5 Things You Learn When You Teach | Benefits of Being an ESL Teacher and Living Abroad
Hoi An, Vietnam
1. HOW TO THINK ON YOUR TOES
Being a teacher of any kind involves a great deal of trial and error. Every student is an individual and because of this, no two are the same, each will learn differently. With such variation in learning styles and levels in the classroom, you are forced to make adjustments while and when the students are learning. You’ll plan your lessons and prepare but odds are it won’t always pan out the way you had envisioned. Even when it does, what works for one class, may not work for another. This is where you learn to adapt and react to what is working and more importantly, what is NOT working. In order to be successful in your teaching, you will learn to think on your toes and navigate unique challenges both quickly and effectively.
2. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BELONG TO A WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY
One of the most beautiful aspects of living and working abroad is the people you meet along the way. As an ESL Teacher, you are given the opportunity to cross paths with people from all over the world. Whether it be at work or in your personal life, your paths will cross and connections will be made. You start out as strangers, maybe co-workers or neighbors and very quickly you grow into friends. Oftentimes and as mushy as it sounds, these friendships could last forever. I believe our relationships with others to be what connects us to the world around us. It is what keeps me rooted in the space that surrounds me and is a key component in fostering a sense of belonging. With each new friend, greater community and support is built and it’s one that isn’t tied down to a postcode or city. This is a worldwide community and wherever you go, it goes with you.
Shangri-La, China
3. CONFIDENCE
You’re the teacher, which means this is your classroom and you're the one in charge. Prior to being a teacher, I was absolutely NOT a fan of standing up in front of a room and speaking. The idea of public speaking spun my stomach into knots. Now after training and years of practice, I can stand in front of a room with confidence rather than fear. Being a leader in any form or setting requires an ability to command and well, to put it simply, lead. Leading your own classroom gives you the space to grow both your confidence and leadership skills.
4. CULTURAL AWARENESS
Teaching ESL offers a unique dynamic that you may not find when teaching in your home country. In a classroom abroad, a cultural exchange takes place between you and your students. Language is embedded into one’s culture which means as you teach them English, they inadvertently learn about the culture of your home country as well. This doesn't remain one-sided either, your students will unveil more and more about their culture through their learning. The way your students behave, what they say and the kinds of questions they ask, are some ways you learn a great deal from your students as an ESL teacher.
5. A WIDER PERSPECTIVE
Acclimating into a country and a culture different from your own is not always a smooth and easy transition. Deeply rooted norms, morals and perspectives are tied to our culture. Our perspective is slowly built over the years, it is a complicated brew, consisting of our upbringing, environment and individual experiences. This is what molds our perspective into what is. When we step into the world of another, we may take a liking to some of the differences but many will contradict what we believe to be ‘true’ and ‘finite’. As we learn more about these differences, we may come to understand them and if not, we at least grow to be comfortable around them, we learn to live with them. With an open mind and an accepting heart, our perspective begins to expand and suddenly, there’s more than one lens through which we view the world.
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
If you let it, living abroad can encourage transformative self-growth and teaching ESL really does offer up a deeper experience. You walk away with the kind of memories that force a grin upon your face; you gain incredibly kind-hearted and genuine human beings as lifelong best friends; and ultimately, you evolve as a person and develop life skills that bleed into all areas of your life.
If you’re interested in learning how to get started in your teach-abroad journey, click here.
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In 2020 the pandemic flipped the world upside down and it wasn’t until recently that life resumed its old ways. Today, the effects of the pandemic still linger and affect us each in our own way. Covid challenged my patience and resolve, as it did for most of us. In the end, the virus gifted many of us with new insights and perspectives. In the end, many lessons were learned.