Was it grey and raining when you woke up this morning? Did you make the journey to work by the same route you’ve taken for the last 12 years? Did you daydream about all those people living it up in some sunny hot spot abroad? OK, I’m painting a very bleak picture here, but one of the major advantages of working in TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) is the ability to move anywhere in the world where there is a demand for English teachers. That might sound obvious, but TEFL can make your dream of moving somewhere (sunny southern France, perhaps, or even rural Vietnam) a very enjoyable reality. I recently made the move from Coventry, England to Kyoto, Japan, for the purpose of teaching English. I’ve got to tell you, I’m not regretting it! Do you have a passion for exploring new countries and cultures? Or are you keen to start life again in your favourite holiday spot? Of course, for any TEFL worker abroad there are challenges to face – cultural integration, language barriers, improving your teaching ability, getting started and developing your career, amongst other things – and I’ll be exploring these things in this blog.
Actually moving to a new country, however, starts at home and requires consideration and planning. TEFL is no stroll in the park. It’s good to be specific: where would you honestly like to live? Can you face leaving behind your family and friends and food?! If you can answer these questions and you still want to move, do some research into the job opportunities available to you. What qualifications will you need? At the very least you will probably need a basic TEFL qualification, and maybe even a Bachelor’s degree. Beyond that there are the practicalities of actually finding a job, applying, and emigrating. These are mere formalities, though, which must be completed before you make that invigorating move to an exciting and challenging new home. With TEFL, you can get where you want to be.
Can anyone get into this means of teaching?
Hi Fernando, thanks for your comment. That’s quite a broad question, but it’s best to look at the criteria for an English teacher. The main thing is fluency in the language. This means that non-native speakers are by no means excluded. More specifically, the CELTA course, for example, requires trainees to be suitably mature and well-educated, and above all to “have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels.” See http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/celta.html for more information on their entrance requirements. I hope this helps.