The Quirky Musings of Mainstream Teachers About Their EAL Colleagues

As EAL teachers, we often hear some humorous perceptions from our mainstream colleagues. Here are a few common thoughts mainstream teachers have about us—and why they make us chuckle. ?

Myth 1: ‘The students only understand you!’

There’s often this amusing idea that EAL students only truly comprehend what their EAL teachers are saying, as if we speak a secret version of English that magically clicks. The truth? EAL teachers have spent countless hours fine-tuning their language, pace, and methods to match their students' needs—plus a lot of patience and repetition.

Myth 2: ‘Do you speak Japanese too?’

One of the most common misconceptions is that EAL teachers can speak all the languages their students do. Cue the images of them fluently switching between different languages. In reality, EAL teachers are more like language detectives, piecing together clues and using a bit of everything from gestures to visuals to help students understand.

Myth 3: ‘Oh, you can speak and pronounce well?’

A common misconception is that EAL teachers are just ‘regular’ teachers focused on basic English. Some are surprised to learn that EAL teachers can speak English or pronounce words really well—almost as if it’s a strange quirk. In reality, EAL teachers are experts in language skills, scaffolding, and differentiation.

Myth 4: ‘You’re so lucky to have small class sizes!’

EAL classes do tend to be smaller, but that doesn’t make them easier. Mainstream teachers often forget that every single student in that small group could be at a completely different language level. Managing a diverse class where one student is mastering tenses while another is struggling to understand basic classroom instructions is anything but simple.

Myth 5: ‘You just need to teach them simple English, right?’

Oh, if only it were that simple! EAL teachers are not only teaching English but also helping students navigate new cultural contexts, social norms and academic expectations. It’s also about helping them feel included, confident, and ready to participate in everything school throws their way. And this is why they always feel more included in the EAL classroom.

Myth 6: ‘You must be good at charades!’

Ok, this one might have some truth to it. EAL teachers do develop an almost professional level of skill at gesturing, acting things out, and drawing pictures to get their point across. But trust us, it’s not because we want to—it’s because sometimes, mime really is the best way to explain ‘exponentially’.

So, while some of the assumptions mainstream teachers have about EAL teaching might seem funny or simplistic, the truth is that EAL classrooms are vibrant, challenging, and full of complex moments. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye!

Disclaimer: NOT all mainstream teachers have these funny thoughts; however, some do. ??