What actually is TESOL/TEFL?
Before getting started, it’s a good idea to really get to grips with what
TESOL/TEFL is, what it involves, and some of the other acronyms you’ll see.
TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
These different acronyms are generally used to describe the same subject.
A TESOL/TEFL course covers the key knowledge and skills needed to
effectively teach the English language to non-native speakers.
TESOL vs TEFL
Traditionally, a TESOL course would be more suited to teaching people who
speak one language, but move to an English-speaking country and need to
improve their English language skills. This could mean a student from
Germany that moves to study at university in the UK, or perhaps a family
that recently moves to Australia for work – their children would need help
learning English.
TEFL courses, on the other hand, were traditionally developed for people
teaching English in a country that doesn’t use English as its first language.
For example, this could be somebody flying to Thailand and teaching English
there.
Nowadays, the industry has evolved quite a lot and the terms have generally
grown to cover the same overall skillsets needed to teach English in either
setting. They’re now interchangeable terms. For a job that requires a TESOL
certificate, a TEFL certificate would generally be usable too – as long as it’s
of equal quality.
Course types
TESOL/TEFL courses often come in a range of lengths and can be studied
online, at a learning center, or a combination of both. While class-based
courses can offer a great experience, for many people they can be difficult to
afford and inconvenient to attend. This is where online courses can bring
great convenience and accessibility.
To ensure that online courses still provide the high level of training needed,
there are accreditation organizations that examine the content and teaching
practices of these courses. Only those which meet the strict standards set by
these organizations are able to gain accreditation. This course has been
accredited by ACCREDITAT – we’ll cover this in more detail later in this
introductory module.
After completing the course, you’ll receive a TESOL/TEFL certificate which
shows the training you have covered. This certificate has long been an
essential requirement sought by ESL employers around the world and for
online teaching too. In recent years, many governments have also started to
require foreign English language teachers to have a 120-hour TESOL/TEFL
certificate in order to qualify for a work permit. So for those wanting to move
overseas and teach, gaining a certificate can be very important.
Life as an English teacher
Teaching English opens up a huge range of opportunities in life. Depending
on your own personal goals and interests, there are many different career
paths that you could follow.
It could help to take a few minutes and think about which of these career
paths might be of interest to you.
Common paths for English teachers:
Traveling teacher
Also known as the TEFL nomad, the most common path for TEFL graduates is
to travel around the world while teaching. Many teachers will spend a year or
two in each country, indulging themselves in language and culture as they
go.
This can be a great option to set yourself up with a new career path, to build
up some savings, or just to see some of the world after completing
university/college.
While this lifestyle can be a lot of fun, you should keep in mind that you’ll still
have responsibilities as a teacher and will need to ensure that you provide
valuable lessons for your students.
🏢 Expat teacher
Once you discover teaching English overseas it can be hard to give it up.
Many teachers find a country which they truly feel comfortable in, and
choose to call it home for good. Such teachers are often known as “expats”
or “ex-pats” (short for “expatriates”).
This can be an incredibly rewarding lifestyle as you’ll start to develop a
deeper understanding of your new home, learn the local language, and
adjust to life overseas.
As you gain experience, it can also be possible to find jobs at reputable
schools or even universities, bringing new challenges to your work as you get
to focus on more academic teaching.
🏠 Homeland teacher
It might surprise you to hear, but it could also be possible to find ESL
teaching positions in your home country. This means that you could
potentially start a new career without needing to travel overseas.
If you live in a country that doesn’t already speak English as its native
language, there should be lots of local students learning English either at
school or through private language classes.
If you live in a country that already speaks English as a native language then
don’t worry – there could still be lots of opportunities close to home. Foreign
ex-pats, overseas students, and even refugees can arrive in countries such
as the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa with
limited English skills. English language classes are a great way to help them
better assimilate to the local environment, and improve their communication
with the locals.
💻 Online English tutor
Teaching English via the internet has become incredibly popular over the
past 5 years. Thanks to increasingly widespread internet access, it’s now
possible to teach children and adults from around the world without needing
to leave your home.
Most online teaching positions just require you to be fluent in English, have a
computer with a webcam/microphone, and to have a stable internet
connection.
Online teaching is something that we’ll look at in the final module of the
course.
👨🏫 Private English tutor
If you aren’t a fan of online teaching then a great side job could be to teach
English as a private tutor.
Many teachers start private tutoring to earn some extra money, and
eventually spin it into a full-time job of its own. Private tutoring can offer
great flexibility, allowing you to choose your own hours (within reason), and
earn a great rate of pay – in some regions you can earn up to $20-$30 per
hour!
You’ll also be able to experience what it’s like to teach on a 1-on-1 basis
instead of having to split your attention among a class full of students.
👔 Non-teaching career
Another great advantage of teaching English overseas is that many foreign
companies have a demand for people with strong English skills.
This is especially important for companies that target native-speaking
customers, or those that want to give off an international image. It’s
common to hear of people transitioning from teaching English to copy-
writing, journalism, marketing, sales, or other positions.
There truly are a lot of possibilities with teaching English. Whether you’re
looking for an exciting experience, a long-term job, or a springboard to a new
career, there are plenty of opportunities out there.
Destinations
English language teachers are in demand all over the world, and most new
teachers head overseas within 3 months of finishing their TEFL course. With
so many options on the table, one of the hardest parts of the move can be
deciding where to go.
From schools by the beach in southern Thailand, to rural outposts by the rice
fields of Yunnan, China, and back to the bustling city of Barcelona, there’s a
need for qualified English teachers almost everywhere.
Check out the map below for info on our most popular
destinations:
Some countries such as the UAE or Korea have higher requirements than
others and may be more suitable after having a year or two of teaching
experience under your belt. Others are relatively easy to land positions in –
such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia – and can be great targets to start
your teaching career in.
You’ll have to consider what you’re looking for and put some time into
researching which destination is right for you. If you’re not quite sure, you
can always get in touch with our tutors and we’ll be happy to share our
personal experience and insight with you.
Wages
Aside from being able to live and work in exotic locations around the world,
the salaries can also be another big perk of the TEFL lifestyle.
With different countries you’ll find wages vary quite a lot. In countries such
as the UAE, and Saudi Arabia you’ll often find positions advertising around
$2,000 per month, and sometimes up to $4,000. While in China, Thailand
and Vietnam you’ll see positions around $1,000 up to $2,500, and in other
countries you may see jobs around the $800 mark.
Here’s a rough breakdown of the job market:
Upper-tier UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait.
Mid-tier China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey.
Lower-tier Cambodia, Argentina, Myanmar, Peru, Laos, Nepal.
One thing to keep in mind however, is that living expenses in each region are
often reflected in your salary. So while you’ll earn more money in the UAE or
South Korea, your daily expenses will often be much higher than in other
regions.
For many first-time teachers, the mid-tier countries offer a great
compromise. They can still be relatively easy to find jobs in, and you can
often enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while still saving some money each
month. If you’re used to traveling on a budget and are looking to head off
the beaten path, then a lower-tier country could be an incredible experience
worth more than a salary can pay. The choice is yours.
Class types
Before heading overseas, you may not be aware of the different types of
classes which you could find yourself teaching in. The first thing that comes
to mind for most people will be a high school class, similar to what they’ve
experienced themselves.
It’s true that high school classes are a large part of the education market,
but there are other types of ESL class that serve a range of different
students.
Here are some of the most common class types which you’ll
come across:
Kindergartens:
Kindergarten classes help students from 4-6 years of age to familiarise
themselves with the basics of the English language.
These lessons are usually high-energy and involve lots of games to keep
things fun.
Public schools:
These classes serve children with ages ranging from 4-16, who study English
as part of their school studies.
Class sizes are usually around 20-35 students and follow a pre-set
curriculum.
Cram schools:
These after-school classes are run by private companies to help students
raise their grades and prepare for exams.
Class sizes can range from around 20-40 students, but sometimes can be
smaller. Larger cram schools may have their own curriculum which you’ll
teach.
Universities:
Many university/college students will study English as part of their degree or
through extracurricular classes.
Teaching these classes can be especially rewarding, and give a greater
degree of flexibility to explore the intricacies of the English language (they
also look great on your CV!).
Business classes:
Business English lessons are held for professionals who want to improve
their ability to communicate for work purposes.
Sometimes, companies will require employees to take such classes and
sponsor their tuition fees to boost their work skills.
Private tuition:
These are one-to-one, or small group classes used to focus on specific
aspects of language for a range of goals.
These classes could be held face-to-face though it’s increasingly popular for
them to be held online.
Each of these class types requires different teaching approaches. What
works well for a weekly business class of adults might not work quite as well
with a public class of 30 teenagers.
Good teachers are able to adapt their teaching styles, activities and
materials to fit the type of class that they’re teaching. Through this course,
we’ll cover these skills, and by the end you’ll be able to plan a suitable
lesson for any type of class you walk into.