Boost Your Mental Health by Teaching English

Did you know? Studies show that a happy teacher makes a happy classroom, but this doesn’t happen overnight like magic. It takes effort and dedication from the teacher and the learners. So, if the teachers care for the students’ well-being, who takes care of the teachers’? Now picture yourself sipping your early morning coffee, looking out the window of your no-frills flat in a coastal town in Vietnam. The sound of scooters driving by is soothing. The scent of spices toasting next door is comforting.

In an hour, you’ll be standing before a class – what mix-up will make you all laugh today? In the meantime, you observe in awe as your learners’ confidence grows because “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge”, as Albert Einstein once said. This is the life of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). Beyond travel, cultural exchange, and personal growth, there’s another hidden benefit: it can be incredibly good for mental health.

Why is TEFL good for you?

Like any other kind of teaching, TEFL isn’t a job; it’s a vocation, and teaching abroad is much more so. 

• It’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and make an impact: You will never forget when the student who once avoided speaking volunteers to answer a question for the first time. Or a group that started the course as strangers and now helps each other and jokes together in English. Helping someone reach their language goals gives you a genuine sense of purpose, which can boost your confidence and motivation. 
• TEFL can also give your life a sense of rhythm: You know where you need to be and who you’ll see each day, which can be grounding, especially if you’re living abroad in a new environment. And yet, no two days are exactly alike. A Monday morning business English class differs greatly from a Wednesday evening teen group. Variety keeps things fresh, and so does professional training and development. To give your TEFL career the best start, you will need the right qualifications – get certified with TEFL.org. But there’s more. Some of the mental health benefits of TEFL are less obvious but no less valuable. 
• You can build your community through TEFL: Most language schools have a mix of international staff, so from day one, you’re part of a built-in community that understands the ups and downs of life abroad. You will be able to connect not only with other expats but also with local teachers – the cultural exchange will be beneficial to all!
• Lesson planning offers opportunities to express your creativity: Teaching isn’t just about grammar, but designing games, telling stories, and creating activities that bring English into the learners’ everyday lives. 
• Shape a better version of yourself: It may sound clichè, but every cultural misunderstanding you navigate over time builds resilience, patience, and problem-solving skills. When push comes to shove, you will discover that every setback is a learning opportunity. You will become aware of the extent of your willpower and determination, and who knows—you might even surprise yourself.

Is TEFL all fun and games?

Let’s be real: there’s always a flip side to every coin. Lesson planning, marking, admin, and sometimes a heavy teaching schedule can test your energy. Summer courses can mean long contact hours with limited prepping time, while term-time often brings students with clear learning goals and higher expectations and piles of homework to mark. If you’re working in a new country, there’s also the mental load of adapting to new systems and expectations – a challenge that is often overlooked but should never be underestimated.

Burnout is very common among those who work in sectors that involve close contact with others, such as social work, healthcare, and education. However, this shouldn’t put you off—it’s simply about knowing the full picture. The good news is that these challenges are manageable with the right habits in place, and, as always, prevention is better than cure. 

Spotting the signs

Burnout isn’t just tiredness—it’s a deeper level of exhaustion. It creeps in slowly and, all of a sudden, you’re left feeling drained and unmotivated. It can show as:

• loss of interest in the work you were once passionate about
• feeling irritable or overwhelmed over things that wouldn’t normally bother you
• a sense of constant alert, which makes you unable to switch off and enjoy the weekend
• The ‘Sunday blues’ – that anxious sensation on Sunday afternoon or evening, pre-empting the dreaded return to work on Monday mornings.

In TEFL, burnout often stems from a mix of high workloads, constant performance demands, and limited downtime. Recognising it early means you can take action before it affects your job enjoyment.

Promoting your well-being

Often, individuals affected by burnout are employees who prioritise their employer’s needs in the name of their passion and dedication for the job, at the expense of their mental health. Here are some tips to keep a healthy relationship with your teaching job:

• Plan lessons that include some light-hearted activities, like games or peer interviews.
• Find a shoulder to cry on. We all need to vent or talk things through from time to time—find the person who helps you in those moments.
• Be organised and avoid leaving things to the last minute. Share your schedule with your boss and those working closely with you to prevent them from adding any extra work (or stress) to your day.
• Find time for mini breaks throughout the day. Having a hot drink, taking a short walk outside, or spending a few minutes in a quiet room can help you restore your energy.
• Learn to say ‘no’. This is the most important and non-negotiable step you must take. If you’re reaching your limit, or even worse, already struggling, do yourself and everyone else a favour: just say a polite but firm ‘no’. Here are some suggestions:
  • I’m really sorry, but I don’t think I can cover the C2 class this afternoon. I haven’t got time to prep for it, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint the students.
  • I’d love to join you all for the teacher’s end-of-week get-together this evening, but I’m going to spend some time chilling this weekend—it has been a challenging week.
  • I understand you’re struggling with planning for this class, but I’m planning my own lesson now. I’m happy to help you during the lunch break. 

Can you TEFL without stress?

TEFL is, without a doubt, a wonderfully life-changing adventure that teaches you as much about the world as it does about yourself, but it’s challenging, just like any job can be. I would be lying to you if I said that teaching English abroad is always smooth sailing, given that adjusting to life in a new country can sometimes be confusing and intimidating. However, what I can promise is that you will never regret taking the leap and doing something so brave that you’ll be proud of yourself for the rest of your life. So no, you can’t TEFL without stress, but with a support network and some self-care strategies, you can experience an extremely rewarding career that enriches you and your learners.