Anyone done a TEFL course?

[surlycurly]

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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

Sorry for thr typos- on crap phone

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

It is mainly students

Terrible hours

Terrible money

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

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

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

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

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

Children. Forget it.

How old are you?

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

@notreallybotheredaboutausernam will investigate that forthwith!!

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.

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.

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.

Thanks BookWitch.

Exactly my experience.