I get asked this question a lot so here’s a list of what you might actually do as a teacher so you can get a clear picture of what life abroad is going to look like for you.
Here’s the list!
Daily To-Do List (During Teaching Days)
Before Class
It’s totally normal to feel nervous before your first lesson but the best way to conquer these nerves is to plan as much as you can and be full prepared! Here’s some of the things you’ll do before each lesson to make sure it runs smoothly.
- Review today’s lesson plan and make sure you’ve anticipated any possible problems with the language/ activities
- Check that your lesson is engaging and involves movement to keep students interested
- Plan how you will give instructions, starting with the action you want the students to take (to make it super simple) and plan your instruction checking questions
- Prepare materials (worksheets, flashcards, slides, etc.)
- Test tech (laptop, mic, Zoom/Google Meet, projector. speakers)
- Print or open digital resources
- Set up classroom or virtual background (including desks, chair arrangements, resources around the room etc)
- Arrive/log in early to greet students- chat with the early students and build rapport
With a quality TEFL course and support from Teacher’s Friend, you’ll walk into your classroom with confidence, knowing the exact steps for a great lesson. But here’s a quick reminder:
✅ During Class
- Take attendance
- Warm-up activity to introduce the class
- Present target language (vocab, grammar, function) through games/ questions/ quizzes
- Guide practice activities (drills, pair work, games, movement activities)
- Monitor student performance and take notes on common errors with grammar, vocab and pronunciation
- Correct errors gently and give feedback (guide them to the answer, don’t tell them)
- Students produce their own language in an authentic way (e.g. role play ordering from a restaurant, going on holiday, completing a survey)
- Monitor again and give feedback
- Wrap up with a review or exit task
✅ After Class
Even the best teachers never have a perfect lesson. There’s no such thing! The best thing you can do is reflect on what worked and what didn;t work and make it better next time. Teaching is an art and the best part is, you can always improve!
- Reflect on what went well or needs adjusting
- Update your lesson notes or adjust tomorrow’s plan
- Log progress for individual students (if required)
- Head to a cafe or to a meet a friend!
📆 Weekly To-Do List
📝 Lesson Planning
- Plan lessons for the week (can be done in blocks)
- Create or adapt materials (worksheets, games, PPTs)
- Reuse old materials as much as possible
- Utilise chat gpt when creating lesson plans and thinking of engaging games and activities
- Set and check homework assignments
📊 Admin & Tracking
- Update student progress reports or records (often monthly or each term)
- Attend team meetings or training sessions
👥 Communication
- Communicate with coordinators or academic managers about any issues
- Coordinate with co-teachers or TAs (if relevant)
📚 Professional Development (Optional but Recommended)
- Review teaching methods or new ESL techniques
- Watch a training video or read a teaching blog
- Join a Facebook or WhatsApp ESL group
- Collect and save new activity ideas or templates
Example Extras (Depending on Role)
- Run speaking clubs or one-on-one sessions
- Organise the testing of students
- Design tests, quizzes, or mock exams (IELTS, TOEFL)
Final Notes
- Typically in Asia you will work 20-40 hours per week with the rest of your time free to travel and explore your new home.
- In general, there is not much work to “take home” or marking to be done outside of class time. It can all be done during your working hours.
- Kids tend to be very well behaved and respectful but classroom management is essential for the smooth running of the class.
With the right preparation and support, your teaching days abroad will be structured, rewarding, and amazingly fun!
It’s not about being perfect but it’s about showing up, being prepared and getting better every day.
And when you do that you’ll be surprised how quickly it starts to feel natural.
Want help getting TEFL certified and into the classroom with confidence?
[Start your journey with Teacher’s Friend here]
