Hot Topic: What People Really Think About TEFL Teachers

Many people think TEFL teachers have a fantastic exotic life. After all, they get to live in a foreign country, where the cost of living is low, and all they have to do is speak English and they get paid for it.

The truth of the matter is that many people, especially employers back home may look down on TEFL teachers precisely because of this. In addition, locals might look down on TEFL teachers since local teachers are often more qualified and have more experience than foreign teachers. Expats with "real jobs" probably don't think too highly of TEFL teachers and some may simply consider them to be little more than dancing white monkeys.

So if you're a TEFL teacher, what can you do? Get qualified, learn a bit of the local language, behave well, stay sober, be responsible and show up on time and plan your lessons. Don't forget about making your skills work for you if you want to get a job back home. Try reading making a career out of TEFL and furthering your education for more info.

What do you think?
How are TEFL teachers perceived where you work?  What do you do to change the negative stereotype of TEFL teachers?

Got an idea for a hot topic?
Email me with your hot topic, name, and website (if you have one) and I'll post it ASAP.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement