In an increasingly connected world, English is the key to opening yourself to new professional opportunities. If you are a teacher and want to expand your horizons by teaching abroad, mastering English will allow you to access international institutions, educational programs in other countries, and, of course, better salaries and unique experiences.
Many Latino teachers feel insecure about their English level. The fear of making mistakes or not being understood can be a great obstacle. This, added to the lack of time, resources, or even motivation to attend an English course, often stops them from exploring a great opportunity to have an international teaching career.
However, improving your English level without traditional classes is possible. Here are some tips to help you improve your English through activities in your daily life so you can feel prepared to take advantage of job opportunities in the United States.
According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the English levels are:
To teach in the United States or in bilingual schools, a B2 level or higher is generally required. This level allows you to function with confidence, explain concepts clearly, and communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and parents.
To improve your English level quickly and prepare to work as a teacher abroad, follow these tips:
Before diving into learning, it is essential that you identify your motivations for studying. Having a clear vision will provide you with encouragement, focus, and consistency in the process of improving your English.
Define a meaningful purpose for yourself that motivates you to practice the language daily. For example: "Improving my English is essential for my goal of teaching in a school in the United States and expanding my professional opportunities."
To have even more clarity in your goal and to be able to track your progress, you can define concrete and measurable objectives. Set detailed goals and use the SMART method (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). For example:
This will help you maintain consistency in your studies not out of obligation, but out of your desire to achieve your goal.
Create a learning routine that you know you can fulfill in your daily life.
Even if you only have 20 or 30 minutes a day to study, that is enough to maintain daily contact with English. It is better to practice and advance a little bit every day than only one or two days a week.
Daily practice will allow you to advance faster by having the language always present in your daily life and in your mind.
Look for content in English that interests and entertains you while you learn the language. This could be educational podcasts, documentaries, or movies, for example. An interesting source is the TED.com platform, where you can watch short talks on different topics.
You can also read news on pages like BBC News or The New York Times, or books (there are many E-books available on the internet).
Watch the videos with subtitles in English and as you listen to them, pay attention to the pronunciation of the words, the construction of phrases, and write down everything that is new vocabulary for you.
Another tip: While you listen to music in English, something you surely already do, pay attention to the lyrics! You can look up their meaning and try to sing along to practice your pronunciation. This can be an entertaining way to study!
In addition, you can use apps or games that allow you to practice a little English every day, such as Duolingo.
To learn words and expressions related to the world of education and teaching, you can listen to podcasts and watch news about this topic.
You can also look for scientific articles in your area of teaching, or theoretical books that address issues of your interest within the educational context, to begin to integrate specific vocabulary into your studies.
Studying with specific materials helps you understand the meaning of new words within a context, which will help you expand your reasoning in the new language and improve your grammar.
Listen and repeat phrases, practicing the pronunciation of the words. These can be from movies, music, podcasts, or even specific videos for this type of exercise (you can find several on YouTube).
You can also use pronunciation tools such as Forvo, Youglish or Google Translate, which allow you to search for specific words or phrases and listen to them in English.
To improve your practice, you can record yourself speaking, and then compare it to the original audio and correct details until you get it perfect. Try to say longer or more complex phrases or ideas, so that you have more confidence when talking to other people.
In addition to making a list of new words, verbs, or expressions, you can integrate the practice of writing a journal in English into your daily life. Write phrases or paragraphs about your day-to-day life, topics of your interest, or things you learned, to exercise your writing and your vocabulary.
It is quite likely that at some point you will want to write something specific and need to investigate what word is used to express that idea, which will also allow you to advance your learning.
Another tip to exercise your work-related vocabulary is to write class plans, key phrases for the classroom, and create flashcards (memory cards) with vocabulary related to the subject you teach.
Participate in language conversation groups in your city or on social networks, or find a person with whom you can converse in English, whether they are friends, colleagues, or using platforms like Tandem.
If you do not have access to these spaces, you can also practice speaking in front of the mirror. Introduce yourself, talk about yourself and your interests, or even do a test class, so that you can increase your confidence in speaking.
Practice frequently, expose yourself to the language and find spaces where you can converse in English with other people. This is key to improving your confidence when speaking.
Learning is continuous, and the more contact you have with English, the faster you will advance in mastering the language. Accept mistakes as part of the process and keep practicing.
Do not stress, enjoy learning, look for practice spaces, and make notes to remember vocabulary and common phrases. If you get stuck when speaking, express this without being ashamed, and reformulate your ideas to convey your thinking with other words.
Bonus: Learn English with the series Friends
Did you know that many people learned to speak English with the series Friends?
This popular television series has been a learning tool for many, helping them to improve their listening comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation in an entertaining way. The easy-to-understand language and the representation of real-life situations can help you acquire key vocabulary for your everyday life in the United States.
Friends has helped many people around the world gain fluency in English. Why don’t you try this fun way to learn?
Improving your English level without a formal course is possible with dedication and constant practice. Mastering academic and pedagogical English will open doors to job opportunities abroad and in bilingual schools.
It's worth remembering that to get a job as a teacher in the United States, you don't need to be a native English speaker or prove it with a language certificate. Being able to demonstrate your command of English during your application and job interview will be sufficient.
Prepare to take your teaching career to the next level. Visit EdBinder and explore job opportunities for teachers available in schools around the world. Create your profile completely free and discover where your talent can take you!
