There is more than one way to cook an egg; so why can't there be more than one way to teach English?
The art of teaching is a finicky one. It can either encompass the latest teaching methodologies from North America or it can depend on the more traditional approach adopted by the foreign country you may be teaching in. It also involves circumventing a minefield between those expectations of yourself and those from your employer.
Whatever the case may be, sometimes adopting a school's methodology can be difficult, especially if it conflicts with the style of teaching you may have been trained in. These problems always arise to some degree, even if you working in your own country. Unlike being in your own country, however, your reaction can make or break how well the year goes for you and your class.
One of the main problems foreign countries have with North Americans coming to work in their country are their attitudes towards the ethos of the school they are hired by. North Americans take for granted the work ethic they are accustomed to. Whether it be salary concerning over time to expectations of them by employers as defined by their work contracts, often the North American work ethos is strictly governed by both employers and employees.
Arriving in a new country where the work ethic is not only different, but where relations between employees and employers are handled differently may cause North Americans to question their decision to move there in the first place. Alternatively North Americans complain that their new employers are insensitive to the fact that they are ignorant to the cultural work ethic and are unwilling to compromise.
Thus, the obvious solution is a compromise. Most of the time your new employers will be more than willing to sit down and discuss with you any concerns that you may have regarding working for them. This could be anything, from the teaching methodology adopted at your school to the number of days you think are reasonably expected of you to work (for some schools expect you to work on weekends as well for half days). Consequently, you need to be professional enough to allow your new employer to return to you with his or her own concerns.
Through mutual cooperation and understanding of each other's expectations of one another a working environment based on respect and empathy for each other. After all, at the end of the day you are there to empower your students with the skills necessary to successfully navigate in what ever career choice they may decide to embark upon. English is essential for most professions in this day and age. Thus, unless you find yourself explicitly being taken advantage of by your employer or are being mistreated in anyway, make your classroom your own and strive to make difficult situations work.
After all, it is as much of a learning experience for you as it is for your students and your employer!
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