Teaching English as a Foreign Language – The Experience

Being qualified to teach English as a foreign language (EFL) can take you anywhere in the world, literally. Experiences vary greatly, of course, but no English as a foreign language position will ever feel like a mundane office job.

Variety is definitely a feature: who you teach, what you teach, where, how and when you teach – all will differ from job to job and especially from region to region. And outside of work there’s the thrill of getting to grips with local customs that may be very different from the ones you’ve been brought up with.

The best job in the world still has its challenges and teaching English as a foreign language is no different. Your first assignment may involve working with groups of young children, for example, who understand little, if anything, of what you say! Yes, the initial few classes may take some courage but it’s about building trust and a positive atmosphere. And this goes for whatever age group you work with. The most important thing to realise is that teaching is not something you perfect but is something you do get better at with the effort you put in. It’s an ever-evolving art that requires being open-minded, adaptable and eager to learn from others.

How rewarding is it all? Few things can match the joy of seeing your own students succeed in even the smallest of tasks. Friends are made for life and there are unforgettable moments at every turn.

The only way you can find out is to try for yourself! If you need any advice or information please email: [email protected]

Read our Taiwan Case Study to find out how rewarding teaching English as a foreign language can be from someone who has experienced it first hand. As well as discovering what future opportunities your teaching experience could lead to.