When first thinking about going abroad as an English teacher, one of the first thoughts for many teachers is how can they get a job. There are many TEFL course providers out there who bombard you with marketing offers touting one course over another, using tactics such as questioning the quality of competitor courses, giving shill advice, but one thing is ever present, the advice that you need a TEFL certificate. Whether it’s an online, a CELTA, a TESOL, a TEFL or whatever type of course, the point is drummed in that you need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad.
I am here to tell you that you do NOT need a TEFL course. If you have a 4 year degree or higher, you can get a job teaching English in a foreign country. In fact, even lacking a 4 year degree, there are countries and schools that will accept you, TEFL certificate or not. I’m going to give advice here but understand that you do not NEED a TEFL certificate.
What does a Teaching English as a Foriegn Language Certificate give you? In a typical class, even online courses, you will learn grammar and you will learn teaching techniques. These techniques you can learn on your own with some grammar and teaching books. If you study them, you will learn.
Another thing a TEFL course gives you is confidence. You don’t get this confidence as much from online courses, but no matter the type of course, you will feel more comfortable in the modules you covered and will feel confident to teach students. Again, you can get this practice on your own if you put your mind to it. You can find friends who can act like students and get their feedback.
So, back to the topic of this post, how do you find a TEFL course? First thing you do is look at your finances. Quality of the course is USUALLY in direct relation to the cost of the program. Let your budget find three or four TEFL course options.
After finding your options, go to Google and search for the name of the course using extra keywords like bad, sucks, review, etc. You want to see if there is negative feedback out there on the net.
If it passes the the Google test, then go to forums like ESLCafe.com and TEFLWatch.Org and ask teachers on those sites about the course in question. You might get a lot of marketing thrown at you and meet a forum shill or two, but search for the hidden information and see if the course fits your needs.
Any comments?
1 comment so far ↓
I am confused by this post. Any reading of blogs or my several friends who teaching EFL in places like S. Korea, China or even Spain, will tell you that a sincere desire and motivation to teach is rarely enough to succeed in the classroom.
Look at the numbers and teachers will tell you that the majority of people thay bail after a few months are people who were not certified and in addition, because of lack of certification, were probably hired by less reputable schools. You do not address the countless horror stories what it is like to work for schools who do no think it important to hire teachers who are prepared, not just motivated?
I wonder what background you may have that allowed you to apparently succeed without any formal training?
Its your blog, admin, and your prerogative to make claims you believe to be true, but telling someone to read some books and go teach is a bit of a stretch. Most people who want to teach kids have to get a masters degree. You even suggest that a 4 year degree is not necessary. For whom? 1 out of 50 people? Is it fair for you to suggest that training is not appropriate?
I for one taught overseas in Africa for several years and still find that my TEFL Training was invaluable to being effective in the classroom.
You probably had good reason to post this aside from wanting to provoke some spirited reply. I think it would be helpful for you to subscribe to something clearer than TEFL (training/certification) is not necessary. Thanks.
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