English Beyond the Classroom (Non-Native Teachers)

Learning a language where it's spoken is a no-brainer. Personally, learning Russian has always been easier for me than English, though linguists would argue that Russian is more difficult than English, it particularly ranks as one of the most ten challenging languages in the world. I frankly haven't been learning it actively, it's merely been the continuous exposure since I've been living in Russia since 2018.

As far as English is concerned, most teachers in-service are working in a non-English-speaking country, making the process of language development even more demanding. Most English learners are situated in non-English-speaking countries. Click here to see the English circle. In this first series, I'll explore some ways for you to utilize your current environment to maximize your language exposure and practice outside the classroom/school as a non-native English teacher.

1- English-speaking clubs. If it weren't for those clubs, I wouldn't have taken up CELTA or DELTA. I find these the most useful source of language if they are pitched at the right level. Some local schools or people organize such communities to foster English language geeks. Luckily, my city has many of them, some are paid and some are free entrance. Unsurprisingly, most participants tend to be teachers or learners who are intrinsically motivated, and topics can vary, providing you with rich knowledge and language exposure.

2- Book clubs. Though it's hardly ever organized publicly, some local libraries may have book clubs in English. However, it's best organized privately with whom you share similar common interests. Depending on the time available for reading, you may agree with the club members on a period. Most periods range from a week to a month. After having read the book, prepared your thoughts and feelings towards the book, a discussion is held for all participants to pour forth their thoughts.

3- Connecting with foreigners. English is more likely to be the medium language to communicate with foreigners or native speakers in your city. You may give tours to such around your city. This is easier for teachers living in big cities. showaround website is your stepping stone to reach them. Alternatively, if you are socially pleasant, it won't be a big deal for you to strike up a conversation with any foreigner you come across. If none of the above is your suit, try connecting with online friends. Some apps you may consider are Snapchat (USA, UK, India rank the top three users of this app) and Instagram. There is also a website I used to use as a teenager called Omegle, which you could reach out to strangers and communicate with them in English.

4- Blogging. It's said that writing helps you think to articulate your thoughts. What I love about writing is that not only does it expand your language thinking, but also your cognitive and critical thinking. It motivates you to research, read before you attempt to formulate your ideas into a written text. You don't necessarily have to create a website from scratch. You may simply blog on other blogs about topics of your interest or in Instagram.

5- Movies. This is an excellent way of exposure to the language in a wide range of contexts. Unfortunately, in Russia, movies that are in English are usually, if not always, dubbed in Russian. If that's the case in your place, Netflix allows you to watch in any language and with any subtitle that takes your fancy. Another website, which I recommend for Russians, is kinosub, though not all movies there are free of dubbing.

6- Language contract. Living with my family, I established a contract with some of my brothers who knew English. We agreed on a punishment-and-reward system. Every day, and for a week, we would communicate and do our daily work in English including online and face-to-face interaction. This is best done if the reward is worth it, say money. You may do it with your significant other, family, or friends. It can last for a day, a week, or a month.

7- Board games. I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of English board games. Though my city is an average one located in the middle of Siberia, I could get my hands on fine English games in some local board-game stores. Get your colleagues together or friends who know English and have fun! A hilarious game of mine is called Sensation, and it comes with different versions. This one is the athlete version and it's for B2 to advanced users. However, you may find other games which cater to your friends of lower levels, Taboo for example.

The bottom line is that being a non-native teacher living in a non-English-speaking country comes with the challenge of not having to use your English outside your teaching environment. In this article, I've included some of my favorite methods to help you keep your language fresh and ready to use at your disposal. There are other things you can benefit from like reading, audiobooks, and utilizing English in real-life tasks (i.e. note-taking, alarm, calendar, shopping lists, the technology you use).

What about you? How do you develop your English as a teacher? Feel free to add ideas in the comment section.