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How To Know If TEFL Is Right For You: Qualities That Make A Good Teacher
October 31, 2025
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What does TEFL involve?
- Questions to ask
- What qualities do you need?
- Misconceptions about TEFL
- Signs TEFL might not be for you
- How to explore TEFL further
Picture this: a classroom halfway across the world. You, teaching. Them, learning. You, learning too… about culture, life, and yourself.
TEFL can open doors to travel, cultural experiences and personal growth, but it’s not just a jump-on-the-bandwagon kind of decision. Before you get your feet wet, maybe pause and ask yourself:
Is teaching abroad really for me?
TEFL isn’t just about taking a course and hopping on a plane. The right mindset can open doors you never knew existed to just about anywhere in the world.
Read more: Qualities Of A Good TEFL Teacher
Matt is a travelling TEFL teacher who’s embraced the online teaching world and turned TEFL into his global passport.
I’ve been living and working abroad for the last six years and can honestly say it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. Today I’m here to dive into the ins and outs of the industry.
Read more: How You Can Live Abroad For A Year And Get Paid For It
What does TEFL really involve?
Honestly, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is a very broad term. It could mean teaching abroad, in your own country, or even online.
I’ve taught English online and in-person in Spain, South Korea and Türkiye. Each experience offered a different perspective within the TEFL industry.
Schedule: A typical day or week varies depending on your school, country or if you’re working online, but it generally follows the same routine: plan, prepare, teach.
Read more: A Day In The Life Of An English Teacher In Vietnam
Lesson planning: The amount of planning time you have depends on how many classes you’re expected to teach a day.
In Spain and Türkiye, I had plenty of time to plan for upcoming classes, but in South Korea, we were expected to submit monthly lesson plans two weeks ahead of time.
For online teaching positions, prep time depends on whether your company provides lesson materials or not. If they do, you don’t need to do anything besides teach.
Read more: Online Teaching Platforms You Need To Know
However, for my online private classes, I spend some time looking for the right lesson materials, as the company I work for doesn’t provide any. This is more time-consuming but also higher-paying than companies where you don’t do admin.
Out-of-class responsibilities: As for parent-teacher interaction, it depends on your role and the country in which you’re teaching.
In Spain and South Korea, as well as some other East Asian countries, you’ll have little to no interaction with parents. A local teaching assistant will do this.
Online, your job is to teach, not talk to parents — this is the responsibility of the company.
As a homeroom teacher in Türkiye, I was responsible for daily communication with parents to evaluate students’ progress. You’ll find this is often the case in international schools anywhere.
Read more: Things To Know About Turkish Classroom Culture
If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed about starting a TEFL career without teaching experience, don’t worry!
I’m not a teacher by trade, as I studied marketing and public relations at university, so a TEFL qualification was essential.
You’ll learn practical skills and how to become an effective TEFL teacher, and receive training and assistance before stepping into the classroom.
Teaching is a daily learning experience. I use my learnings from my TEFL course to become a better, more effective teacher.
Read more: What Do You Learn On A TEFL Course?
Questions to ask before becoming a TEFL teacher
If you are at a crossroads deciding whether or not you want to pursue TEFL, you’re not alone. Everyone should be asking themselves questions to determine if teaching is something that a person really wants to do.
From personal experience, the biggest question I had to ask myself was simply:
“Can you see yourself stepping into a foreign classroom and teaching your native language?”
As I was toying with figuring out my next steps in my life, this answer was a clear “yes”. You have to really want this life because it’s not a lifestyle that you should do if you aren’t 100% invested in yourself or have an inkling to be abroad.
If you’re all-in on getting TEFL certified, you then need to ask yourself:
“Am I at the right stage of my life to get involved with TEFL?”
There is no correct answer to this. Everybody has to evaluate all aspects of their life to see if they want to spend extended time abroad. Personally, I was ready to take this leap of faith because I had been so enamoured with the idea of living and working abroad.
What qualities make a great TEFL teacher?
What makes a good teacher? If you ask Google or ChatGPT, you may come up with a million responses.
There are some qualities that everyone agrees are important:
- Patience
- Creativity
- Flexibility
For me, patience is the most important when teaching non-native speakers because there will be times your students have issues with understanding.
Don’t fret — just be patient and work through it together.
View your class as your team with a common goal to learn and perfect the English language.
Secondly, creativity is what makes teaching fun and makes learning enjoyable and interesting for students, whether you’re teaching in-person or online.
If you have ever had boring language classes when you were a student, you can generally characterise these classes as boring and lacking creativity. Of course, you can learn a language by doing countless grammar exercises. But, is it fun? Are your students REALLY learning? Maybe, maybe not.
This is where creativity comes in — lean into your creative side. If you’re not creative, the internet is your friend
Read more: From Zero To Hero: Cool (Free) Resources To Make Your Online Lessons Amazing
Lastly, my third quality to succeed as a TEFL teacher would be flexibility. Unless you are doing TEFL in your own country (entirely possible), you’ll be working in a foreign country with elements that are foreign to you.
There will be things that are lost in translation or can be experienced as culture shock. This is where you need to be flexible and adaptable.
Flexibility allowed me to be open and understanding, and avoid culture clashes and unnecessary misunderstandings.
If you possess these qualities or work to improve them, you can become a great teacher even if you aren’t a teacher by trade.
Much like any other job in any industry, it’s important to possess a variety of soft skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. As you progress as a teacher, you’ll refine these skills and become an even better teacher.
Read more: Transferable Skills For TEFL Teachers
Common misconceptions about TEFL
Along with any job in any industry, there are always misconceptions. Within TEFL, there are a plethora you may hear about or see online. So, let’s address three big ones:
“You need to be a native speaker.”
This isn’t entirely true. If you’re looking to pursue a Work Visa to work in specific countries, you’ll need to be a native English speaker from one of their approved English-speaking nations.
In other countries, you’re not necessarily required to be a native speaker. However, you do need a solid grasp of English.
Read more: TEFL Jobs For Non-Native Speakers
You can find teaching opportunities worldwide without being a native English speaker, but you might need to work a little harder to find them.
“It’s just a holiday job.”
This is a huge misconception. Teaching abroad can be less stressful compared to your previous job, but it’s still a real job, not a holiday. So, work hard and do your best.
“You need to speak the language.”
Every time I tell someone I’ve taught in Spain, South Korea and Türkiye, I’m asked whether I’m fluent in Spanish, Korean and Turkish. I usually respond that knowing the language of the country is helpful, but not necessary, in the classroom.
In Türkiye, I was partnered with a local co-teacher who had to pretend that she couldn’t speak Turkish, forcing students to find ways around words they didn’t know. I found it really helped improve their speaking.
With that being said, if you’re going to live abroad, you should make an effort to learn the local language. Don’t be that person who spends a teaching contract abroad and can’t speak a lick of the local language.
Read more: Common TEFL Myths Busted!
Signs that TEFL might not be for you (yet!)
I think TEFL and living abroad can be for anyone if they have a curiosity to move abroad. Of course, if you’ve never been abroad and have no interest in doing so, maybe TEFL isn’t for you – unless, of course, you want to be a TEFL teacher in your home country or online.
My biggest advice for someone who has ever had a thought to pursue TEFL:
JUST DO IT!
If you don’t like it, you can always come home. You are never locked into something forever… TEFL is no different.
But it is important to consider adapting to new cultures, irregular income (sometimes) and if you can honestly see yourself as a teacher.
If you have doubts about any of these aspects of TEFL, I still say GO FOR IT!
While TEFL is not for everyone, no one can honestly say it isn’t for them without having actually tried it. Think of TEFL like trying a new food — maybe you love it or hate it. You would never know without tasting it.
Read more: Why TEFL Is Your Ticket To Freedom In 2025
Still unsure? Here’s how to explore TEFL further
Research
This is the best way to explore TEFL without fully committing. You can do this by watching webinars and YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, or speaking to other teachers. I’m more than happy to discuss my experiences, and I know I’m not the only one willing to share.
[You can find Matt on Instagram as @mattandperlie]
Find a TEFL mentor
I’ve spoken to TEFL teachers who’ve steered me in the right direction. You can discuss your doubts, concerns, and anything else about the industry. Personally, I wouldn’t be where I am today without having spoken to current teachers.
Volunteer or tutor
You could try volunteering or tutoring as a sort of litmus test for teaching. That way, you can feel out the role without having to move abroad.
I will always promote TEFL because it opened my eyes to this incredible world. I didn’t listen to the naysayers and did everything on my terms, and I couldn’t be happier.
At some point, you have to make your move.
TEFL isn’t something you figure out from the sidelines. Ask those questions, do your research and write your own TEFL story one lesson at a time.
Ready to kickstart your TEFL journey? Browse our accredited TEFL courses and discover where teaching English can take you!
Meet The Author
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What does TEFL involve?
- Questions to ask
- What qualities do you need?
- Misconceptions about TEFL
- Signs TEFL might not be for you
- How to explore TEFL further
Picture this: a classroom halfway across the world. You, teaching. Them, learning. You, learning too… about culture, life, and yourself.
TEFL can open doors to travel, cultural experiences and personal growth, but it’s not just a jump-on-the-bandwagon kind of decision. Before you get your feet wet, maybe pause and ask yourself:
Is teaching abroad really for me?
TEFL isn’t just about taking a course and hopping on a plane. The right mindset can open doors you never knew existed to just about anywhere in the world.
Read more: Qualities Of A Good TEFL Teacher
Matt is a travelling TEFL teacher who’s embraced the online teaching world and turned TEFL into his global passport.
I’ve been living and working abroad for the last six years and can honestly say it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. Today I’m here to dive into the ins and outs of the industry.
Read more: How You Can Live Abroad For A Year And Get Paid For It
What does TEFL really involve?
Honestly, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is a very broad term. It could mean teaching abroad, in your own country, or even online.
I’ve taught English online and in-person in Spain, South Korea and Türkiye. Each experience offered a different perspective within the TEFL industry.
Schedule: A typical day or week varies depending on your school, country or if you’re working online, but it generally follows the same routine: plan, prepare, teach.
Read more: A Day In The Life Of An English Teacher In Vietnam
Lesson planning: The amount of planning time you have depends on how many classes you’re expected to teach a day.
In Spain and Türkiye, I had plenty of time to plan for upcoming classes, but in South Korea, we were expected to submit monthly lesson plans two weeks ahead of time.
For online teaching positions, prep time depends on whether your company provides lesson materials or not. If they do, you don’t need to do anything besides teach.
Read more: Online Teaching Platforms You Need To Know
However, for my online private classes, I spend some time looking for the right lesson materials, as the company I work for doesn’t provide any. This is more time-consuming but also higher-paying than companies where you don’t do admin.
Out-of-class responsibilities: As for parent-teacher interaction, it depends on your role and the country in which you’re teaching.
In Spain and South Korea, as well as some other East Asian countries, you’ll have little to no interaction with parents. A local teaching assistant will do this.
Online, your job is to teach, not talk to parents — this is the responsibility of the company.
As a homeroom teacher in Türkiye, I was responsible for daily communication with parents to evaluate students’ progress. You’ll find this is often the case in international schools anywhere.
Read more: Things To Know About Turkish Classroom Culture
If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed about starting a TEFL career without teaching experience, don’t worry!
I’m not a teacher by trade, as I studied marketing and public relations at university, so a TEFL qualification was essential.
You’ll learn practical skills and how to become an effective TEFL teacher, and receive training and assistance before stepping into the classroom.
Teaching is a daily learning experience. I use my learnings from my TEFL course to become a better, more effective teacher.
Read more: What Do You Learn On A TEFL Course?
Questions to ask before becoming a TEFL teacher
If you are at a crossroads deciding whether or not you want to pursue TEFL, you’re not alone. Everyone should be asking themselves questions to determine if teaching is something that a person really wants to do.
From personal experience, the biggest question I had to ask myself was simply:
“Can you see yourself stepping into a foreign classroom and teaching your native language?”
As I was toying with figuring out my next steps in my life, this answer was a clear “yes”. You have to really want this life because it’s not a lifestyle that you should do if you aren’t 100% invested in yourself or have an inkling to be abroad.
If you’re all-in on getting TEFL certified, you then need to ask yourself:
“Am I at the right stage of my life to get involved with TEFL?”
There is no correct answer to this. Everybody has to evaluate all aspects of their life to see if they want to spend extended time abroad. Personally, I was ready to take this leap of faith because I had been so enamoured with the idea of living and working abroad.
What qualities make a great TEFL teacher?
What makes a good teacher? If you ask Google or ChatGPT, you may come up with a million responses.
There are some qualities that everyone agrees are important:
- Patience
- Creativity
- Flexibility
For me, patience is the most important when teaching non-native speakers because there will be times your students have issues with understanding.
Don’t fret — just be patient and work through it together.
View your class as your team with a common goal to learn and perfect the English language.
Secondly, creativity is what makes teaching fun and makes learning enjoyable and interesting for students, whether you’re teaching in-person or online.
If you have ever had boring language classes when you were a student, you can generally characterise these classes as boring and lacking creativity. Of course, you can learn a language by doing countless grammar exercises. But, is it fun? Are your students REALLY learning? Maybe, maybe not.
This is where creativity comes in — lean into your creative side. If you’re not creative, the internet is your friend
Read more: From Zero To Hero: Cool (Free) Resources To Make Your Online Lessons Amazing
Lastly, my third quality to succeed as a TEFL teacher would be flexibility. Unless you are doing TEFL in your own country (entirely possible), you’ll be working in a foreign country with elements that are foreign to you.
There will be things that are lost in translation or can be experienced as culture shock. This is where you need to be flexible and adaptable.
Flexibility allowed me to be open and understanding, and avoid culture clashes and unnecessary misunderstandings.
If you possess these qualities or work to improve them, you can become a great teacher even if you aren’t a teacher by trade.
Much like any other job in any industry, it’s important to possess a variety of soft skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. As you progress as a teacher, you’ll refine these skills and become an even better teacher.
Read more: Transferable Skills For TEFL Teachers
Common misconceptions about TEFL
Along with any job in any industry, there are always misconceptions. Within TEFL, there are a plethora you may hear about or see online. So, let’s address three big ones:
“You need to be a native speaker.”
This isn’t entirely true. If you’re looking to pursue a Work Visa to work in specific countries, you’ll need to be a native English speaker from one of their approved English-speaking nations.
In other countries, you’re not necessarily required to be a native speaker. However, you do need a solid grasp of English.
Read more: TEFL Jobs For Non-Native Speakers
You can find teaching opportunities worldwide without being a native English speaker, but you might need to work a little harder to find them.
“It’s just a holiday job.”
This is a huge misconception. Teaching abroad can be less stressful compared to your previous job, but it’s still a real job, not a holiday. So, work hard and do your best.
“You need to speak the language.”
Every time I tell someone I’ve taught in Spain, South Korea and Türkiye, I’m asked whether I’m fluent in Spanish, Korean and Turkish. I usually respond that knowing the language of the country is helpful, but not necessary, in the classroom.
In Türkiye, I was partnered with a local co-teacher who had to pretend that she couldn’t speak Turkish, forcing students to find ways around words they didn’t know. I found it really helped improve their speaking.
With that being said, if you’re going to live abroad, you should make an effort to learn the local language. Don’t be that person who spends a teaching contract abroad and can’t speak a lick of the local language.
Read more: Common TEFL Myths Busted!
Signs that TEFL might not be for you (yet!)
I think TEFL and living abroad can be for anyone if they have a curiosity to move abroad. Of course, if you’ve never been abroad and have no interest in doing so, maybe TEFL isn’t for you – unless, of course, you want to be a TEFL teacher in your home country or online.
My biggest advice for someone who has ever had a thought to pursue TEFL:
JUST DO IT!
If you don’t like it, you can always come home. You are never locked into something forever… TEFL is no different.
But it is important to consider adapting to new cultures, irregular income (sometimes) and if you can honestly see yourself as a teacher.
If you have doubts about any of these aspects of TEFL, I still say GO FOR IT!
While TEFL is not for everyone, no one can honestly say it isn’t for them without having actually tried it. Think of TEFL like trying a new food — maybe you love it or hate it. You would never know without tasting it.
Read more: Why TEFL Is Your Ticket To Freedom In 2025
Still unsure? Here’s how to explore TEFL further
Research
This is the best way to explore TEFL without fully committing. You can do this by watching webinars and YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, or speaking to other teachers. I’m more than happy to discuss my experiences, and I know I’m not the only one willing to share.
[You can find Matt on Instagram as @mattandperlie]
Find a TEFL mentor
I’ve spoken to TEFL teachers who’ve steered me in the right direction. You can discuss your doubts, concerns, and anything else about the industry. Personally, I wouldn’t be where I am today without having spoken to current teachers.
Volunteer or tutor
You could try volunteering or tutoring as a sort of litmus test for teaching. That way, you can feel out the role without having to move abroad.
I will always promote TEFL because it opened my eyes to this incredible world. I didn’t listen to the naysayers and did everything on my terms, and I couldn’t be happier.
At some point, you have to make your move.
TEFL isn’t something you figure out from the sidelines. Ask those questions, do your research and write your own TEFL story one lesson at a time.
Ready to kickstart your TEFL journey? Browse our accredited TEFL courses and discover where teaching English can take you!
Meet The Author
