 The truth about TEFL for non-native English-speaking teachers Sometimes non-native English speakers are discouraged in their pursuit of teaching English as a foreign language With the right TEFL certification course and training, anyone who is a fluent English speaker can also be a great teacher There is really no reason for non-native English speakers to worry as the following alumni report will clearly show This post was written by RITTT graduate Lola H. I chose this topic because I am not a native English speaker And being a non-native English speaking teacher, in my case in South Korea, has its advantages, but also some disadvantages I will develop the disadvantages first, then introduce the advantages English proficiency First of all, if you are not a native English speaking teacher, you have to prove that you have got the required language level to teach English, which is usually not required for a native English speaker For a few months, some parents would regularly question my abilities or ask how it is possible for me to be French and speak English Even though it could be very stressful, I did my best to prove to them that I had the required level to teach their children It took some time, but once they noticed their children's progress and heard the good things their children would say about me, the questioning eventually stopped Nobody knows everything Also, being a non-native English speaking teacher could lead to awkward situations when a student asks for something that I do not know Even though I am fluent, there are still some words or grammar points that I do not know or that I do not always remember, especially the ones that are not used on a daily basis When that happens, I tell them that I do not remember and that I will look for the information to be able to give them an accurate answer as soon as possible That is an awkward situation, but I do not lie as I believe lying could lead to an unhealthy relationship with the students Being able to trust each other is, in my opinion, a big factor that helps to maintain a good atmosphere in the class and that keeps the teacher-student relationship healthy You can relate to your students Besides these disadvantages, being a non-native English speaking teacher obviously has advantages as well As a non-native English speaker, I also had to learn English, which makes it easy to understand the student's struggles as I had to face the same issues at some points in my life I can, therefore, understand the student's frustrations and I believe it is easier to help them overcome these feelings for someone who had to face the same problems than for someone who did not struggle I have some students who sometimes want to give up because they feel like they are behind the group or because they do not understand some grammar points When that happens, I remind them that I also went through this that for years I have been saying poop instead of pop and would not know the difference between throw up and throw away But that today I am a certified English teacher By saying this, students realize that they can relate to me, that I understand them and that learning English is possible even though it is a long journey It makes them gain confidence and motivation, which I believe is a very important factor in learning a language You can anticipate the student's problems Also, being a non-native English speaking teacher makes it easier to anticipate the mistakes the students could make when learning a new grammar point as I probably made the same once years ago This advantage is, in my opinion, pretty important as I know what to highlight during a lesson in order to avoid these mistakes, which I believe saves a lot of time and allows the students to spend more time being creative during the activate phase of a lesson Non-native English speaking teachers rule To conclude, I would say that I believe that the advantages of being a non-native English speaking teacher really outweigh the disadvantages as being a non-native English speaker gives the teacher more empathy toward the students which creates a healthy, beautiful relationship between them Are you ready to teach English abroad? Apply now for your TEFL TESOL certification course and start teaching in a matter of months To speak with an ITTT advisor today, to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 To speak with an ITTT advisor today