Language isn’t just about mastering grammar and vocabulary but a lot more. Hence, when you are Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to young learners and corporate professionals you need to have a unique set of skills that go beyond the textbook. These skills allow you as a teacher to inspire students to bridge cultures, unlock opportunities and communicate in a globalized world. Knowing the right skills can transform your teaching experience and also make a lasting impact on your students. Let’s dive further into details about the top skills that every EFL teacher should have.
Adaptability
One of the most important skills for EFL teachers is adaptability. Being an adaptable teacher can ensure that you can deal with diverse groups which include students of different age groups and professionals that come from different cultural backgrounds and proficiency levels. Hence, being flexible allows you to modify your lesson plans, make use of creative problem-solving methods and also adjust your teaching styles that make things easier for the students.
Strong Communication Skills
Teaching is all about communication and if you are good at conveying your message across it can help you become a better teacher. With students from different cultural backgrounds and proficiency levels, you will need to focus on how you can explain complex ideas more easily. Excellent communication skills also build confidence which helps both the teacher and the students.
Patience and Empathy
The learning path is challenging, especially for the students. Hence, as an EFL teacher, you need to be patient and empathetic towards your students when they make mistakes or feel frustrated and intimidated. Having patience can allow you as a teacher to guide your students through struggles and create a supportive environment where they feel safe to express themselves, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and grow.
Creativity
There is no one path to learning and as an EFL teacher, you need to be creative about how you keep your lessons interesting. You can always come up with creative ideas on how you can engage your students. Many EFL teachers make use of games, role-play situations and storytelling methods to make learning enjoyable and memorable. You can use similar methods or come up with your own to keep your students involved and convey complex topics in simple ways.
Cultural Awareness
As an EFL teacher, you will likely work with students who come from different cultural backgrounds. This means that you will have to be culturally aware and sensitive to foster mutual respect. When you have cultural awareness you can avoid various misunderstandings and focus on building an inclusive and engaging classroom.
Strong Command over Language Basics
Teaching English might seem like an easy straightforward task. However, an EFL teacher has to have a good command over the language as students often seek clarity over complex grammar pronunciation and syntax. An EFL teacher with a strong command of English will be able to answer these unexpected questions accurately and confidently. This also instills confidence in the students as they get quick responses from their teacher which helps them clear their doubts.
