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Original poster

Are there any TEFL tutors who can advise me?

22 replies

milosmouse · 25/04/2023 18:25

Hello
I am interested in Teaching English as a Foreign Language online. Does anyone do this and can recommend a good course to follow in order to qualify? I have a degree (non teaching) and I have some teaching experience (not in a school).
I have looked online and there are many courses available- I'm trying to sort the wheat from the chaff!

Can anyone recommend a good website from which to get work, once I am qualified? Or any to avoid? Thanks for any help.

OP posts:
andsowhatnext · 09/05/2023 15:46

Bump

So1invictus · 09/05/2023 15:58

A CELTA remains the most valid, and recognised initial qualification. You can now do it part-time and in some cases online. Stay away from any training course with no teaching practice in the classroom (which can be virtual)
TEFL.com has the most ads for TEFL teachers. (these are the busiest months for summer temporary recruitment- last time I looked there were about 200 schools in the UK advertising and since Brexit and the difficulty qualified non native speakers have of coming over to work, the industry is crying out for TEFL teachers with a recognised qualification. You can cross check decent schools on the British Council website, accredited schools are inspected every 3 years and detailed reports published. Don't go anywhere near a non accredited school.

Original poster
milosmouse · 09/05/2023 16:10

Thanks for bumping this @andsowhatnext and thanks for the info @So1invictus

OP posts:

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General education
TonarinoNeko1 · 09/05/2023 17:08

Hi. I have been teaching TEFL online for two years on Cambly and more recently on DMM Eikawa (aka Engoo). The average hourly rate for online teaching is $USD 10, less

andsowhatnext · 16/05/2023 13:47

So1invictus · 09/05/2023 15:58

A CELTA remains the most valid, and recognised initial qualification. You can now do it part-time and in some cases online. Stay away from any training course with no teaching practice in the classroom (which can be virtual)
TEFL.com has the most ads for TEFL teachers. (these are the busiest months for summer temporary recruitment- last time I looked there were about 200 schools in the UK advertising and since Brexit and the difficulty qualified non native speakers have of coming over to work, the industry is crying out for TEFL teachers with a recognised qualification. You can cross check decent schools on the British Council website, accredited schools are inspected every 3 years and detailed reports published. Don't go anywhere near a non accredited school.

If teaching online, is there a shortage of English teachers?

Can anyone recommend a good online training?

andsowhatnext · 16/05/2023 13:48

Sorry should have added, in the UK

So1invictus · 16/05/2023 13:55

Unfortunately not. The online market is flooded due to digital nomads, and companies (generally China, Korea, South America) who will literally employ anyone with no qualifications as they provide all the "materials" which are basically just PowerPoints that you read from. The only criteria for many of the online companies is that you are a native speaker. You're often expected to teach in front of a background with the company's name on to make it seem fancy.

There are decent online companies around, but anyone offering jobs for people with no qualifications (and consequently paying them about $8 an hour) isn't one of them.

EF, the British Council etc also have a pool of online teachers and are reputable, but you need a recognised qualification for either.

There are other platforms like Cambly (as above) Palfish etc where you are effectively self-employed as you register on the platform as a teacher and then advertise yourself. They are often so awash with teachers that they suspend new registrations. You need your own materials for these, but it tends to be people looking for half an hour's conversation etc.

andsowhatnext · 16/05/2023 18:31

Thanks, I thought that must be the case.

I have seen a few saying teachers must have a degree in any subject, I thought that was the norm/ basic requirement

katscamel · 16/05/2023 19:21

For overseas a first degree is usually for visa purposes.

The only courses you should be considering are either Trinity Tesol or Cambridge CELTA, a quick Google search will bring up courses ... full and part time all over the UK.

Why do you want to teach online? If it's to fit around existing commitments you need to factor in admin/prep and time differences. Would you be classed as self employed? If so then what are the tax implications?

It might sound a daft question but how much do you know about the English Language? Could you explain present perfect continuous to a student. Teaching courses do not teach you the grammar but how to teach it.

If I was starting out now I'd....

  1. Research courses and apply
  2. Brush up on grammar
  3. Work on essay writing skills
4.Get your course out of the way
  1. Apply for UK summer jobs... as previously mentioned, Tefl.com tends to be the best site, Indeed sometimes have ads and whoever runs your Cert may have contacts.
So1invictus · 16/05/2023 20:26

andsowhatnext · 16/05/2023 18:31

Thanks, I thought that must be the case.

I have seen a few saying teachers must have a degree in any subject, I thought that was the norm/ basic requirement

The degree is usually needed for entrance onto a CELTA, though people with "life experience" and a sound knowledge of grammar can also be accepted.
For jobs abroad, (decent ones) they'll ask for a degree + Celta. Not so decent ones will just accept a degree, and total cowboys will just accept native speakers.

Definitely agree with @katscamel about the summer jobs, especially these days. I've worked at the same summer school for 8 years as Academic Manager and in previous years 15 or so of my teachers have been returners from the EU. Not any more, 3 are coming back having managed to get visas. This will be the same everywhere. We're also advertising a Celta in June with the promise of work in July and August, as I expect most places are!

Fluffycloudsblusky · 16/05/2023 20:34

CELTA - but the market is saturated. Online you will be competing against people offering lessons for very low hourly rates.
My friend is facing this problem at the moment.

Mxflamingnoravera · 16/05/2023 20:43

It's not saturated at the moment, there is a huge shortage of EFL teachers nationally. CELTA is the qual to do, but don't expect to be well paid, on the other hand you can work around the world.

BillyNighysWife · 16/05/2023 20:43

I have been a teacher trainer for EFL/ESOL teaching for 20 years, an EFL/ESOL teacher and lecturer for 30 years and now an academic in the field. CELTA really is the only initial training worth doing (though Trinity cert TESOL is equivalent). Please don’t do any of the other courses. They are not accredited and you will have fewer options for work not to mention you will be perpetuating the idea that ELT is not a proper profession if you don’t train for it.

During lockdown I decided to supplement my work with online teaching. Despite having CELTA, DELTA, DTEELLS, MA in Applied Linguistics plus a nearly completed PhD in ELT I struggled to find decent work. It’s very poorly paid and you often have to work long anti social hours as the students are all over the world. I really would not recommend it.

The vast majority of English teachers in the world are highly qualified professionals with a really good understanding of how languages work as well as teaching skills, and that’s as it should be. It is now thankfully understood that there is nothing special about being a native speaker and native speakers who are not trained professionals do not find work easily and tend to be poorly paid.

Sorry to put you off. My academic research is in exactly this area and that’s the way it is.

Brefugee · 16/05/2023 20:45

another vote for the CELTA. I did the full-time, 4 week one, and although it nearly broke me, it was fantastic

BillyNighysWife · 16/05/2023 20:55

Yes, CELTA is a very demanding course whether you do it full or part time. Everybody who does it finds it demanding, even people with phds or lots of previous teaching experience. Native speakers struggle the most. If you can’t explain the difference between present perfect and past simple then you are not ready to teach English. It’s a profession with specialist knowledge.

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 16/05/2023 21:02

A friend just gained the CELTA qualification and it was extremely demanding.
Over half the group dropped out.

Mrstwiddle · 16/05/2023 22:31

I'm a qualified teacher and I dropped out of the CELTA course! It was so much more work than I expected

LightDrizzle · 16/05/2023 22:34

CELTA!

Gtsr443 · 16/05/2023 22:39

I did CELTA about 20 years ago and was earning £10 an hour in a British Council accredited school. As far as I know the hourly rate hasn't improved much.
It was fun for a couple of years but it's bloody hard work and I wouldn't do it again.

Brefugee · 17/05/2023 10:29

Tbh in language teaching I feel the best money is to go into businesses. For that, IMO, you need a business background and a CELTA. Any business hiring you - if they have anything about them will be looking for that.

Quite a few of my CELTA-course buddies do that now

JP62 · 25/05/2023 09:42

Are there any companies that offer training to then deliver their own online scheme of work? I'm not so concerned about low pay rates, transferable qualifications or limited number of hours atm, but just trying to find out more about opportunities in this sector (as a possible option for returning to the workplace). It may be that I could complete CELTA once I have saved the fees.

I'm volunteering as a NTP online English tutor having worked in a secondary school as a tutor prior to the pandemic. I have an English degree and PGCE English. Any advice very much appreciated.

Onepotatoetwopotatoe · 25/05/2023 09:43

I would like to follow this thread please xx

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