TEFL uncovered how to teach your way abroad with TEFL

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HOW TO YOUR W TEACH AY

ABROAD WITH TEFL

UNCOVERED

Written By James JenkinEdited By Mike Scall y Commissioned By i-to-iTEFL

About the

About the Author

James Jenkin has been teaching English as a foreign language since 1994, having managed English language programmes in Vietnam, China and Australia His classroom career has included teaching Sudanese

refugees, Vietnamese government ministers and Chinese airline pilots As well as developing English

language programmes and training teachers, James is also the proud author of Lonely Planet’s Russian

Phrasebook! Needless to say, he has had invaluable experiences in the TEFL and travel world and can

offer you a whole world of TEFL-Travel advice With his extensive teaching experience, as well as ten

years’ experience as a teacher-trainer on Cambridge CELTA Courses and i-to-i’s Classroom TEFL

Courses, he truly understands the needs, fears and hopes of people entering the TEFL world

Qualifications:

l Cambridge CELTA

l Bachelor of Arts Degree in Russian and Latvian

l Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics

James with one of his students

What James Has To Say

How and why did you get into teaching English overseas?

“I’d studied languages and I thought I’d be a good teacher because

I knew about grammar I used to stand in the front and lecture I wish I’d done some worthwhile teacher training before I started – it took me a couple of years to realize that being a good teacher is about helping ‘learners’ get involved and practise with each other and develop their skills.”

What do you most enjoy about TEFL training on the Classroom TEFL Course?

“It’s a thrill to see people develop such confidence in such a short period of time.”

Any tips for first time TEFL/TESOL teachers?

“Get the students talking! The less time you’re up in the front talking, the better They need the practice, not you!”

Finding Good Work

Getting Good Work

Introduction

A Life Changing Choice Your Opportunities What Is Teaching English Like?

Types Of English Teaching

Introduction

Do You Need A Qualification?

Qualifications Demystified

IntroductionThe Internet Job Placements & Agents Networking

Conditions

IntroductionPersonal ContactApplication Letter Or Email Creating A Teaching Resume

IntroductionPrint ResourcesOnline Resources Teaching With No Resources

IntroductionMaking A Contribution What Do Students Want?

Getting Students TalkingBeing An Effective Teacher

IntroductionCountry GuidesIntroductionTeaching TermsLanguage Terms

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They say that ‘meaning’ is the new ‘money’ Recent research into ‘happiness’ suggests that the key

components in pursuit of it are:

l being involved in activities that have ‘meaning’ for us

l having opportunities to use our skills to make a difference

The research also suggests that we become happier by promoting the well-being and happiness of

others

Surely, therefore, the world of TEFL offers huge opportunities for the pursuit and promotion of

happiness

The material that follows opens up to us a world in which bright, committed people are making a

contribution to the concept of ‘one world’ by reducing barriers, engaging respectfully with different

cultures and passing on learning that expands the horizons of its recipients These ‘TEFL people’ are

taking part in life-changing experiences themselves and are inviting millions of their students to do the

same

Each of us is a unique individual Nobody else has our combination of DNA, upbringing, experiences,

education, skills, values, ambitions, or aspirations Nobody else has ever carried that uniqueness into

this particular time in an ever-evolving world The world of TEFL offers unique opportunities to

unique individuals to make unique interventions in the lives of others As a result, there is therefore

no blueprint or guidelines that would work for everybody What follows is not a blueprint but pages

of wisdom and learning drawn from the experiences of many who have gone before What follows is

yours to engage with, to reflect on, to select from and to apply what fits to support your purpose and

plans

It is a book ‘to do’ rather than to read The most effective teachers are not those who lecture others

on what must be learnt They are rather those who provide opportunities for learners to access and

assess information, reflect on its relevance to them, their world and their needs, to select, absorb,

‘own’ and apply That is what is on offer here You will only get out of it as much as you put into it

You won’t find ‘the’ answers, but hopefully you will find ‘your’ answers in the thoughts it provokes,

the awareness it creates, the clues it supplies and your choices it informs It will reward reflection,

motivation, and honesty with oneself

To get the best out of it, plan your study for times when you are at your best, tackle it in ‘bite-size

chunks and note the things that occur to you (thoughts, feeling, ideas, questions etc.) ‘Harvest’

your thoughts and your awareness because this is your learning and the basis for your planning and

decision-making Talk through the things that occur to you with someone who knows you well, and

You could be on the brink of a great adventure and a life-changing experience The hope is that the

material in this book will be an introduction to the most creative and rewarding time in your life and

that you (and those you teach) will be happier as a result!

Mike Scally

(Author of ‘Lifeskills Teaching’)

Please note ;

Any information and advice in this book is offered in good faith, but it cannot and should not replace the

reader’s own need for judgment of its relevance and value in their context and the need for each of us to be

responsible for our own risk assessment and decision-making.

Book Intr

i-to-i commissioned TEFL Uncovered: How to Teach Your Way Abroad to help you understand TEFL and all

your opportunities around the world…

With 16 years’ in the TEFL industry, i-to-i’s expert TEFL team is committed to making the TEFL world

real and accessible to you, so you can understand TEFL as well as the experts do!

Teaching English as a foreign language is as simple as you’ve probably heard – you only need to

speak English fluently to teach English abroad; however, understanding the global TEFL industry, as

well as the most effective teaching methods, can be a bit more complex as all countries, schools, job

requirements and people are different Therefore, i-to-i felt strongly about creating a book that told

you exactly what you needed to know about the industry, courses and opportunities before you dove

straight in and possibly got lost!

Interestingly enough, hundreds of thousands of people have been teaching English abroad for decades

with nothing more than their knowledge of the English language But as the market has become far

more competitive, requirements and restrictions have increased and peoples’ general concerns have

broadened Today, understanding TEFL is not so simple and eager travellers are more than keen to

understand the market inside and out

This book will serve as a perfect guide for you to begin your TEFL endeavours It is a truly unbiased

view of the TEFL world based on our experiences (16 years!) teaching abroad and training people to

teach abroad too

We hope you enjoy this first step into your TEFL career abroad

All the best!

The i-to-i TEFL Team

the i-to-i teamThe World’s First

TEFL Self-Help Book!

A Life Changing Choice

Explore how the experience of living and working

abroad is very different from being a tourist and how

TEFL can transform your future

Your Opportunities

Take a look at the number of job opportunities in the

TEFL industry and the types of conditions you can

expect

What Is Teaching English Like?

Decide whether a TEFL classroom is right for you and

learn about the activities you might need to do with

your students

Types Of English Teaching

From outdoor activities with primary students to

teaching technical English to oil and gas engineers –

there are all sorts of teaching opportunities overseas

l TEFL allows you to travel almost anywhere

l TEFL is exciting and rewarding

l TEFL will change your view of the world

… you are right!

This book will show you how to make your dream of teaching abroad come true You will have a clear

understanding of what being a TEFL teacher is like – the many positives and the challenges – and the

sorts of opportunities there are for you

Is TEFL For You?

Before we look at opportunities in TEFL, let’s reflect on what you want in your life

What made you think about teaching English abroad?

Tick the things that are true for you and add some more if you like.

I like travelling

I want to experience other cultures

I want to help people

I’m interested in English

I like mixing with people

I think I would teach English well

I’d like to explore something completely new and different

-1

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

Back in 2007 I was in a job I hated and was very much part

of the rat race! I had always enjoyed helping and guiding my employees and loved travelling, so the decision was easy! Don’t worry about the stress of adjusting to another culture, that’s part of the fun!

For the people you will teach:

Imagine you could be somewhere different in three months

Complete the sentence.

I would like to be in _ because

_

Answer yes, no or not sure to the following:

l There are TEFL jobs in my dream destination

l I can secure a job there before I go

l I do not need a teaching qualification to teach there

l I don’t need to know the local language to teach there

l I will be there in three months

Let’s look at the facts to see if you were right.

TEFL – The Situation

English is the international language of business, politics, science and communications The British

Council estimates there are over a billion people learning English worldwide.* About three quarters

of these people live in non-English-speaking countries In other words, every country needs English

teachers (there are even foreign TEFL teachers in North Korea)

Most language schools advertise on the internet and many like to arrange a contract in advance There

are hundreds of websites dedicated to TEFL jobs It’s estimated that there are over 20,000 new TEFL

jobs listed each month One of the best known, www.eslcafe.com, has over 2,000 listings at any time

The demand for TEFL is so huge that many schools will employ teachers with no teaching qualification

or degree This does depend on the country – you may need to be qualified to get a work visa in some countries (we will see which ones later) Also, the question of whether you want to teach without

some training needs serious consideration

Most English language schools are English language environments You will use English for all

interactions at work However, knowing some basic phrases in the local language shows respect for

people and will add considerably to your cultural experience

You could actually be teaching in one of many countries tomorrow You will need to decide whether

you want to simply arrive in a country and approach schools or arrange a job before you go We will

look at the pros and cons of each later

Europe

200,000,000+

learners

Asia 300,000,000+

learners

3

DID YOU KNOW?

l It is easy to find a job and teach in another country

l Teaching abroad will probably be like nothing you have ever experienced

First Thoughts

Let’s first look at why you are considering TEFL

How is being a tourist different from living and working somewhere?

Think of the pros and cons of both.

Being a Tourist Living and Working in a Country

Pros

Cons

Which has the greater appeal for you?

A Life Changing Choice

I put my TEFL qualification to use within a few months as

I went to Japan to work for an English language company that deals with teaching children What I intended to be a six month working holiday turned into an 18 month odyssey! I had

so much fun and so many enjoyable moments with all some

300 students that I saw on a regular basis And yes, I learned everyone’s name! It’s my driving ambition to return to my Japanese home as soon as I can.

In what ways might teaching abroad change your life for the better?

Write down your thoughts about this.

Now let’s look at the experience of living and teaching abroad in more detail – both the plusses

and the challenges

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? If you know anyone who

has taught or worked abroad, reflect on their experiences

Fill in the following

Agree Disagree

Living abroad is the most memorable experience

many people have had

Teaching is just a means to an end – to be able to travel

You can lead a luxurious life teaching abroad

Locals look up to you as a foreigner

Some expats suffer severe culture shock when they

live overseas

It’s too late if you’re locked into a contract and you

don’t like the place

TEFL experience will be useful for my future,

even if I stop teaching

2

1.2

2.1

-

l Yes Teaching in a country means you can experience complete cultural immersion You can gain

a deep understanding of another culture and a new awareness of your own You have a genuine reason to interact with interesting people, and you can develop very deep and long-lasting relationships

l There are many stories of people working for little or no pay and using their savings to live and

teach somewhere, simply because the experience is so rewarding

l Teaching can simply be a means to an end But TEFL needs dedicated, passionate teachers, so we

hope you will want to make a serious contribution to the profession

l Teaching will almost certainly not be a luxurious life! Teachers are not paid like expat executives

In many countries you’ll receive something like a local salary, which will enable you to have a comfortable life, but not a cushy one

l No they won’t – respect and appreciation have to be earned!

l Yes Almost everyone will experience some form of culture shock Make sure you are mentally

and emotionally prepared for a very big change in lifestyle It can help to start teaching in a country or culture you are familiar with before moving abroad

l No Teachers do break contracts Schools tend to offer incentives for teachers to stay to the

end of a contract instead (e.g paying a bonus or airfare)

l Overseas teaching experience is regarded by employers in many fields as unique and valuable

It demonstrates initiative, responsibility and intellect

It’s essential to be mentally prepared

What problems do you think could arise in the following areas?

How could you deal with them?

Possible Problems How Could You Overcome Them?

-Every person staying for a length of time in a new country will experience culture shock At first,

everything around you will seem exciting and stimulating However, this can suddenly change Often

triggered by a single negative experience, you may start to feel on edge, depressed, or even angry

However, this will pass You will reach a state where things seem normal Some of the excitement of

the honeymoon phase will return, along with a deeper appreciation of the cultural environment

The best way to adjust to culture shock is to be aware of what’s happening to you Remind yourself

that it’s natural to feel this way, that everyone experiences it, and it is temporary Importantly, don’t

isolate yourself Try actively to meet local people and embrace the culture Explore, enjoy the food, and learn the language

Interestingly, once people have adjusted to a new culture, they usually feel reverse culture shock coming back to their home country!

Reflection & Action

Think seriously Is living abroad still right for you?

Why?

_

Where would you like to go and for how long?

Plus, do you have all the information you would need to make this decision yet?

_

How can you find out more about living in that country?

_

SUMMARY

l Teaching abroad has been a life-changing experience for many people

l Be realistic and be prepared for challenges

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

It has been fantastic Both living abroad and teaching in Spain have proven to be extremely rewarding Definitely the best choice I could have made after graduating from college What would be better than a year away to find myself?

‘

Peter Wickman from the USA

‘

E

l One billion people are learning English as a foreign language

l By 2025 this should double to two billion

l There are more people learning English in China than there are native English speakers in the USA

l Over 100,000 people do a TEFL certificate course each year Yet there are clearly not enough

graduates to meet demand

First Thoughts

This part will give you a clear overview of TEFL job opportunities worldwide

Do you agree or disagree with the below facts?

I am optimistic about finding a job

Let’s find out if your ideas were on the right track

Look at two of the best-known TEFL websites: www.eslcafe.com and www.tefl.com

Make some notes on the following:

The Number of Jobs _

l There are 20,000 TEFL jobs advertised every month

l Certain countries require a degree, a TEFL qualification, or both

l Western Europe is the strictest regarding nationality: you normally need an EU passport

(or a working holiday visa for people aged 18-30) It is unlikely a school will sponsor you unless they know you

l Schools typically want teachers to stay for as long as possible

l Conditions vary dramatically It is possible to save money in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan,

Western Europe and the Middle East In China, Russia and Eastern Europe, salaries will be high

by local standards and enough to live very comfortably on, but not to make money

In view of the above, which countries look attractive to you?

-Consider that the most rewarding positions may have the most difficult conditions

For example, teaching in a rural school with few facilities may be making a real difference in students’ lives

Reflection & Action

Look at job adverts from the countries you chose

What are the questions you’ d want to ask?

?

?

?

We will answer your questions when we look in detail at job adverts and contracts in

Section 3: Finding Good Work

SUMMARY

l There are thousands of opportunities for TEFL teachers

l Conditions and requirements vary greatly

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

From my experience in Hungary, schools are always looking for new teachers To have any ‘street cred’ a school needs native speakers, at least as teaching assistants, and as most native speakers are travellers and only staying for a set period, there is a high turnover in teaching staff! I had no problem at all changing jobs All I had to do was look for local language schools on the web and send my resume to places that looked promising Also, because schools are used to dealing with itinerant native sorts, they often have some kind

of system in place for accommodation Not always, though!

‘

Adrian Thurnwald from Australia

‘

-DID YOU KNOW?

l TEFL, more than any other field of teaching, has ‘tried and tested’ approaches to running a class

l There are great materials for teaching English readily available

l TEFL, EFL, TESOL, ESOL and ESL are often used interchangeably However, as a rule, TEFL is

teaching in a non-English speaking country, and ESL is teaching migrants in an English-speaking country

First Thoughts

Let’s start by thinking about what happens – and should happen - in a language class

Think about when you learnt a language

(if you haven’t studied a language, think of any school subject)

What did you like? What didn’t you like? Why?

I liked … I didn’t like …

I’ve taught some fantastic classes in South Korea… been thrown into some interesting deep ends, eh teaching science, mass and density to be exact, to a bunch of 5 year olds, oh and of course the rules of soccer (!) and the American Revolution to my 12 year olds! The kids never cease to amaze me with their questions: ‘Teacher, what’s your blood type?’ and ‘Teacher, what’s the difference between

an alligator and a crocodile?’ But I love it! I have a million stories to tell about my time here.

-What should students spend most of their time doing in class?

Rank the following from 1 (most time) to 6 (least time).

listening to the teacher talking about grammarlistening to the teacher talking about the worldlistening to audio recordings

readingwritingspeaking in pairs or groups

Why did you prioritise them in the way you did? Is it because they help students’ language development,

or is it some other reason? Do any of the activities have risks – for example, could students get bored,

or could they learn bad habits?

Shortly we will look at what students actually need It may surprise you

What do you find daunting about teaching? Is it being in front of a large group of people?

Answering grammar questions? Make some notes.

What worries me about teaching is…

When we think about teaching, we understandably think primarily about ourselves However, TEFL

challenges you to turn that around It’s essential to think about your students’ experience and what

they need This should shape what happens in your class

1.2

1.3

2

I’m too shy to speak.

I need English for my job I need to talk on the telephone and write emails.

We had an Australian teacher who talked for hours about Australia I wanted to go to sleep.

I can understand the teacher but not other English speakers.

Games are fun.

2.1

-Look at these real quotes from students

Do they make you reconsider your priorities for the classroom? What would you change?

Give your opinion about the following questions and say why.

Is learning a language more like going to history lectures or learning to drive a car?

l Speaking a language is a skill, like driving or cooking Knowing rules doesn’t mean students can

produce sentences They need to practise as much as possible

l All skills are important However students will have different abilities in different skills Many

students from China have had little speaking practice, so they need much more speaking practice in class; whereas, many students from Saudi Arabia are confident in speaking, so they need to work on their writing

l You can maximise speaking practice by getting students to practise in small groups The

teacher standing at the front talking to one student at a time is not efficient

l Listening to the teacher is not rich practice It’s the same voice in the same context every

time Students need to listen to a wide range of speakers in different situations (on CDs, DVDs, the internet, etc)

l Students do need to know how to put together a sentence accurately But we need to keep

grammar in perspective For example, bad pronunciation makes someone much harder to understand than bad grammar

l Students may be interested in you And of course you want to open up to your students to

build rapport and trust But this is not the same as spending a lot of time telling the class about you Find out what interests your students, and choose topics with which they will engage

If you aim to have lots of student-to-student interaction in class, what will you be doing

while students are speaking in groups?

Look at 1.2 in Part 3 again How can a student-centred approach reduce your anxiety?

We Suggest

l ‘Monitor’ students (i.e move around the class and listen to students) as they practise Give

students space – as far as possible let them work out difficulties themselves Don’t pounce on every error as that inhibits students However, do give help to individual students when they ask for it

l A student-centred approach means the less time you’re out in the front under the spotlight

the better! It’s not about you – it’s about the students having a go, and you’re there to assist and guide

!

!

2.3

Reflection & Action

Choose from this list what you would like to happen in your class

students role play in pairs (e.g shop assistant and customer)the teacher tells the class about his/her likes and dislikesstudents play interactive speaking games

students do life-like tasks they need in their jobsstudents read out one sentence of a text in turnthe teacher lectures about grammar

students discuss topics in small groups

one student at a time stands out in the front and talks for three minutes about a topic

students work out grammar rules together in pairs

A teacher of a centred class would choose the activities that involve meaningful

student-student interaction: role-plays, speaking games, life-like tasks, small-group discussion and student-students

working out rules themselves

Do you think you could make those things happen if you walked into a class today?

If not, what knowledge, skills or resources would you need?

_

_

_

_

Go and see a real class run by an experienced teacher!

You can ask at a local English school or search for ‘TEFL classroom’ on www.youtube.com

Explore the link(s) over leaf to find out more about teaching methods and lesson plans

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

I was traveling through Laos last summer as part of an around the world trip When I arrived in central Laos to work at an organic farm, I was told about a building that was constructed to teach the local villagers They had no transportation to the school in the nearby town and the children from the four villages received schooling only when someone was available The farmer asked if I would be interested and I started that evening.

‘

Larry Shorthell from the USA

‘

SUMMARY

l Students need to practise

l Move around the room and help students

l Choose material that will interest your students

KEY RESOURCES

For an overview of communicative approaches to teaching:

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/knowledge-wiki/communicative-approach

-DID YOU KNOW?

l English is the international language of business, science, technology, diplomacy and aviation

l At a time when learning English was a fashionable pastime in some countries, it was called

TENOR – ‘Teaching English for No Obvious Reason’

First Thoughts

Let’s consider first of all why so many people are learning English

Brainstorm all the reasons you can think of why people learn English.

compulsory at school better future opportunities

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

I’m in France for two years with my husband (for his job) and am teaching English to business people, part-time I’m doing mostly telephone lessons and some face to face work

Telephone lessons are popular with business people as they don’t have to leave their work-place and are good practice for conducting business on the phone Before coming to France I worked as a Health Visitor (a sort of community nurse) for more than twenty years and really wanted a change of career Teaching English is great fun, although a huge challenge for me; I’d like to continue with it when we get back to the UK if possible.

There are numerous branches of TEFL teaching, outlined below

General English An English class with no specific goal except to raise students’ English level

(however, consider that each student will have particular goals – to travel,

to write emails, to emigrate, etc) Many students study General English at lower levels and then specialise later

Young Learners Children (generally refers to primary age)

Tutoring One-on-one or small group

Volunteering Teaching for no nominal payment

EAP EAP is a pre-university course that takes students to the level they need for

Test Preparation A course to help students pass or attain the score they need in an English

test Two important tests for university admission are IELTS (in the UK, Australia and New Zealand) and TOEFL (in the US)

EOP General workplace English relevant to a range of jobs

Business English English for business students or businesspeople Business English can be seen

as a branch of EAP or ESP, but it’s so enormous it’s usually seen as a category

of its own

The terms may differ from school to school and country to country – for example, ‘English for

Occupational Purposes’ might be called ‘English for the Workplace’, ‘English for Work’, ‘Workplace

English’ etc

What do you think?

The most English spoken every day is between:

a native speakers and non-native speakers

b non-native speakers and non-native speakers

Most learners of English want to:

a use English for a practical purpose

b sound like native speakers

Most learners of English:

a don’t know what they need to learn

b are very aware of what they need to learn

l Most learners of English want to (a) use English for a practical purpose

Since English is just a tool, the ideal of sounding like a native speaker is irrelevant to most learners The ‘native speaker’ as an ideal is dead and buried

l Most learners of English (b) are very aware of what they need to learn

Students know why they need English – whether it’s to pass an exam, do business, fly a plane,

or work in a joint-venture mining company Our aim is to help students develop specific language for their real-life goals

Do you agree or disagree with these statements?

Agree Disagree

You have to be an engineer to teach engineering English

Teaching small classes is easier than large classes

Teaching business is more serious so there will be less interaction

l No Obviously the students are the experts, and, in fact, they don’t want you to teach them

about the subject matter (studies have shown this) They want you to help with language they need for work So choose topics, types of written texts, dialogues etc that are relevant to their field Ask your students to show you examples of what they need to read and write, and to tell you the words they need to pronounce (however it helps if you have an interest in the subject matter e.g don’t teach English for accounting if you hate maths!)

l It depends If you organise lots of small-group work, it really makes no difference whether you

have a class of 10 or 30 Teaching one-on-one can be really hard work – it’s a good idea to tutor two students at once so they can practise with each other

l No Just choose interaction patterns that are relevant to their work – e.g salesperson and

client, socialising at a function, presenting their company

l It depends! Young learners need a lot of different short activities or they get bored If you’re

energetic and love children, it can be extremely rewarding, and the day flies!

Reflection & Action

What areas of English could you teach?

Choose three that appeal to you Consider developing a niche – it’s very marketable

General English (lower levels)English for Young Learners Tutoring BusinesspeopleEnglish for Academic Purposes English for IT

English for Science & Technology English for Engineering

Retail English

Go to a specialist TEFL bookseller

Look at the resources you can buy to teach specialised areas of English You’ll be amazed at the range

and quality, and how easy it is to teach without background knowledge in the subject matter

l Most learners have a clear real-life purpose for learning English

l We should find out what that purpose is, and focus our teaching on it

Section 2 :

Introduction

Do You Need A Qualification?

Gain a better understanding about

qualification requirements to teach

English as a foreign language

Qualifications Demystified

Compare the different courses and

qualifications available and find out

which one is right for you

Section 2

Qualifications

1

2

Section 2 :

Introduction to Section 2

What Do You Think?

What are your initial thoughts about getting a TEFL qualification?

Tick the statements with which you agree.

A qualification will help me teach with confidence and know-how

I don’t need a qualification due to the high demand for English teachers overseas

I could get a better ELT (English Language Teaching) job with a qualification

I need a qualification to teach in certain countries

I speak English, so I can teach English

I’d rather do a course online than face-to face

Write down any thoughts you have about getting TEFL qualified:

Section 2 :

Qualifications – The Facts

It is true that you can jump on a plane today with no TEFL qualification and get a job in a lot of

countries But just consider the below:

Learning to Teach

l A course shows you how to teach effectively

(for your students’ benefit and your own peace of mind)

l Face-to-face TEFL training usually gives you the opportunity to practise teaching and receive

helpful feedback – increasing your confidence in the classroom

Finding Quality Job Opportunities

l Having a qualification puts you in a stronger position to get the best jobs possible

l Many schools ask for a TEFL qualification

l A course is a great opportunity for networking and finding your job abroad

Visa Regulations

l Some countries require a TEFL qualification to teach (and even a certain type) and/or a degree

– see Section 7

Types of Courses

l A basic TEFL qualification (not higher) is the standard for entering the profession

l There are many online and face-to-face options

l Courses range in length from 20 to 160 hours

2

Section 2 :

-Do You Need A Qualification?

I worked mainly in a private school in Hanoi Some of the children were real trouble and wouldn’t listen, but once you asserted your authority they were eager to learn and

to impress, especially when you had stickers! The TEFL taught me the basics but even if you don’t remember that,

it all comes back to you, and the real training is in the classroom when you’re up at a board with 30/40 faces looking up at you!

DID YOU KNOW?

l There’s a huge demand for English Language Teachers, even without a TEFL certificate

l Different countries have different requirements

l Some countries require a bachelor’s degree (in any field) rather than a TEFL certificate

First Thoughts

Here are the typical options available for an entry-level TEFL qualification.

But before we move further, let’s explore your initial thoughts Make sure you consider your

current budget and time constraints when answering

What would increase your potential in the TEFL world?

No course

A book on how to teach English for £30/US$50

A 20 hour face-to-face course for £300/US$500

A 60 hour online course for £300/US$500

A 120 hour combined online & face-to-face course for £600/US$1000

A full-time four-week course where you practise teaching real students for £1500/US$2600

Section 2 :

-What kinds of questions would you want to ask before you signed up for a course?

Is the qualification recognised internationally?

Here are the general qualification requirements worldwide

You’ll see in many regions a TEFL certificate is ‘preferred’ – so it may get you more (and better!)

opportunities However, many employers asking for ‘TEFL/TESOL qualifications’ (as it’s usually

phrased) will still employ people without one

Region General Requirements

North Asia Degree required; TEFL certificate preferred

South-East Asia TEFL certificate preferred

Western & Mediterranean Europe Degree & EU passport/working holiday visa required

Central & Eastern Europe TEFL certificate preferred

Central & South America TEFL certificate preferred

Middle East Degree required

Subcontinent Degree & TEFL certificate required

Africa EFL certificate preferred

English-Speaking Countries Degree & CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL required (see Part 2)

There is variation within each region, of course - we look in detail at individual countries in Section 7

Do you think the following statements are true or false?

Requirements for volunteering are different from paid work

Different teaching experience or qualifications may be seen as equivalent

to a TEFL qualificationAll schools and teachers obey the law

2

1.2

2.1

2.2

Section 2 :

We Suggest

l There are not many requirements for volunteering (usually), so the decision to do a course is

solely about your desire to develop your classroom skills before you start teaching

l In countries where a TEFL qualification is ‘preferred’, you can certainly aim to sell your

qualifications as equivalent, and any teaching experience will be valued However speaking countries are strict about the qualifications they require

English-l As you’d expect, no For better or worse, the field is market-driven Wherever demand for

English is high, there are teachers working without the required qualifications and work visa and being paid cash-in-hand This is a dangerous thing to do – teachers risk being exploited and getting caught If you’re caught in the EU, for example, you will be deported and probably never get another visa to that country again

We know a certificate can make finding work easier But there are of course professional benefits

from studying a TEFL course

Which of these experiences would make a course seem worthwhile to you?

The next part will tell you what individual courses will bring you and which courses will fulfill your

I now have 17 colleagues I will stay in touch with.

We learnt how to teach beginners.

We practised teaching lessons

to the other tutees in the course.

We learnt how to teach engaging lessons.

We taught lessons to real English students.

Reflection & Action

Think back to your dream destination in Section 1

Do you think you have the required qualifications for that country? If not, will you:

l Change your destination?

l Consider studying?

Your TEFL Assessment

Tick the statements that are true for you

I already know people teaching who can help me find workI’ve already been offered a job

I’ve done tutoringI’m a very experienced teacher

I feel confident about teaching I’m a confident person

I’ve studied a language to a fairly high levelI’m not planning to teach in an English-speaking country

SCORES

4-8 If you ticked 4 – 8 boxes, you’re probably ready to go straight away! Perhaps consider a TEFL

course along the way

0-3 If you ticked 0 – 3 boxes, you’d probably benefit from a course before you go A course will give

you a feel for the TEFL industry, help develop your classroom skills, and give you the chance to make some valuable contacts

SUMMARY

l Employers like teachers to have a TEFL qualification, but it is often not essential

l Consider a TEFL course for the professional benefits it will bring you

Section 2 :

DID YOU KNOW?

l The qualification you need to start teaching is a certificate – you don’t need a diploma or

See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

I took the TEFL class on line just for fun and because our church offered an English class to Hispanic people who had moved to the area I thought that by taking the class, I could improve my own English and be better able to assist with the class Less than one week after completing the TEFL class online and receiving my certificate, I received a call from our church denomination’s National Foreign Missions Board chairperson, asking if I might be interested in going to Taiwan for two weeks to help with an English camp there Because I had a part time job and was pretty tied down, any thing long term was out, so I saw this as a perfect opportunity to practise what I had just learned! I said “yes”, and soon was on a plane

to Taiwan! I spent two weeks as one of two Americans on a team of twenty native Taiwanese who were planning an English camp to a remote fishing village in southwestern Taiwan I had

a blast and found the Taiwanese extremely friendly, helpful, and very motivated to learn English.

‘

‘

Julie Tipton from the USA

?

Have you heard of different TEFL course types or providers? What do you know about them?

Make some notes

l Courses are generally 20-100 hours

l Input covers language analysis & teaching methodology

l Often optional specialised modules available (e.g business English, teaching children)

l Better courses incorporate videos of real classes and interaction with a tutor

Short Face-to-Face Courses

l Courses are generally 20-40 hours in person

l Input covers language analysis & teaching methodology

l Better courses incorporate peer-teaching with tutor feedback

Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) & Trinity CertTESOL

l 4 weeks full-time in person (sometimes part-time is offered)

l Around 60 hours of input (language analysis & teaching methodology)

l 6 hours of teaching real students with tutor feedback

l 6-8 hours of observing experienced teachers

l Written assignments

It’s worth remembering that a lot of courses are offered worldwide So you can do a course in Moscow,

Barcelona or Shanghai – a great way to check out a new lifestyle and look for work as you travel

l Some short courses are top quality

training and recognised worldwide

l Get a feel for the industry – meet

TEFL teachers and other students

l Can be a fun learning experience

l May include peer-teaching practice

l A quick way to get qualified

Pros

l High prestige

l Can use it to teach in

English-speaking countries (with a degree)

l Audited – universally high-standard

l Practical content

l Teaching real students and getting

feedback

Cons

l Content can be superficial

l Not much attention to language

l Some providers are not

well-recognised – choose carefully

l No personal contact with

TEFL teachers or other students

l No teaching practice

Section 2 :

-See what TEFL-Travellers have to say!

I had several interviews with schools around Seoul I began

to teach kindergarten and elementary kids It was very daunting at first, but I remembered what I had learned in

my TEFL course and after a few weeks it became so much fun that I hardly felt like I was working at all; I felt as though

I was getting paid to have a great time I enjoyed it so much

I spent three years in Seoul, and I’m still teaching but this time I’m in the Czech Republic.

courses, whether online or face-to-face, provide useful content

Nevertheless, CELTA and Trinity are still the best known and most highly regarded They are just about the only certificate courses that will allow you to teach in an English-speaking country, primarily because they are over 100 hours, and they include six hours of observed and assessed teaching However, they

are quite expensive and stressful, so be certain about your TEFL plans before committing your time and money to this course

You can always start with a less demanding option and teach for a while to see what it’s like If you really enjoy it and want to stay in the field, you can then consider a CELTA or Trinity course

Reflection & Action

Which courses will you now explore?

_

_

_

Google the reviews of the courses you are interested in.

See what people who have done the courses think

SUMMARY

l There is a wide range of certificate courses, online and face-to-face, ranging from 20 to 160

hours

l Cambridge and Trinity CertTESOL are the most prestigious, and the only certificates that allow

you to teach in English-speaking countries

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