Thinking of doing TEFL

elrasho

elrasho

elrasho

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Joined
12 Jan 2009
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Hi,

I've been working in the IT industry for 5 years now and I'm not getting anywhere. I was thinking of getting into webdesign/developing but the competition is fierce and it will take me another 5 years to make something of myself in that line of work.

Due to some personal issues with home life I've decided to try teaching English in a another country. I was wondering if anyone else had tried this? You can do the course in a4 week intensive session or part time over 27 weeks. In the end you get a qualification that helps you get a job abroad as an English teacher to kids and high schoolers.

The courses ca cost from £300 to £10000 pounds, the grand course is CELTA and apparently that’s the best one out there and overseas employers love it.

So here I am thinking about taking a year out of the UK to try something different. Have any of you guys done this or know people who have? What was it like? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
I saw the title and added an A to one of the words instantly thought whats Tefal done. I shouldnt have click the link so fast and slowed my poor brain down :p. Damn it zip thought the same but was still faster then me haha
 
tres said:
There was a big TEFL discussion on here last week.. might be of some use

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18112060&highlight=TEFL
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, looks like a lot of people go to China, Japan and Korea. I want to go to Egypt, Tunisia or Dubai. Looking at their job specs they ask for at least 2 years experience in teaching!

Im really serious about doing this but it feels like people do this for a "working holoday" where as I actually want to make a career out of it, or possibly move into IT from it
 
Very interested in the Thailand Internship via I to I. If I don't get my place on my PGCE, I'm very tempted to do that.

Problem is explaining 4 months apart to the GF. But you only live once, and this looks like an experience I may never have the opportunity to take again...
 
Kristoph said:
Very interested in the Thailand Internship via I to I. If I don't get my place on my PGCE, I'm very tempted to do that.

Problem is explaining 4 months apart to the GF. But you only live once, and this looks like an experience I may never have the opportunity to take again...
Click to expand...

Thats my thinking exactly, there's nothing really keeping me in the UK so why not right? Was gonna go back packing around Europe but since I dont really have a career maybe I can hit two birds with 1 stone by doing this?
 
Zip said:
Was i the only one that read that as 'Thinking of doing TEFAL' :o
Click to expand...

Nope I thought the same thing but you beat me to it. Was quite interested in where my original read of the thread title was going to head though..........
 
I've been interested in this for some time, but I do not know my ability when it comes to being able to teach people. Understanding that you get trained to teach.

Problem is I don't have a degree, not that it stops people trying somewhere else and being succesful with it.
I have been looking into (in a few years) going to Japan for 3 months to begin to learn the language and get the lay of the land so to speak. See if it's something I actually want to do and go back for 12months to try and learn more and maybe find part-time work.

When people started talking about teaching english this seemed like another approach to being able to go and work/live in Japan. If anything but to get a foot in.
I've seen the I-to-I course that will take you to China for 5months for under a grand with no degree needed, anyone know of a place that will do similar in Japan?
I was actually planning to put a lot more money aside than that, but the cheaper the better!

There's only other country I would personally like to go to and learn the language is Austria as it's where my parents are from but I can't realistically see me being happy and wanting to stay there.
 
That's just it I can't seem to find a cmpany that has a 100% track record, i-to-i are big but a lot of people have given bad reviews aswell as good ones. There's just so many companys offering the same thing where do I start!

The official forums don't really help, they full of noobs and experienced people not willing to help very much
 
Do a CELTA or TESOL and then go abroad. The £1k is worth it as it's 9-5 for a month, with teaching observation and practice.
It's hard work, but it leaves you so much more prepared than doing a crappy weekend one before jetting off to the far east.

That, and you're much more likely to find work at a reputable school.
 
I've seen a CELTA course that's part time for 27 weeks, thats 1 day a week. That's a loooong time to be doing a course, am I better off doing the 5 week intensive course instead?

I definantly want to be fully prepared before going and want a job lined up too, I don't want to go to say japan and have to knock on doors looking for work. That JET programme seems really good but I'm still keeping my options open for alternatives. Theres just so many comapnys though its a mind phuk!

Have you done this before mjt?
 
Ive just come back from a year in Korea, most public schools "GEPIK" and Academies "hagwons" will take you with out TEFL qualifications.

To be honest its a dead end career, Asians in particular dont promote foreigners except my missus who got promoted to manager. I had a good time despite getting used to being asked to do random things last minute. Cost of living is low in korea but rising, I saved over half my pay cheque every month and lived well.

Aslong as your very flexible and dont ask questions you'll be fine. Korean bosses arnt used to insubordination where as beinging able to question your boss when you think they're being unreasonable is fairly normal here. Koreans, Chinese and less so japanese are very racist and xenophobic, koreans inparticular are very sheltered and nationalistic but if you can get past that you'll have a great time.

Alternatively I had a friend who taught in Korea for two years went to dubai, got promoted to english department head and is now making big bucks.
 
Can I ask who did you do your CELTA course with and how you found it, apparently its meant to be really intense. Are you teaching abroad now?

Thanks for the links btw :)

Amakuma, I intend to end up in Dubai eventually. Looking at their job specs they all require at elast 2 years experience so I know I wont get a job there as soon as I finish my CELTA, guess I'll have to work in teh trenches of China first lol

As for the racism thing I thought it would'nt be so bad in Japan as they are more liberal right? Did you get into any sort of trouble though?
 
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I need help with writing a personal statement, some of the companys want a 400 word essay stating why I want to do CELTA and why I feel I would be a successful teacher
 
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