You’ll find it’s well worth the effort to invest time in
polishing your English grammar and syntax skills. And honing your penmanship for easy readability is a nice gesture to your students.
Some students of select
countries are very serious about learning new languages and will expect you to
have near-encyclopedic knowledge. Beware that a poor review by a student to
your employer could jeopardize your future job placement elsewhere.
Students from unpaid classes usually expect less, but again, if you teach
students who pay good money to have a certified instructor, it’s only fair that
they receive your best services.
It’s also in your best interest to invest in some TEFL
guidebooks and English grammar reference books (some of which are listed later
in the article). Don’t assume that the school at which you teach will have
enough teaching manuals and reference texts to go around.
But don’t worry about glancing at a reference book from time
to time. Your students recognize that it’s impossible to have mastered every
obscure rule of the English language. Having the proper guidebook handy can be
a lifesaver.
Brushing Up on the Local Culture:
Use travelogues and online newspapers to read up on the
local history and political climate of the nation in which you plan to teach.
One excellent site is Travel Pod, where you can read travelogues
about your host country, written by people of your own native country.
If you have special needs, be sure
to inquire ahead of time about where you can find your supplies or dietary
preferences. Medical needs are obvious: prescriptions, insulin, etc. Dietary concerns such as lactose intolerance and food allergies are important to consider as well. If you experience an allergic reaction to a local food, be sure to have quick access to medical attention. This includes checking the availability of public transportation and the average time it takes for ambulances to arrive. Additionally, some nations are not ideal for the diets of vegetarians and
vegans, because they may not have access to expensive products like soymilk and certain vegetables. Don’t expect all foreign cultures to have every accommodation or luxury
you’re used to at home.
If you teach in a nation that offers public transportation,
familiarize yourself with it. Being privy to the discounted resources can save
good money.