With travel restrictions easing by the day, and the world now more accessible than it has been for years, it is a perfect time to begin thinking about journeying the planet once more. However, at the same time it is essential to bear in mind that prices have gone up dramatically in recent months, so it is vital to have enough money set aside to fund all those once in a lifetime experiences.
With that in mind, one great career to consider is that of a TEFL (or Teach English as a Foreign Language) teacher. This is a flexible and fun vocation that enables people from all walks of life to expand their skill set as well as setting aside some cash for a rainy day.
Now, some may wonder how to even begin looking into this, but luckily help is at hand. Below is a simple guide to getting started as a TEFL tutor, and some useful hints and tips for combining work as a TEFL instructor and enjoying travel opportunities too.
What is TEFL?
Simply speaking, TEFL is where students who are brought up with languages other than English are taught to enhance their level in the English language. In the past, almost all of these classes would have been taught in person, but as technology has developed in recent years, studying TEFL online has become more and more popular.
To begin with, how to conduct become an online teacher research is straightforward, and can be done with just a few clicks in the right places. These helpful guides will explain all the necessary details, such as any prior educational requirements, all the way through to the kinds of TEFL teaching that are most sought after these days.
With a reliable and reputable TEFL certification, the new TEFL teacher has the best possible chance of hitting the ground running in their new career path. Additionally, these courses are an ideal way of meeting fellow rookies to the TEFL field, allowing the opportunity to share thoughts, feelings and emotions along the way.
Is it better to teach TEFL online or in person?
For each person, this answer will probably vary. For some, the chance to work in a real life classroom is one to be taken with both hands.
For one thing, the energy and passion of many students in a traditional learning environment is hard to match, and there are wonderful breakthrough moments seemingly around every corner. Due to this, this kind of setting is wonderful for many new TEFL teachers, who thrive on the buzz and speed of the lessons, getting through a whole day of classes in apparently no time at all.
On the other hand, the modern world has become digital in so many ways, and this could suit several new TEFL teachers, as they are more accustomed to using the myriad benefits of technology. This is also a decent option for those looking to work part time, as a supplement to other activities they have planned in their lives.
Where can a TEFL teacher travel to?
This of course varies by country, and by prior qualifications too. For instance, some countries like the United Arab Emirates will only consider TEFL teachers with at least an undergraduate degree to support their application.
There are also other factors to consider, such as whether a country is able to allow an entry from people from a particular country, so it is well worthwhile doing some research to find out in advance whether entry is accepted. Having said that, most nations do tend to be supportive of individuals coming to live and work there, especially if they have a commodity as valuable as teaching English to share with the local community.
For teaching TEFL online, it is naturally a bit different. Being able to combine travel and working online may be okay for many countries, but it is definitely a good idea to invest some time and effort into double checking this before travelling.
How can a TEFL teacher combine work and travel effectively?
For an online TEFL teacher, it is definitely a bit easier to design a timetable that is flexible enough to take advantage of different seasonal tourist attractions. For example, a city like Frankfurt has a fantastic winter market, so being able to have a work schedule that fits around trying a gluhwein after hours is absolutely a positive thing.
One of the reasons for this is because teaching TEFL online can reach pretty much every corner of the planet. Students may study from the comfort of their own homes, and because of this, time zones ought to be a prime consideration. This could mean working in the morning with students from the Far East, while taking a break to sightsee in the afternoon, before working with South American learners in the evenings.
How many hours does a TEFL teacher need to teach a week?
This is pretty much at the discretion of the individual TEFL educator, who might be able to survive or travel on a budget, without a huge income to support them. By contrast, a TEFL teacher who is living in a place with a higher cost of living will need more money to support this, and consequently they should probably take into account the fact that they will need to put more hours in to do so.
In any event, the chance to use TEFL as a learning opportunity is one not to be missed. First of all, teaching others something new is an invaluable career commodity, and one that future employers are likely to look at with a favorable pair of eyes.
Secondly, it takes a lot of skill and expertise to teach others a language, especially one that they might not have a lot of chances to practice in their native settings. In fact, the abilities a TEFL teacher may call upon in a typical lesson include effective lesson planning, strong presentation skills, knowledge of the topic itself, as well as being able to break down the content into a way the TEFL students can understand quickly and easily.
