Talk to me about TEFL

[Spudlet]

Please

Am weighing up my options for returning to work after 4 years as a SAHM. Previously I was a lobbyist, but for a whole number of reasons this is not a career I want to return to.

I enjoy teaching adults (I used to teach dog training) so am considering options in this area. I have a degree in languages but translation isn’t really an option as a. My language skills are seriously rusty and b. I doubt there would be enough work in my particular language to justify the investment in a course and qualification.

So looking at TEFL courses, but it seems a minefield, tbh, with all sorts of course providers out there and I’m sure some complete rip-offs! So, I guess I’d love to hear from any TEFL teachers out there.

• Where did you train, and what would you look for in a course?
• Where do you now work - online, in person, a mix? I am not in a position to relocate or go overseas - I am looking for UK based work, with online as an option.
• Do you have steady work, do you do other things too (such as translation, for example!)
• Do you enjoy it?

Tell me all about it, if you wouldn’t mind!

@Spudlet my underdgraduate degree has tefl but my sister did the 4 week intensive celta course. I can ask her where she did it? It was one week classroom based and the rest online.

Both celta and tefl are similiar. I think places now prefer delta which is 6 months and higher than ceta and tefl.

Forgot to mention I know someone who works online. Teaches a group of children from China. She chooses the days and hours she wants to work.

Do tefl and celta they are the real thing and very good. I am tefl trained and used to teach english one to one in an academy for adults however i have never been confident enough to teach whole classes even though i am certified to. Plus you can tutor online at the moment its well worth it. And you only need to know english.

I did a Celta in 1998 (certificate in English language teaching to adults), and I've taught anything from business English, to 8yo, to proficiency exam level, and more recently online! Fucking hate teaching online, it sucks. But I'll do it if I have to.

Pay is shit, it pretty much always has been. I'm in a small city, I'd get paid no more for having a delta.

I still love teaching, love language, love the challenge of proficiency, even love thevteenagers!

I've only worked in the UK in summer schools, so j cang help much there I'm afraid.

I started to go down that path after doing a CELTA. Cost me about a grand about 12 years ago in central London. I didn’t stick to it for more than a year as money was poor

Where are you based op? London, oxford, cambridge, brighton, Edinburgh etc will have more employment options although anywhere with a university will have english for academics tutors and many small towns will have a language school or two.

Celta (cambridge) or tesol (trinity) are comparable entry level courses. Cost around 1k and take 4 was full time. Money is shit at that level though but then again a huge improvement on minimum wage style shops / care work etc. An MA in Tesol or ELT and / or a diploma level qualification (e.g. delta) is required for more desirable employment options. If you are dead set on a permanent contracted role (need for mortgage etc) I would reconsider entirely, as even with extensive experience and qualifications these are rare. If you're more interested in a way to earn something, make use of your skills it's not a bad choice for working parents. Having said that, you need to be flexible and adaptable, hours and days of available work are not likely to remain stable over extended periods of time. However, on sessional contracts (which is just the university way to say zero hours) you are free to simply say no if something doesn't suit. Of course then you won't be paid for those hours... but the conundrum of what to do on inset days etc can be largely resolved if that fits with your family's finances.