Teaching english overseas?

Question

My bf and I have been interested in going to another country to teach english. What I don't understand is that I don't need any knowledge of their language or any experience.How can I teach someone english if I don't know their language? Apparently , they have a different "system". I'd really like to know what this system is before I spend $1700 on the course. And is my bf able to go if he has a criminal record for assault? If anybody has any experiences I'd really like to hear them aswell.

Answer 1

The best company to go through the teacher training with is T E F L .You have 6 months to complete the course on line.I advise against spending $1700 dollars,my course with T E F L cost me £210-00 pounds in English money,this includes all your course work ,I did 10 modules And Qualified on September 30 th 2006. It was the best thing I have ever done.I have started 2 other modules and these are going to be completed by March 30th 2007.I did these as an extra ,It was Grammar Awareness and Business English.I think it would be a good Idea for you to speak to tefl .I have received my 40 hr teaching certificate ,when I complete my 20 hr G A M ,I will then earn my 60 hr Diploma. Added to that I will have A Business English Accreditation.So, Tefl 10 modules + 20 hr Gam was £210-00 pounds ,the Business English was free.I purchased my own grammar books at £30-00 = which came to a grand a total of £240-00 pounds.Some companies work on the proviso that you only have to be a English speaking native, but , they charge money to make all the arrangements for you.Possibly they may be charging you, for a course fee within that payment.So you do need to check on that.T E F L stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.They teach you to how teach the students,its very involved and is based on Ellicting what the students understand.It does help if you understand their Language but it isn't necessary ,using props in class with foreign students is essential.So Your lesson plan should include,realia, i.e.newspapers, posters,videos, c.d.s. dvds.etc.Hand signs and facial expressions can convey a million messages,often students understand a lot more than they can convey verbally.I can work abroad / England for at least£10-00 // £30=-00 pounds per hour.

Answer 2

Teaching Language is not seperated from culture. You should learn something about the culture of the people you are going to teach. It is not that difficult. Behaviouristic Psycologists believe that language learning is a process of habit formation, and this process is made easier if you can reinforce English culture to your students. You need to learn that culture just for the time that the possibility of interferance between the cultures happen in that case youn should stop that inteference and if you don't know their culture and a little bit of their system of language it would be problematic. Try to make them forget that they are in their own country. Prepare a foreign language situation for them. Also if you want to teach Asians the book "New Interchange" by Jack C. Richards is really helpfull because they are written for teaching Asians. I am sorry that I don't know anything about law and such things.
Good luck

Answer 3

A TEFL certificate is not needed for most job offers. Take a look at some of the jobs offered to see what they want in the country and school that you choose. In most countries, native English speaking skill and a bachelors degree in any subject are the basic requirements but individual jobs may have their own extra requirements.

It's very unusual for two people to suddenly both decide they want the same job. Be careful to understand whether you both want to teach ESL or whether one of you wants to do this and the other is going along with it. Living in another culture without the daily emotional support of your family and friends is quite a shock for some people. You both have to be going into this with a positive desire to do the job, not just a positive desire to be together.

Some young people choose to teach ESL abroad because they want to travel and have fewer restrictions from their family members. That can only last a short time such as 6 months or one year. Others really want to do the job and that can last much longer and will get you past many difficulties. I have been teaching ESL abroad for 3 and a half years and I see a few more years of it in my future.

Generally speaking, you can only teach at a legitimate school in a European Union country if you have a valid E.U. passport. The most popular countries for ESL teaching are Korea, Japan and China. Personally, I decided against Korea after reading other teachers' experiences and the U.S. State Department warning about it. I decided against Japan because it is too small for months of travel in the summer breaks, the cost of living is very high plus living accomodations are not always easy to arrange.

China is not a hell hole with police watching you and cutting off your hands for jaywalking. I don't think the Chinese authorities will run a background check on your boyfriend but if he gets into any trouble in China, they will likely deport him in a New York minute. If that were to happen and you can't keep your job by staying there alone, you both will pay a hefty penalty in fees for breaking the job contracts.

In some countries in South America and Central America, you must speak Spanish to get a job teaching ESL. In Japan, some schools will either require that you speak Japanese first or give you a crash course after you arrive. Others will not have any such requirement.

Teaching a second language without speaking the student's first language is a common method. It is called "immersion method". Most schools in China want their teachers to use that method and some even forbid that you speak Chinese during class. It is not true that the government requires all kids to begin learning English in the third grade. The level of starting to learn English is determined by each school area. In most areas of China, it is often the 7th or 8th grade. In Shanghai, it is 2nd or 3rd grade. Some students whose parents can afford it go to a private school in the evenings or on weekend to learn English. But no matter what, half or more of the kids age 9 or older in a class of 20 will have plenty who know how to say "What's that mean?" or "I need to go to the toilet" so it's not really a problem.

If you have enough skill in observing what goes on around you and try to learn some phrases in the local language, you will be fine in your daily life. There are supermarkets with prices clearly marked and scanners at the checkout so you can just read 'em and pay. I started in northwestern China with no skill in speaking Chinese and got along just fine.

Do some research online before you decide what you want to do. If you read about 50 experiences, figure the two worst may be the fault of the foreign teacher not looking out and not trying to get along. The two best are from the opposite effect plus some luck. The average of the other 46 is what you can expect but your attitude will move you up toward the best experiences.

Start reading from the links below.

Answer 4

the chinese govenment has declared that 230 million students in the country starting in the 3rd grade will need to learn english. so yes you could get a position teaching. do you need to know something about the country, sure, but only if you want to do something outside of the classroom. how else are you going to get around. so take some language and culture classes while you are studying. is your bf going to get into a country like that, probably not, they execute criminals for that type of behavior.

Answer 5

Yes, you do need to learn the language first In order too Teach overseas because It will cost you more when you don't know the language, my old high school Teacher was a Dual Citizen of Germany and America he told me once, " You can save $4,000 In Germany when you know the language." Its going too cost you If don't know there language.

As for your boyfriend past record they may or may not accept depending on the state laws where you live In.