Teaching English abroad is a fantastic way to experience other cultures, see the world and get paid to do it – but with the massive increase in numbers of people heading overseas to teach comes a massive increase in the number of mistakes they make.. here are some of the main ones to avoid:

1) Talking too quickly

After you’ve got the hang of ordering beers, what’s one of the first phrases you learn when you start another language? It’s almost always ‘Can you speak a little slower please’. It is fiendishly difficult to make sense of a second language when the speaker is talking incredibly fast – so if you’re faced with a room of blank faces, make it a little easier for everyone by speaking slooowly and clearly, and enunciating every syllable.

2) Not doing a TEFL course

Imagine getting behind the wheel of a car, having never done a driving lesson before. That’s a bit what stepping in front of a TEFL class without a TEFL certificate is like – you might be able to make it go forwards and backwards, but it’s pretty likely you’ll crash into something sooner or later. Neither you, nor your students, will gain much from the experience and you’ll find that it could soon descend into chaos! What’s more, not having a TEFL certificate will limit you to the jobs with poorer pay and working conditions.

3) Disrespecting local customs

Did you know that touching children’s heads in Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, is massively disrespectful? Suddenly that friendly pat on the head doesn’t seem like such a good plan! No matter where you’re teaching, there’ll always be cultural differences for you to fall foul of, so make sure you research the country’s customs to avoid offending or upsetting anyone.

4) Not reading your contract

Poring over your contract and checking your job conditions may not sound like the most exciting activity in the world, but things like working hours, extra-curricular commitments, holidays, training and the school’s reputation could make or break your experience of teaching abroad. Ignore them at your peril! There’s a great article here about what you should be looking out for.

5) Untidiness

Unlike the healthy mix of derision and disrespect Westerners have for their own teachers, most teachers in other parts of the world are pretty high up on the social ladder. As a result, turning up for work looking like you’ve just crawled out of the nearest bar is something of a no no – both students and other teachers will think you don’t care about your classes. Much better to make a bit of an effort and get the respect of your students and peers.