Teaching English as a Foreign language – one of many graduate options
As the semester, and academic year, comes to an end for a lot of students, many graduates will be faced with the usual options of internships, temporary jobs and the cycle of job interviews. Another option which is rapidly becoming popular is
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). So what’s involved and how do you go about it? And why might it be just what you need right now?
Make TEFL your next step
For many students, graduating from university presents them with the big question; what to do next? Something to ponder if you haven’t already got the next step fully figured out. For the majority, there is always the opportunity to become an intern at a company of interest, take up a temporary job (or series of temporary jobs) or get stuck into the daunting task of going for job interviews and chasing down that job of a lifetime offer you’ve always dreamed about. Some graduates choose to enter the field of TEFL as a first step into their working career. While job opportunities at home may be somewhat scarce in certain fields, or at least that ideal job you always thought would be waiting for you on graduation, the opportunity of teaching English in a foreign country does offer certain advantages, including:
- plenty of opportunities worldwide
- the chance to learn a new skill
- excellent travel prospects
- the opportunity to learn a second language (or brush up on your foreign language skills)
Just how simple is is to get into TEFL?
For most rookie English teachers, the first stop is one of the various certification courses which equip with you with the rudimentary theory and methodology used in TEFL, as well as offering some practice actually teaching students. This is a great chance to boost your confidence and learn what it’s all about before stepping into your own classroom in a different city or country. Some of the most popular course, which are internationally recognized include:
Trinity CertTESOL qualification,
Cambridge CELTA qualification, and the
British Council English teaching graduate scheme.
Where to do a TEFL course
There is more than one way of getting started in a TEFL career. You could do a TEFL certification course in your own country before travelling abroad, take a similar TEFL course abroad in the country you’re interested in teaching in when you finish, or even get certified and then teach English to foreigners in your own country, if that seems more attractive to you.
Tips from TEFL teachers who have already done it
If you want to go abroad, choose a country you’re interested in or know something about. There are TEFL opportunities all over the world, so don’t think you’re limited in choice. If you’ve never been away from home before, it can be a good idea to choose a country quite close to home. If you’re in Europe there’s lot of choice, but even if you’re in the states, there’s Canada and Mexico right next door, and all of Latin America within easy flying distance where you can find many good TEFL opportunities.
Moving to a country where the culture and religion are very different to your own can be quite a culture shock if you’ve never done it before, be careful when considering a country where life is dramatically different from your own… homesickness, isolation and other issues can kick in much worse when it’s all so different. If you do fancy going somewhere totally different, it might be a good idea to go as part of a group or volunteer program with other people like yourself. It will certainly make the transition a little easier and possibly allow you to enjoy it more rather than doing it on your own.
Before deciding on a particular job or school, make sure you’ve done your due diligence and research. TEFL employment packages vary widely across the world and even within the same country depending on whether you’ll be working in a private bilingual college, state school, private language institute or university. Check their requirements for college/university degrees, conditions of employment, any requirements related to obtaining a work visa, health insurance, etc. and other documentation. Make sure you can comply with everything before making your final selection.
Make use of Skype or Google hangouts to interview prospective schools before going… you’ll feel more comfortable putting a name to the face of your new employer, and will be able to get answers to all your questions before making a final decision.
If you’re more adventurous, and fancy just turning up in a country and then looking for TEFL teaching work, be prepared to go at the right time of year. Research on the internet when the academic year begins or when the peak teaching times are and make sure you’re in-country before that so you get an opportunity to visit schools and colleges with your resume before they finish recruiting their teachers for the semester/year.
Once you get into the swing of it, look for some private classes as these usually pay more and can be a great way to meet people outside of your normal work environment. In some cases, the income from private classes can transform your lifestyle, especially in countries where teachers are generally not that well paid in state schools.
Don’t just stick with other foreign English-speaking teachers when it come to socializing – meet the natives, socialize with local teachers and possibly even some of your students if you’re teaching adults. It’ll be great for your language skills and more interesting too. It will give you a better flavor of the country you’re in and usually opens many more doors when it comes to travel and sightseeing. They can tell you where to eat, shop and will also help you get to grips with the local language and customs faster than trying to figure it all out yourself, or spending all your free time with other English-speakers.
Working as a TEFL teacher can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Amazing travel opportunities, picking up a second language, developing your own resourcefulness and self-confidence, and obviously gaining experience teaching people in a foreign country – quite a heady mix! One which future employers will certainly look upon favorably when it does come time to go for those job interviews back home.
