TEFL teachers are a varied bunch as the TEFL industry attracts expats, serious teachers and people who only wish to fund their travels alike. The advantages of TEFL are obvious; a portable career which you can fit around your new lifestyle abroad. But is teaching English for you? Before you invest in a TEFL course, leave your job and start a new life abroad, it pays to do your homework and ask yourself some serious questions.
Let's start with the obvious...
1) Where do you want to go?
while there is a huge demand to learn English wordwide, for some countries you will need a degree in order to work legally. South Korea and Thailand and Greece are just a few. While many teach 'under the table' ask yourself if you really want to live like this. Americans wishing to teach in France will face a tougher time since it is far easier to employ EU citizens within the EU. This is not to put you off - and in a largely unregulated industry there are few absolutes. While I once warned an American lady venturing out to Italy that she was unlikely to find much teaching work due to her nationality, she proved me wrong and and was inundated with offers! It pays to check out the legal working regulations in your chosen country via the consulate.
2) How much do you need to earn?
The very general rule of thumb is that you can usually live well by local standards on a TEFL wage. Do not necessarily expect to save or bring up a family on a generic TEFL income however. Better pay and conditions can be found teaching English in Japan, South Korea and the usually tax free Middle East. The good news is, there are many more TEFL offshoots for the ambitious. It is possible to move into more lucrative 1-1 business training, publishing, opening your own school, etc. However, if you just need to support yourself or just want to teach part time or need an extra income to supplement a main wage or retirement income, then EFL teaching is an ideal option. What else could you be so easly trained to do abroad and get paid?
See typical TEFL wages on some top TEFL job sites such as tefl.com
3) Are you a natural teacher?
If you've never taught, perhaps you don't know yet. Certainly a good command of English and patience are essential. Most other skills can be taught and that is where a good TEFL course comes in to its own. However, most TEFL teachers did not have a teaching background when they did their TEFL training. Expect to find former taxi drivers, lawyers, housewives and students in the industry.
There are lots of free ways to investigate what teaching is like:
Why not take a simple TEFL survey?
View teaching in action Offer to help for free as an assistant in a local langauge school
and some paid:
Take an inexpensive online grammar course to improve your English skills and give you confidence
(although most people only learn grammar on their TEFL course)
or a practical weekend TEFL course where you will get immersed in the TEFL classroom
Perhaps you know already that teaching large classes of children will never be for you. In that case, there are plenty of other options. People learn English for business, for university entry, by phone, 1-1, for English conversation. Simply take a TEFL with business or 1-1 to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to teach in these more niche areas.
TEFL teaching can be richly rewarding, but take some time to investigate to make sure it is the best next step for you. Good luck
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