Equally every year, thousands of people pass up the experience because of myths that have grown up around the experience.

This is one of the biggest myths of all. To teach English abroad, for example in Chile, you don’t need proficiency in Chilean Spanish. If anything, Americans who return from some abroad teaching English report the language gap as an asset. Without having to rely on a fluent language for common ground, it encourages the students to work harder. It also encouraged the person teaching English abroad to learn some of the local language to bridge those problem areas.

TESOL, TEFL and equivalent qualifications are desirable, but not vital. There are simply not enough people with relevant qualifications to fill all available roles. Good quality, better paid, prestigious schools may demand such a qualification, but small community schools in rural areas do not have the luxury of being so selective. So long as you demonstrate aptitude, adaptability and likability, you can teach English in another country without TEFL/TESOL/DELTA or equivalent.

Passion, knowledge of your own language, good teaching skills and a way with people are always far more important.

Undoubtedly, some people who travel abroad for this go primarily to live in an exotic destination. The attraction of a different culture and climate is a major draw. However, few do so with their eyes closed in the belief that it is little more than a lengthy vacation. Teaching English abroad is hard work and the people who do it realize firstly that it is work, and secondly how hard it is. Many who take the opportunity return to the US reporting a better work-life balance. Some stay on longer than expected or head straight back out to somewhere else.

This common perception is based on promotional material featuring smiling westerners in classrooms full of children. While Americans teaching English abroad will mostly work with schoolchildren, this is not the only choice. There are plenty of adult learners too, some are highly skilled professionals learning English to improve their employability, and those who need to learn English for an overseas posting with their employer. Similarly, not all these jobs are in Africa. It’s just as likely you will find work teaching engineers in Japan as you will teaching children in a Botswanan farming community.

The final misconception is that you won’t earn much money or worse, volunteering roles are the only opportunities available. There are both well-paid and low paid roles, and some organizations who seek TEFL volunteers, but these are most charities. The majority pay the normal rate for language speakers in their country, if not higher, as they want to get the best people available. That may be lower than you would earn in the US, but you may find cost of living is lower too. This is an enriching experience that will look great on the resume.

Written by Sara Johnson.

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