The first day of any job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As a first-time ESL teacher, you’ll have nerves surrounding what takes place in the classroom on that first day. In addition to these nerves, you’ll be navigating new cultural norms and adjusting to life in a foreign country. Encompassing everything in both of these adjustments, it’s important to remember to be patient with yourself and find comfort in the fact that building confidence will take time. Do your best to view the mistakes and uncomfortable moments as a necessary part of the learning process.

Let’s jump straight into why you’re here - your first day as an ESL teacher. Here are my top tips for starting off on the right foot.

1. Come prepared with plenty of ideas, activities and a plan B for anything that might not work.

You’ll quickly learn that no two classes are the same and what works in one may not work in the other. Prepare yourself for activities and ideas you had planned to fail in the classroom. In order to help yourself in these situations, always have some backup activities ready to go.

2. Focus on Building rapport with the students.

The first day on the job should be focused on getting to know your students. It’s important that you allow enough time for this aspect of your classroom dynamic. Learn your students’ names, interests, backgrounds and include plenty of engaging activities and icebreakers. Building a positive rapport will create a more comfortable and effective learning environment. A healthy rapport is also crucial in gaining respect and control of the classroom, the first day with your new class should be FUN, keep it light and focus on connecting with your new students.

tips for first time ESL teachers, in the classroom, first day on the job — Phong Nha National Park, Vietnam

3. Keep an open mind and remember that cultural norms will emerge in the classroom.

Take the time to learn a little about the cultural norms, customs, and traditions of the country you'll be teaching in. This will help you relate to your students and understand their behavior better. This will take time so don’t be too hard on yourself for any misconceptions or mistakes made. The cultural exchange that takes place here is actually one of the greatest parts of teaching ESL and why it offers you a deeper experience abroad altogether.

4. Building rapport also requires getting to know you.

Make time for introducing yourself and sharing details about your background. Allow your students to ask questions and get to know you. You can make sharing information fun and interesting by creating a guessing game with hints and clues. You can make this interactive and personal, sharing photos of where you are from or your family really allows your students to build a personal connection with you.

5. Establish classroom rules, expectations and routines.

It’s important to find a balance between a fun, welcoming atmosphere and distinct rules. At the end of your lesson or first day, set clear expectations for behavior, participation and everyday routine. Explain your rules and consequences and I would recommend implementing a reward system for participation. It’s important that you keep consistent with enforcing the rules you set so that the boundaries are clear to your students and they know what to expect each day.

6. Use visual aids and incorporate imagery they can relate to.

Many people are visual learners and with language barriers found in an ESL classroom, visual aids are super important to bridge language gaps. Remember to incorporate things like pictures, diagrams, and realia, to enhance comprehension and engage your students. Your students will learn more when they can physically interact with their learning. Pay attention to the kind of examples you use and try to use visual aids that they can personally relate to. For example, instead of showing photos of an American house or kitchen, you can use images of your average home within their country. Ideally, you’d want to use both as a way of expanding on their knowledge of other cultures and exploring a discussion of differences.

7. Be patient and empathetic with yourself and your students.

Understand that your students will have varying levels of English proficiency and may struggle to express themselves. It’s important that you remain patient and create a supportive environment that encourages them to participate and learn at their own pace.

Prepare yourself for extreme or varied levels within one class, this can be challenging to accommodate. This is where scaffolding and multiple versions or levels are important pieces of preparation. While you play games and engage in activities, be sure to pay attention to your students’ levels. This will help you tailor your lessons to their needs and abilities.

8. Encourage student participation.

If your students are not involved in what you are doing, you will lose them. It’s important to promote active learning by encouraging students to participate. Classroom participation can be achieved through activities, discussions, asking questions, or working in pairs or groups. Encouraging your students to also work together helps foster a sense of community. Incorporating a reward system in the classroom will be a great tool for this and it will motivate your students further to be involved.

9. Be prepared to make mistakes and to be bad before you’re good.

It's the same as any skill, getting good at anything requires time and practice. If this is your first time teaching ESL, you’re going to have some rocky days and you will make mistakes. The sooner you make peace with this, the better you’ll be able to learn from those experiences. As a teacher, you’ll actually be learning just as much in the classroom, check out the things you learn when you teach abroad.

You can find some peace in the fact that when something goes wrong, odds are you are the only one who has noticed. Remember that it's your lesson, you’re in charge of the classroom and your students will follow your lead. When something goes wrong, don’t let it frazzle you, adjust, adapt and carry on with your lesson. This will happen and it is okay.

10. Reflect and adjust.

After your first day, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. Adjust your teaching strategies as needed to better meet the needs of your students.

Remember, the first day is just the beginning of your teaching journey and your adventure abroad. With time and experience, you'll grow more comfortable and confident in your role as an ESL teacher. If you can find joy in the process of learning, your teaching will benefit and so will your students.

If you or someone you know is interested in teaching abroad for the first time, you can learn more about how to begin here.

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