Whatever your nationality or background, there are plenty of EFL teaching jobs available as the worldwide market for TEFL qualified teachers is simply massive. In fact, the demand is so strong that you can even pick and choose which job you prefer in some areas around the world. Thanks to this demand, non-native English speakers with a TEFL Qualification are in a great position to find employment in many countries. The truth is, of the thousands of trainees who graduate from our courses every year, there are always more non-native speakers than native speakers. As long as you are a fluent English speaker with a good-quality TEFL certificate under your belt, there is nothing stopping you from achieving your goals as an EFL teacher.
In reality, non-native English speakers actually have some advantages over native speakers when it comes to teaching EFL. Many non-native speakers have a clearer understanding of English grammar as they have had to learn it all from the bottom up. It is also true that many English language students prefer to learn from a non-native speaker as they feel they can empathise with their own situation better having been through the exact same process themselves. Essentially, where you were born and the language you grew up speaking have little bearing on your chances of building a successful career as an EFL teacher, either at home or overseas.
Where do Non-native English Teachers Teach?
While it is true that some countries have visa restrictions that limit EFL teaching to native English speakers only, there are also many others that have no such limitations. Before and during your TEFL course you will no doubt be considering where you want to teach once you have your TEFL certificate in your hand.
Many non-native speakers choose to stay and teach in their home country where jobs are often easy to find, while others choose to work online from the comfort of their own home or while moving from one place to the next. However, if you prefer the idea of living and working abroad check out our FAQ: Where can I teach English abroad as a non-native speaker? Here you will find a broad overview of your job prospects in different parts of the world.
Thinking About Teaching English Online?
Many ITTT course graduates, both native and non-native speakers, choose to teach English online once qualified. If this is something you might be interested in, take a look at our specialized online teaching course that covers all you need to know about this unique field of EFL teaching.
You should also check out our FAQ: Can I teach English as a foreign language online? Here you will find some basic insight into starting out as an online EFL teacher.
While you are there you can also browse through over 200 other commonly asked questions in our FAQ section and find out the answers in straightforward and easy to understand English. Whatever you need to know about teaching English at home or abroad, we have the answers at ITTT.
