TEFL tuition plus homestay host - anyone done it?

[43Today]

Hi am just wondering whether I should do a TEFL qualification with a view to getting part time teaching work next summer, or maybe teaching foreign students one-to-one at home and having the student stay in my home.

Has anyone tried this? I'd be really interested to hear about pros and cons - I do enjoy teaching languages, and have a degree, plus I am pretty sociable and love cooking! We are close to Oxford so that might make it easier to find work..

I teach TEFL and I think if you have someone else to support you, it could be a good way of earning money. You don't make much in this country though and there are fewer and fewer jobs, it seems.

There are lots of jobs in summer schools over summer and that's a good way of getting some experience.

Pros: if you have good students, it's great. You can work fairly short hours. You don't have as much paper work as a regular teacher. You learn a lot about other countries and other languages. You can work anywhere in the world.

Cons: the pay is rubbish. If your students aren't up for a laugh, it's miserable. It's difficult to communicate sometimes. Schools are generally chaotic and disorganised.

And finally, and most important and why I need to not do this job any more - 90% of the people involved in the industry are odd. I don't know why this is so, but I have never met more oddbods in my life. I think it's because you never have to settle down, so people who are a little socially inept tend to gravitate towards it as a career. Don't get me wrong, I've met some lovely people, but I've also met teachers who cried in every single class, teachers who've thrown stuff at students heads and one woman who used to go on about the "fucking ragheads" we had to teach. Every day. We were in Saudi Arabia.

Thanks for your input yellowraincoat, that's really interesting. I wouldn't be able to travel to teach, as I've got kids, partner etc, so I'd be looking for UK work. When you say the pay is rubbish, the context is that at the moment I'm returning to work after 15 years out of the workplace, and I'm looking at admin roles that are paying £8-£10 per hour - do you have any knowledge of how TEFL pay in the UK would compare to that?

Not too worried about the weirdoes I might encounter, of course that might be because I'm a weirdo too...

I have also heard about 'Homestay' tutoring where you teach someone 1-to-1 in your own home, and agencies will pay from £400 - £550 per week for board and 15-20 hours of tuition.

If anyone else has experience of this, I'd love to hear from them!

I'm just not sure whether I should invest in the training course - whether it will give me a marketable skill or not..

I would look around for the work before doing the course. See how much is really out there. The summer school stuff is probably very likely, especially around Oxford, but I've not seen or heard of anything for homestays. I haven't actively been looking, but as the idea appeals to me as well I would have noticed if I had heard about it.

I get paid 13 per teaching hour. However, you have to factor in preparation on top of that. Also I'm in London.

I'd recommend getting the Teacher's book alongside any Student's books you buy - they have all the answers and do a lot of planning for you.

I don't know anyone who's ever done homestay teaching, but you could look on tefl.com, as I've definitely seen adverts.

Honestly, if you're interested in teaching, I'd consider the PGCE part time over 2 years instead if you already have a degree or the BEd if you don't. You'd be able to get better jobs, with better money. TEFL is really hit and miss, the pay can be shit (summer school, you earn less than minimum wage when you work it out).

It can be great fun, I don't want to put you off. Think I'm just burnt out after 6 years.

I gained an online TEFL qualification seven years ago and since then have had home-stay students every summer. We do two hours of lessons per weekday and the rest of the time the student joins in with our day-to-day life. We do at least two outings per week to places of interest etc. Students have been mostly from France, aged 16 to 20 and every single one has been great. We don't give them a TV as it is more beneficial if they watch with us although they do have access to our computer. I would thoroughly recommend home-stay as a way to earn some extra money.