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Anyone done a TEFL course?

41 replies

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 22:12

Just what the title says really. I'm hoping to move my life in a different direction and was wondering about TEFL courses. Is anyone making a living out of teaching English? Would love to hear from you.

OP posts:
nervousfirsttimer1985 · 26/04/2020 22:18

Hi. I done one and went to South Korea for 6 weeks to teach at a summer camp. It was hard work but enjoyable. It was about 15 years ago now but all through a company called I to I that was booked through STA travel. I am back in the UK and teaching a different subject now but it was a good learning experience for me. The wages were good but I did pay to be there, so it was like I got my money back in a sense. It would have worked out better financially if I had stayed longer I think.

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 22:24

I'm already a qualified teacher in the UK, but quite fancy a move abroad. Did you find the course thorough enough?

OP posts:
3rdNamechange · 26/04/2020 22:36

If you're already a teacher here , can you work in an English school in your chosen location ( if they have them ) ?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

nervousfirsttimer1985 · 26/04/2020 22:38

The one I done was not really that thorough. It was just an online one and I think you could attempt assessments more than once also. If I was signed up to teach for longer with just having done that course I would have felt unprepared. I have a friend who has moved abroad to teach maths and she loves it and also makes me very jealous with her pictures as she is in the Caribbean.

pinkdressinggown · 26/04/2020 22:44

I did a TEFL course in Paris and then taught in a school in Busan in South Korea for 6 months. It was incredible - I loved everything about it! So much fun, meeting new people, a completely different way of life... I'd love to do it again!

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 22:45

Yes I could work in an international school somewhere, but I like the idea being able to teach English informally. A move would be to get away from schools, not just swap one for the other I think. Thanks for the responses- very interesting to hear your thoughts on the course. There is currently one on the TEFL website that's 120 hours long. It sounds quite comprehensive.

OP posts:
BookWitch · 26/04/2020 22:50

I teach English as a Second language. I have QTS and taught MFL in the 1990s and we moved abroad when my kids were young and did CELTA. I taught lower primary and IGSCE English second language in Malaysia for several years.
I am now back in the Uk and teach English online. I earn about £800-£1k a month. I am in the supply pool fir the local FE colege for ESL but i dont get much work through them

BookWitch · 26/04/2020 22:51

Sorry for thr typos- on crap phone

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 22:55

If you are a qualified teacher, you do not need tefl.

It is mainly students

Terrible hours

Terrible money

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 22:55

Sounds interesting @bookwitch. I'm just keen to explore my options. Ideally thinking Scandinavia and teaching business English to adults. Or English to teenagers.

OP posts:
BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 22:57

TEFL teachers do not speak good English, necessarily. See thread.

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 22:57

@BillieEilish what was the issue with the hours? I've tutored quite a bit here and it's been evenings. Can you elaborate please?

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 26/04/2020 22:58

Lived and taught English in tertiary education in France for 25 years with a degree and a TEFL.

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 22:58

Business English to adults is a better option. I did it in Madrid and earned a lot.

Children. Forget it.

How old are you?

Wallywobbles · 26/04/2020 22:59

I currently earn between 40-55€/hour but it's all contract.

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 23:02

I don't want to teach after school as I have a child. It is also a thankless task. You are battling against their schoolteachers poor English constantly. Getting paid peanuts for group lessons. 2 hours 5pm/7pm/9pm.

Business teaching, all day. Business hours. One to one. Satisfying.

You sound very qualified. Depending on age and experience I would consider setting up a business school. This is the way to go.

You really don't need TEFL.

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 23:05

Should clarify, TEFL is mainly students.

Teaching students could be fine if you don't care about income.

TEFL is not qualified teachers.

I have taught variously in Paris, Rome, Madrid and elsewhere without need of TEFL.

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 23:06

Thanks- interesting stuff to think about. I'm in my 40's. looking to move over the next few years and need to plan ahead. A language school or business school would be very interesting ideas to explore! And I think adults are the way forward too. Thanks!

OP posts:
notreallybotheredaboutausernam · 26/04/2020 23:09

I disagree with PP. You will struggle to get work in Europe without qualifications. Go for the CELTA, it's very good and well regarded.

I worked in Poland nearly 20 years ago and though the pay was bad in UK terms, I earnt a lot in comparison with my Polish peers. I did a mixture of business English and at the school (mainly adults, youngest were 13). I worked for a private English school. I hated teaching business English so that is subjective.

I have a couple of friends from that time still working in TEFL. One part owns her own school now, the other worked her way up the ladder and definitely views it as a career.

notreallybotheredaboutausernam · 26/04/2020 23:10

TEFL just stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, so what do you mean OP doesn't "need" it?

surlycurly · 26/04/2020 23:10

@notreallybotheredaboutausernam will investigate that forthwith!!

OP posts:
BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 23:14

Sorry, but 20 years ago is not in anyway current advice.

The OP is 40 and a qualified teacher. This totally overrides a TEFL course, which will be having students of 18/25 as her peers.

She should consider a 'business English school' it is a niche market, you have to be intelligent and not just a student looking for a gap year in 2020.

If you have your sights set on this OP it is a good plan.

You need an office, a printer and a computer and yourself.

BookWitch · 26/04/2020 23:15

I agree with Billie that you probably don't need TEFL, which seems to be for backpackers earning a bit of extra cash.

I enjoy doing business English for adults. I do some of this, but I don't get enough hours to do this exclusively. I also to 1:1 with teenagers in China, no shortage of students, and the times are good, late morning/early afternoon in the UK (being evening in China) students are often tired though.

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 23:16

She does not need a TEFL qualification. This is what I mean.
She is a qualified teacher.

Just my experience.

I know what TEFL means.

BillieEilish · 26/04/2020 23:18

Thanks BookWitch.

Exactly my experience.

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