Things You'll Need:
- Other ESL teachers
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Step 1
Connect with other teachers. If you're in negotiations with a school, ask to talk with some foreign teachers working for them. Visit online forums for ESL teachers and look for teachers who've worked in the country you'll be going to. Ask about the local lifestyle and get tips for teaching, such as which topics are good for sparking discussion and which you should avoid.
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Step 2
Gather teaching material. The school you teach for will most likely have a library for teachers, but it's better to be prepared before you leave. Look at the ESL teaching material you can get in your area. Try to find at least a basic book of grammar exercises to take with you. Also gather some interesting reading like comics, travel brochures and even grocery store circulars.
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Step 3
Brush up on English grammar and other varieties of English. Even if you just finished an ESL teaching course, it wouldn't hurt to dig a little deeper into the nuances of English grammar. It's not enough to say a phrase is incorrect because "It sounds wrong," you'll need to clearly explain the rules behind it. Why is it "a little red rubber ball" and not "a rubber red little ball?" Likewise, you'll need to know the differences between the British, American and other varieties of English so you assume a student has made a mistake when they're just using a different variety.
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Step 4
Learn about the culture's beliefs about education. Ideas about what makes a "good teacher" vary widely by culture. People in some cultures like teachers who are lively and like to joke around, while others expect teachers to be serious. In some cultures, students prefer to listen to a lecture and take notes, while in others, students want to interact with each other.
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Step 5
Build your language teacher vocabulary. Teaching will be a lot easier if you know the local language's words for things like "verb" and "present continuous." If you're studying the local language, finding translation for potentially confusing English phrases will help both you and your students. A construction like "The older you are, the more you know" can be very hard to explain without a translation.
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Step 6
Establish a backup plan. Don't expect your employer to get you settled in the country or your students to build your social life. Before you go, consider how you'll meet the locals, improve your language skills and learn your way around town. Prepare ahead for problems, too. What will you do if you can't stand the accommodations the school provides, you lose your job or you get sick?
