What are the challenges of teaching the English language?
There are a couple of challenges related to teaching English.
For most people, they think they can teach English because they are
native English speakers, however this notion is false. There is a
reason why people go to school for teaching degrees. Teaching
English means understanding how the English language works (lexical
categories, syntax, etc.) and being able to teach it effectively
and accurately. Take for example teaching grammar. Can you explain
infinitives and gerunds? How about how to identify phrasal verbs
versus prepositional phrases? If you get training (CELTA for
example) or even receive your MA in TESL, this will help you
understand how to teach English.
Another challenge to teaching English can exist in the location
of where you teach. I don't mean rural versus urbal communities,
but teaching English abroad requires you to understand the culture
and how the native language is used in teaching English. As a
teacher in South Korea, I have learned nuances in Korean which have
helped me explain vocabulary and reading to Korean students. I
recommend if you wish to teach English, understand your surrounding
and culture. It could really help with connecting with your
students.