New teacher abroad? Six vital teaching tips

You'll not only impress your employer but also develop more as a professional and as a person when you learn to solve problems independently, use whatever resources are on-hand, deal with setbacks without losing your cool and find a way around an obstacle. Occasionally this may require some improvisation. For example your lesson plan may revolve around a Youtube video you found. Well, what are you going to do if the internet drops mid-lesson? Alternatively you may find that students find something very easy and finish it more quickly than you anticipated. Could you find a way to use the spare time remaining? Have you got fallback materials or memorised activities to use in such cases? Maybe you could go back and review what was done the week before. There are many potential hurdles but always a way of leaping over them, and finding your way in TEFL is about developing that resourcefulness, self-confidence and cool-headedness which is arrived at through experience and problem-solving live in the classroom. It's moments like that which your preparatory course and grammar book won't prepare you for!

Finally, there will of course be situations when a complaint is entirely vindicated and may even be of great value. Your DOS may in-fact appreciate that you addressed the problem proactively instead of suffering-in-silence or allowing student misconduct to perpetuate week-after-week. A good manager after all will want to help you out and guide you as well as being made aware of learner issues. Don't be afraid to ask for help or address a frustration but as I stated earlier choose your battles and avoid being a teacher who always has a problem with something. It may be best to try to solve a problem on your own first and if that fails then you may need assistance and be right to ask for it.

4.   Read a grammar book

This is a great tip for a new teacher (or any one of us really) – a comment I've heard from multiple colleagues over the years is something along the lines of “I know this is right grammatically but can't explain why.” This is typically where the school system leaves us (in Ireland and the UK at-least) – we know on an intuitive level whether something sounds right or not but in absence of conscious and deliberate study many of us find we can't actually explain the logic behind those deeply ingrained rules of language. I recommend picking-up an English grammar book and leafing through it during the summer or in your spare time during the term. 

This will prepare you immensely for the classroom where students will test your knowledge as they strive to better understand the English grammar themselves. You can also use such a book as a reference and turn to it again and again when preparing lessons or if you get caught out and don't know how to explain something when it comes up in class. If that happens by the way – don't panic! Tell your students you'll provide a thorough explanation the following week and make it your personal homework assignment to clue yourself in before meeting that class again.

This tip also applies to more experienced teachers. I read two books this year on the topics of English Punctuation and Emotional Intelligence. Both were informative, thought-provoking and relevant to the job. There really is always more to learn in TEFL and that's one thing about it that keeps the job motivating!

5.   Turn off your computer!

In our times it is easy to fall into a cycle of working, going home, eating, checking our socials and streaming shows all evening. During the pandemic especially a lot of people grew accustomed to ordering on JustEats, spending most of their time inside, teaching on the computer and then diverting themselves on the computer (or smartphone) after that! If that sounds like your life, I'd ask the question why go abroad at all? Why not just stay at home if you're not remotely motivated to experience life in a strange place and explore its culture? 

It's important to create good habits or get a hobby. Even just going out to a cafe can be interesting, as it gives you a chance to listen to the sounds of the language, observe how the locals dress, their mannerisms and choice of food and drink. On the weekends take any chance to see a new town or enjoy the great outdoors. Of course meeting people is a game-changer, be they your colleagues or locals who you meet along the way. In-fact I'd say it's making friends more than anything that makes the difference between a year when you just get on with your duties and a year when you really feel happy and have a great time wherever you are. 

6.   Learn the local language

Although less essential in the age of Translator apps (who else among us is old enough to have walked around with a dictionary or phrasebook on-hand just in case of emergency?) I still advocate strongly for learning at-least the basics of the local language when you find yourself based outside of the Anglosphere. It not only helps you bridge the gap in communication with the locals but also makes a terrific impression. Everybody will appreciate the fact that you're trying and that you respect their culture enough to make the effort. Although many in large cities now speak English around the world, the smaller towns and villages of a place tend to be more traditional with less widespread English fluency, so learning the basics may indeed be essential if you intend to enjoy interactions beyond the simple procedures of ordering a coffee or running around the local supermarket. 

Additionally, learning a language aids you as a language teacher as you will learn about the grammar, phonology and mental challenges involved and this will feed into your own understanding of language-learning and of course will allow you to have more empathy with your students too. 

Ultimately learning the local language makes the difference between you simply living somewhere and earning money there and you really forging a connection to the people and culture. From having the know-how to order off a menu to being able to follow a Netflix movie produced in that country, your ability to really immerse yourself culturally and open yourself to social opportunities both hinge on your grasp of the language. Sadly too many of us stay in our expat bubble – we hang out mostly with other English teachers, watch our usual shows, listen to our usual music and as a result miss the chance to immerse in what the host country has to offer.

In-summary

Teaching abroad can be the best experience of your life and even a life-long passion and career, as it has become for me. Your enjoyment of a year abroad, life-satisfaction and work-life balance depend on a variety of factors both in and out of the classroom. By becoming effective on-the-job and also avoiding the temptations of eat-in apps, social media and streaming services, you could have an absolutely incredible time. Developing confidence in the classroom, learning the ins and outs of the English language as you go, becoming more knowledgeable and resourceful as a teacher, making connections and managing your workload each day is a formidable challenge but also a rewarding one. 

The life you lead outside of school is of course paramount too and the best years in TEFL weren't the ones when I spent a lot of time at home, failed to apply myself to learning the language and made no effort to meet people or try new things. On the contrary, when you fall into such a pattern, life becomes dull and the days tick along dryly, void of passion and energy. When you get out of the house, see new places, try new things, practice your language, meet people and really make a connection to the local area's people, culture and of course the outdoor activities on-offer such as hiking and cycling trails you'll really start to enjoy life more richly and every day will feel more exciting. Of course work is work and we all need a routine but these are the things which will truly enable you to have a memorable year rather than a lacklustre one.

Alan Dunleavy

Alan is from Dublin, Ireland and has been teaching English since 2016 in Poland, Spain and The Czech Republic.