A lot of English language teachers have considered teaching English abroad yet there are a lot of myths that hover on the issue of being employed abroad. There are so many preconceived ideas regarding teaching English in other countries and some of them are posted below.

Myth: Having possession of a TEFL certificate allows anybody to teach English.

Fact: A TEFL certification is just an introduction to teaching the English language. If you don’t have previous knowledge or experience regarding teaching or if you don’t have the natural skills of a teacher, you will surely have a hard time teaching English not only in your locality but most of all, abroad! In order to become a really great teacher, experience is needed that is why if you plan to teach English abroad, you should garner enough experience in order to become an efficient teacher.

Myth: Teaching English abroad is easy, you just need to know how to speak English!

Fact: This is not true since there are various requirements in order to become a qualified and certified English language teacher. It involves hard work, knowledge, and a lot of skill!

Myth: Teaching English aboard is glamorous since it allows you to travel to any place you want!

Fact: Teaching English abroad could be tiring due to full schedules. Most teachers that teach English in other countries are really made busy due to the demands of language learners. You will find it hard to find time to enjoy traveling unless it is part of your job to go to different places for excursions!

Myth: You will get rich if you will teach English abroad!

Fact: Not all positions for teaching English abroad offer high salaries. In fact there are only a few countries that offer high salaries. However, most teachers can live a comfortable lifestyle in some countries especially in places where the cost of living is low. Unless you become an English tutor to a very rich family, you might consider the reality that you will not get rich instantly! Just be mindful of the fact that the joy in teaching does not lie in monetary compensation alone.

Myth: Teaching English abroad is a wonderful way to learn about new cultures.

Fact: This is true that teaching abroad can help open doors to learning new things about countries especially about their cultures but then not all teachers go abroad for cultural exposure. Most teachers still mingle with fellow foreigners and miss out a lot on what they could learn about the country.

Those mentioned above are just few of the many myths about teaching English abroad. Do you have some myths you can share with us? If you have some, don’t hesitate to post comments!