TEFL Myths Busted

Stray onto any travel-related forum online and you’ll find all kinds of crazy opinions about teaching abroad – which course to do, how to find work, how to teach your students… hell, even how to tie your shoelaces while in xxxx! So, let’s clear up a little bit of confusion:

Myth 1: You need to speak another language to teach abroad

While you might want to learn how to say ‘hello’, ‘please’, ‘thank-you’ and ‘give me a beer pronto’, you don’t actually need to speak another language to teach abroad. It sounds crazy, but most schools want their teachers to create a totally English-speaking atmosphere in their classrooms – which can be a bit tricky if you’re tempted to slide into your students’ first language. Learn more here

Myth 2: You need teaching experience to find a TEFL job abroad

While teaching experience can help you find a job abroad, it certainly isn’t necessary for entry-level positions – the fact that you’re a fluent English speaker with a TEFL certificate should be enough to find work in most places. If you’d like a bit of experience though (and fun!), why not try the Teach in China Internship – you’ll come out of the other side with a 140 hour TEFL certificate, 270 hours of teaching practice and loads of great China memories! You can also check out the Teach in Thailand Internship - you'll spend 5 incredible months TEFLing this year! Learn more about internships here!

Myth 3: There are hardly any TEFL job opportunities out there now

Phew, hardly! There are more people learning English in China than the entire population of the United States – and that’s just one country! As a fluent English speaker you’re in demand, even more so if you’ve got a TEFL course under your belt too! Click here to find out where you could be teaching.

Myth 4: You need a degree to teach abroad

While you’ll need to have a degree to work in some countries, there are plenty of places you can still teach if you never made it to uni, such as China, Ecuador and the Czech Republic. So don’t let it hold you back!

Myth 5: You’ll only find work abroad if you do a 4-week course

The very fact that you’re a fluent English speaker means you can find work abroad – doing a TEFL course of any kind (let alone a 4-week one) is not actually compulsory! The reason most people do a TEFL course is to prepare you for life in the classroom and give you access to jobs with better pay and conditions. 4-week TEFL courses are generally designed for people who want to make a career out of TEFL, rather than those who just want to teach abroad for a year or two.

Want more TEFL myths busted?

Our experts are always happy to answer any tricky TEFL questions you might have. Just request a free call-back or email them direct. You might also want to download your FREE copy of TEFL Uncovered: How to Teach Your Way Abroad with TEFL, which is jam-packed full of handy TEFL advice and information. Click here to download your free copy today!

What TEFL myths have you come across?

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