Job Discussion Forums

[JasperT]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the job opportunities are for non native TEFL teachers. I see a lot of ads on the web asking specifically for native speakers, even some that list English speaking countries... I am Dutch and eventhough I am completely fluent in the English, have a TEFL and univeristy degree, this worries me a little. Are my worries justified?

thanks for your time,

Jasper

[Chris_Crossley]

Jasper, there is already a thread on this very forum on this very subject. I'll link you to one of my messages, which was an answer to somebody asking what the chances were of a non-native getting a TEFL job.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=152251&highlight=#152251

Hope it gives you some idea.

[Nauczyciel]

Hi

This discussion has been going on for ages. You're not the first non-native speaker to ask this question here nor the first Dutch willing to go teaching and traveling. I think firstly you should search the forum for "non-native" - you'll get plenty of results. Basically, if you are really fluent in English and have relevant education, I'm sure you'll land a good job, especially as an EFL teacher in China, and maybe in some other countries as well.

Good luck

[lagerlout2006]

As for the "list of countries" you mention that usually applies to gov't regulations fo work visa.


(I find it funny that everytime a non-native speaker or someone with no degree asks about work people jump in and say "Go To China." The PRC thanks you. ) China is a tough place to teach and-believe it or not-they have high expectations. These people should suggest kiddie schools in Korea or Taiwan.

[Sekhmet]

I know that with the relevant education, non-native speakers can find jobs pretty easily here in Egypt. My housemate actually works with a Dutch lady, for Amideast, one of the biggest education companies out here (along with the British Council). So, go for it!! What can you lose by trying??

[Nauczyciel]

lagerlout2006, it's not funny - it's just realistic. Will you recommend illegal work to anybody? I guess not, but that's what you've just done. In case you don't know, Korean schools are not allowed by law to employ non-native speakers (it's more less the same in Indonesia, Japan etc.). On the other hand, Chinese schools do not "flinch" at the idea of hiring non-native speakers, presumably for the reason of the enormous demand that the native ones cannot satisfy. In China, if you are an experienced well-educated teacher from a non-English speaking country, you will get a job you want.

I don't want to say though that you cannot work somewhere else. Yes, you can find non-natives working in other countries as well, but these are exceptions. It just takes much more time and effort and you need to be prepared for an unwanted outcome. I actually know of a few non-native speakers teaching English in Japan or Korea, but as far as I know they found jobs on the spot, not via the Internet. If someone is able to fork out the money to take a plane to the other side of the globe for a blind date and live there for God knows how long before he finds a school willing to employ him, good luck to him. If not, I will maintain that s/he should sit at the computer at home and mail Chinese schools.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[GeminiTiger]

Not to start a fight but my experience is that the Dutch have a
cleaner more concise handle on English than the English do.

[Stephen Jones]

[leeroy]

[ShapeSphere]

[BluePinay]

I agree with ShapeSphere ( I agree that the Dutch (plus Scandinavians) have an excellent aptitude for English. But they lack the informal phrases, the slang, the humour that native speakers have. But they still make excellent teachers and good luck to them) . No offense to non-native English speakers as I'm a non-native English speaker myself. Some non-native English speakers have definitely excellent English. However, informal phrases, slang and humour can be learned as we interact with native speakers along the way.

On the other hand, to teach English you have to use the standard phrases, the correct pronunciation and composition of the English language. It has to start from there. Again, the slang, humour and informal phrases will come in a little later as they master the language.

[dajiang]

I agree with that last post.
I'm Dutch as well, and I think that being non-native, we really should pay a lot more attention to idioms, slang, puns and most importantly: accent.
It helps to have lived abroad for some time, and to have worked with native speakers, but I i know that I have to keep working on my pronunciation. Just get your phonetics right, and you'll be alright.

I've met native speakers that didn't know anything about their own language (grammar and spelling), which I think is terrible, especially when you're an EFL teacher, but they do have the ability to use English in all its subtleties without always being aware of it.
I think most (travelling) Dutch have a pretty good grasp of English, but with most of them you can still clearly hear they're not native speakers.
Moreover, in Holland I think our 'mastery' of English is highly overrated. Sure, everyone can say some words to foreigners and most of us refuse to speak german or french to our visiting neighbours, but really the quality of English spoken there is not that good.

One thing I've got to look out for is that my English deteriorates after a while of teaching basic/elementary English. I really should visit the UK again to improve my pronunciation. Do native speakers have this problem as well btw?

Anyway, as to getting jobs being non-native, check out the other threads. In the China job-related there are some threads with all the info you need.

[Celeste]

[Peaches En Regalia]