7 Debunked Myths On Teaching English
Ever thought about teaching English to people outside your country? If so, then you might have heard many things about teaching English – most of them that are actually misconceptions.
So, as you do your research on the job, we’re here to tell you the 7 common myths about teaching English, along with the truth about them:
1. “You Have To Speak The Language That You’ll Be Teaching In.”
“The truth is, you don’t need to speak another language to teach English abroad,” says Taj Micklem, a business writer at Paper fellows and State of writing. “Although it’s a bonus in your teaching portfolio, it’s not mandatory. You teaching the class in English only allows your students to be fully immersed in an environment where they can learn sentence and grammar structure naturally.”
2. “Teaching English is easy, because I speak English.”
A common myth, assuming that you speaking English can make teaching English a walk in the park. However, many veteran English teachers will tell you that you have to do more than speak English to get the job and do it right.
For example, if you’re not able to explain a word like “comfortable” to a student who doesn’t know what it means, then you’ve failed at being an English teacher. This goes to show that teaching English means knowing the methods of teaching, not just speaking the language. In other words, when it comes to teaching English words to students, you have to be able to explain why English speakers say something a certain way.
And, if you’re not fully comfortable teaching English, then some training will help you gain confidence.
3. “You’ll Only Teach Children English”
Actually, you’ll teach children AND adults. It’s possible that you’ll have adult students coming to you to learn English – which, by the way, there’s nothing wrong with that. Even business professionals might come to you to learn English, so that they can improve their skills. Teaching English will – and should be – a win-win for everyone involved.
4. “Teaching English Will Affect Your Future Prospects”
If teaching English should “affect future prospects,” then it would most likely do so in a positive way. In fact, many English teachers go on to other professions, since they’re used their teaching experiences to gain new skills, and build confidence when meeting new people. In short, it’s a nice thing to have on a resume.
5. “You’re Taking The Locals’ Job!”
“In actuality, you’re not taking anyone’s job, when you teach English in a different country,” says Zane Davidson, a blogger at Oxessays and Liahelp. “The point of teaching English abroad is to help the locals, not take their jobs. Teaching English in their community will benefit them in terms of getting a job, getting ahead in other avenues in life, and so on.”
6. “All Of Your Students Will Be From China”
Even though China is one of the biggest markets for English learners in the world, that still doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones learning English! Take South America, Asia, the Middle East, and so on – there are many people in those countries that WANT to learn English. So, whether you’re teaching abroad or teaching online, you can reach out to any country you’d like!
7. “You’re Too Old To Teach!”
Don’t let age limit your chances of teaching English! Don’t! The truth is, there are no age restrictions for teaching English.
Though, some countries will have some age restrictions due to the visas required. For example, in some Asian countries, if you’re over 60, you can’t obtain a work visa, because you have to be under the retirement age to have a work visa there. However, if you’re working online, then this restriction won’t apply to you.
And sometimes, if you’re older, then you might be more comfortable teaching business professionals, because not only will you have experience with English, but you’ll also have life and (possibly) business experience. So, don’t ever feel that you have to be a certain age to teach English.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are many myths surrounding the idea of teaching English. And although there are many others that haven’t been discussed in this article, these 7 are the most common myths – now debunked!
Therefore, it’s important for you to do some research, and see if being an English teacher is right for you. You can even ask a few people who are experienced in the job.
We hope that this article was beneficial in pursuing your dream of teaching English abroad or online! Have a great time!
Kristin Herman is a writer at UK Writings and Academized. She is also a contributing writer for Boom essays. As a marketing writer, she blogs about the latest trends in digital advertising.
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