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Where to TEFL (Teach and Explore Foreign Lands)
 It’s sometimes said that the modern boom in teaching English abroad began, like the British Empire, somewhat inadvertently. It’s certainly clear that for some the urge to first work abroad has a lot to do with a desire to experience exotic places and people, with English lessons seen as a more congenial method of finance than washing dishes. But which way to go? What follows is in no way a global summary, but just some thoughts based on personal experience – there’s lots more in Module 3 of GE’s TEFL Cert course, and of course specific advice in our Country Fact Sheets in the Members’ Area of the GE website. And always check the ‘security’ of your intended destination in the Foreign Office website, of course.
Europe first?
Many new EFL teachers instinctively envisage Europe as a first stop, often southern Europe. Spain for example has long proved welcoming to the younger, less experienced teacher, and most major centres have maintained a strong demand for English lessons, both in schools and (when you’ve got the contacts) privately.
Communications are easier too, even these days. Some jobs are filled on the basis of a telephone interview. I once long ago responded to an ad in the Tuesday Guardian. The only questions were
Can you speak Spanish? - A little. There was a pause.
Have you any teaching qualification? – No (at that time, I hasten to add). There was a longer pause. Have you any experience? – No.
There was then a very long pause indeed, followed by When can you start?
Generally speaking though, there can unfortunately be something of an inverse ratio between the perceived attractions of a location and the pay on offer. That job in Seville or Florence may offer a minimal wage only because applicants would sell their grandmothers to live there. Consider your priorities in this respect, allowing enough resources for setting-up costs and, of course, actually enjoying the place once you’re there.
Which part of Europe?
It’s worth some research if you’re taking up a formal job, even in southern Europe. Differences in lifestyle between a major centre like Madrid and a small town are often more marked than in the UK (though the standard of bus and rail links can be a revelation). And a relatively unvarying climate can be wearing for those who enjoy (?) the vagaries of British weather. (But perhaps that’s the reason for going!) Keep in mind north-south divides too. The industrial north of Italy is a different world, culturally and meteorologically, from the south. Spain’s cooler, rainy Basque country contrasts strongly with warmer, more extrovert Andalusia.
It’s not just the weather…
Things may be changing, but still be prepared for a lot of teaching at the lower levels up to Intermediate in Southern Europe. Jobs further north are usually more difficult to get, but the challenge of teaching (probably) more advanced students can be stimulating after a more restricted diet of Elementary and Intermediate classes. But for a real adventure, consider travelling behind the old ‘Iron Curtain’ to the new member states of the EU. Poland and the Czech Republic have established TEFL infrastructures and the Baltic republics (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) offer excellent opportunities for the more adventurous.
Spread your wings - Asia
Even if you start relatively near home, I’d recommend some longer-distance TEFL earlier rather later in one’s career, before life’s other commitments accumulate. My own approach has been to travel as far as possible while (relatively) young, and I know few who’ve regretted it. Like many people, you may find that Asia offers the greatest variety of all, if your mind is open to it. Beware though, because “they do things differently there” despite superficial appearances, and a spell of actually living in South-East or South Asia can change your view of life, and particularly of life in the UK – British life can seem more tightly governed by rules and convention, for example, more introverted and even more parochial.
They speak things differently there too. Many East Asian languages differ fundamentally from European tongues. Not least, there’s the question of intonation. One word may have several different ‘tunes’, rise or fall, fall-rise etc, giving rise to completely different meanings. Burmese for example has 4 ways of intoning “ma”. Two of these mean in English “Miss (somebody)” and “cat”, so it’s clearly advisable to get it right – the Burmese are tolerant, but not that tolerant.
Be a language learner too
Language differences may make English teaching a bit of a challenge, but they have another effect for the teacher/explorer - quite simply, it takes more time and effort to acquire say, Thai than Spanish, even at the simplest level, and this can impede your cultural understanding and restrict your social life. At worst, it can encourage you to limit yourself to the local expat community, which rather defeats our object.
The Middle East
It’s sad that conflicts so limit the scope for safe travel and work here. Even where no actual conflict is reported, there can be underlying tensions, and there are always risks inherent in local travel especially if you lack sensitive ‘antennae’ and reasonable fluency in Arabic. A British teaching colleague for example was killed at a Beirut checkpoint, and it seems most likely to have been the result of a simple misunderstanding.
It’s not all desert
There’s much more variety to the area than you’d expect. Life in parts of Egypt is about as simple as it gets, but Cairo has a sophisticated, urbane side. Life and work in more conservative Saudi Arabia are dominated by religion, with lessons arranged around prayer breaks, censorship and ‘religious police’ to enforce the rules – but even here interpretation is far stricter in puritanical Riyadh than more laid-back Jeddah on the Red Sea.
Do-buy Dubai
For the most startling contrast, take a look at bustling Dubai, a well-established international trade centre with a budding tourist industry. Great for the shopoholics amongst you. Students tend to be blasé, well provided for and, dare one say it, apparently outnumbered by foreigners: the proportion of expats in the population is high, and a vast range of nationalities is represented.
The Sultanate of Oman
If you like simpler, more traditional exotic cultures, but without sacrificing all Western comforts, consider Oman. I have a particular soft spot for the Sultanate and its welcoming, outward-looking people. Moderate oil wealth has allowed development without excess (mostly), and a benign regime has looked particularly to Britain for its educators, trainers, architects etc. (If you wonder why Britain has so many dismal buildings, it’s because most of the talent is ‘out there’).
Oman’s not easy to locate on a map, even though it’s bigger than England. Many people vaguely imagine you’re talking about the capital of Jordan. Look along the bottom edge of Arabia – Oman largely shares it with Yemen to the west. It has a stunning coastline and craggy mountains up to 10,000 feet, several types of desert, green wooded hills, farmland, lakes and an occasional waterfall. It borders a proper ocean and has a rich history of science, trade and exploration as far afield as China. Not bad for a ‘desert’ country.
Spoiled for choice
So, don’t feel you are limited. We’re fortunate that the demand for English tuition is so widespread and so sustained. It means we can look beyond the obvious countries for both work and exploration, and there are possibilities in secondary centres as well as capital cities. Good luck with your own TEFL exploring - and don’t forget to send us a quick email or postcard – we love hearing from you.
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