{"id":2796,"date":"2016-08-18T16:32:49","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T20:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/?p=2796"},"modified":"2017-04-27T15:24:27","modified_gmt":"2017-04-27T19:24:27","slug":"do-i-need-to-know-a-foreign-language-to-teach-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/do-i-need-to-know-a-foreign-language-to-teach-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Need to Know a Foreign Language to Teach ESL Overseas?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many prospective teachers ask\u202fwhether they need to know the language spoken in the country they hope to teach in. “Do I have to\u202fspeak fluent Korean to teach in\u202fSouth Korea<\/a>, or fluent Japanese to teach in\u202fJapan<\/a>?” The short answer is no, you do not have to speak the language, but the more of the language you do know, the easier the transition to your new country can be.<\/p>\n

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You don’t need to be a fluent speaker of the local language in your new country, but it’s great to know some of the basics.<\/p><\/div>\n

Here are 3 tips on the most important phrases and topics of conversation you should know, regardless of what language you are speaking or what country you are teaching ESL in.<\/p>\n

1. Learning Basic Phrases Before Teaching Abroad<\/h2>\n

You should spend some time memorizing some useful and basic phrases in the native language of the country.\u202fLearning how to say “hello” and “goodbye” is the best place to start.\u202fThese will endear you to the people at the market, taxi and bus drivers, and the staff at the schools where you will be teaching.<\/p>\n

In addition to the basic greetings, you also should learn: “Excuse me”, “I am sorry”, and “Thank you”.\u202fUnderstand that these are just the basics, and the effort you devote to really learning the language will vary from person to person, but I will say, the more you learn, the richer your experience living abroad will be.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re living in a city, you will find that many people will know some basic English, but using their language shows them that you\u2019re interested in their language and their culture. There is an honesty and the most genuine earnestness that comes across when someone is speaking a second language, and it\u2019s something that brings people closer together. You don’t have to be fluent to reach this point.<\/p>\n

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Getting directions can be difficult in any city, so knowing how to ask for directions in the local language is key, especially in big cities like Rio<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Getting Directions While Living and Teaching Abroad<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve learned the basics, I suggest getting a\u202fphrasebook for the native language of your country. A great next step is learning how to ask for directions: “turn left, turn right, go straight,” and so forth. These will come in handy for both giving directions to a taxi driver, or asking for directions to a store, restaurant, or tourist sight. Once you get the basic phrases down, learn how to count. This will be useful in multitude of situations:<\/p>\n