits aside from money. You will need to ensure you have health insurance; in case you require routine check-ups or experience an accident. As a new teacher, you may need additional training to adjust to the teaching environment. Arrival support and training are essential at the start. Make sure you have the opportunity to acclimatise to your new surroundings and settle in.

It doesn't matter how many hours you have spent learning online or in class how to teach English as a foreign language; it's the teaching you do that will answer this question. When you start teaching English, you'll find that you can remember some of the information, but not all of it.

Perhaps think of teaching like driving. You only need the basics to get started. As long as you can cover the fundamentals, you can begin moving. When you're driving, there's so much going on at first that it feels overwhelming. But the more you do it, the better you get, and the easier it becomes to focus on more things. The same rules apply in the classroom. At first, you can't use all of the techniques you know, but each time you teach, you’ll get better and better, adding more as you go.

Teaching English as a foreign language is a rewarding job, and it is easier than you think. Remember, most of the learning takes place on the job, so just roll up your sleeves and dive in. If you follow these steps, you’ll be teaching in no time.