Can I teach English abroad without any teaching experience?
Yes, it is entirely possible to teach English abroad without any previous teaching experience. In countries across the world there is a huge demand for English language instruction and often not enough teachers to fill the available positions. Every year, tens of thousands of teachers go abroad to work in schools and language centers and as few as 10% of these will have had any form of prior classroom experience.
How do I teach English without knowing my student's language?
Regardless of the country you are working in, you will almost certainly teach your students using the method known as total immersion. This worldwide teaching method simply means that English is the only language used in the classroom, from the start to the end of each lesson. The fact is, most students are unable to move to an English speaking country in order to be surrounded by the language on a daily basis, so it is the teachers responsibility to bring this environment to their students in the classroom.
How will a TESOL certification help me in the classroom?
Although you do not need experience to be a good ESL teacher, simply being an English speaker does not qualify you to teach the language in the classroom. To be a good teacher you need to have a set of specific skills and knowledge that needs to be learned and then practiced before embarking on your career. A TESOL certification course will provide all the specialist skills necessary to deliver successful lessons. During the course you will study many vital topics such as lesson planning, grammar awareness and classroom management that will give you the confidence to walk into your first classroom fully ready to teach.
