Changing Lives with Language

We all know there’s a huge worldwide demand for TEFL teachers and it’s increasingly apparent that the thirst for English speakers to pass on valuable second language skills spans far and wide.

With thousands of TEFL graduates choosing to pack up and settle into classrooms around the world there’s no shortage of students eager to learn but where does this high number of willing learners come from and how will this experience change their lives? Let’s take a look at the bigger picture and discover the true impact of getting TEFL qualified and travelling overseas to eagerly awaiting pupils....

Firstly as an English speaker it’s easy to bypass the fact that English is everywhere! (And we mean everywhere) ever been on holiday somewhere and noticed signs, titles, television and media in English or at least nodding back to the English language? Even food and drink packaging is often adorned with our native scribble. With this in mind it’s not surprising vast areas of the world are eager to be able to communicate in the language many of us are lucky to call our mother tongue.

Here’s some info to give you an idea of how powerful the English language is:

It’s estimated that...

•    Over 2/3rds of the worlds scientists read in English
•    Around 75% of the worlds mail is in English
•    150 million users of the internet communicate in English
•    80% of the worlds electronically stored information is in English

In addition to this it’s important to note that over 80% of international companies use English as a means of communication, meaning job opportunities and more lucrative, high powered positions are open to those possessing this highly valuable second language and striving for such positions in countries, like China, has become of paramount importance.

“ELT in China is characterized by scale and enthusiasm. There is a wide spread perception that speaking English confers prestige on individuals and opens   doors to academic, professional and business success. However many students also learn the language for personal reasons, such as the desire to travel or study abroad.” (Lixian Jin & Martin Cortazzi)

This situation is very much the same in other parts of the world...

Illiteracy is a major problem in South Africa with one in four adults unable to read.  As a result many children are lacking the basic skills which would enable them to receive a full and rewarding education with the lack of schooling mentioned above helping South Africa’s population to pick up these essential skills is invaluable.

In Thailand, the government did not focus on English language in the past but has recently acknowledged its value in terms of international development. Many schools are keen to employ native English speakers but can not afford to employ good paid staff.

So although becoming a TEFL teacher is an amazing and rewarding experience personally, don't forget that passing on your knowledge and skills can also prove life changing for others.