Anyone done tefl?
- Thread starter jsmoke
- Start date
Not a good start, bit lazy typing that post. My English is generally good though. My main issue is that I may bit a bit rough around the edges and that students wouldn't take to me too well. From what i can see though there are quite a few jobs on the go.
The hardest part is getting a visa the jobs are thrown at you when you are there
I got a visa through an agency who said they had a school position for me but when I arrived the school withdrew the offer so I phoned another agency and they had 30 or so positions for me to choose from because I already had a visa and in the country!
I got paid 10,000 yuan a month and they provided accommodation and taxi to the school
I got a visa through an agency who said they had a school position for me but when I arrived the school withdrew the offer so I phoned another agency and they had 30 or so positions for me to choose from because I already had a visa and in the country!
I got paid 10,000 yuan a month and they provided accommodation and taxi to the school
I would imagine that the students/pupils would be very well behaved over there, as you know you can get all sorts of attitudes over here - it would be nice to get away for a bit. I feel I would almost need to be a bit charismatic though in some regards to do this kind of work. Maybe I am too dull to do something like this. You would find out on your interview I suppose, but do i want to pay the money for a course only to find out that nobody will employ me.
Anybody fancy coming along?
Actually, a friend of mine wound up in Cambodia a couple of years ago doing tefl, aged 40, he's still there & is now officially employed by the Cambodian government teaching English to pre-teens.
Oh & he was a truck driver before he went out there, he just kinda fell into the job, so it's definatley doable as a career change, irrespective of your age.
Age is fairly irrelevant for it, I know people anywhere between 19 and 60 doing it. It's a great way to travel, and in China in particular you can pick up a job just by being English, but you're best of with a qualification if you want some sort of choice in the job you take. I'm leaving for Taiwan in a few weeks to go start a new TEFL job over there, just seemed a more interesting place to do it than carrying on with private classes with the couple of students I have here, and it'll make a change to not just teach Spanish people.
Have done it in China previously too, "well behaved" very much depends where you're teaching - my ex was taking classes of 60 people in a middle school, a lot of whom would just sit playing on their phones and completely ignoring her. It can be incredibly rewarding, but it is a responsibility too.
Have done it in China previously too, "well behaved" very much depends where you're teaching - my ex was taking classes of 60 people in a middle school, a lot of whom would just sit playing on their phones and completely ignoring her. It can be incredibly rewarding, but it is a responsibility too.
Thanks, who did you do you TEFL course with, how much did it cost and where did you get a job?
Finished doing CELTA last month, and currently on the hunt for a job. My advice? Do a proper course (CELTA or Trinity TESOL).
Much better prospects, and the course is really very good.
fifiov also did the CELTA course IIRC, in Edinburgh. It costs between £1000-£1200. However, it's only one of two that are accredited (by Cambridge for CELTA) and has a worldwide reputation.
Much better prospects, and the course is really very good.
fifiov also did the CELTA course IIRC, in Edinburgh. It costs between £1000-£1200. However, it's only one of two that are accredited (by Cambridge for CELTA) and has a worldwide reputation.
Thanks, will look at these. I have no idea if i'm up to this, would be ok at the subject but feel a bit drained these days, maybe some better weather in a new country would spark me up a bit though.
So no joy on getting a job, have you applied for many, Europe or further afield?
There are jobs out there. I want to live in South America though and there aren't a great deal of jobs out there nor a particularly well established EFL/ESL community like there is in Asia & Spain.
People seem to think it's an easy gig, but it's really not. During the CELTA course you have to teach students (whereas a lot of the others you don't) and it can be quite hard work. Hell, some lessons I was teaching them something that none of my friends or even myself could explain. However, you'll get better with time. Plus, the money is generally terrible in schools. Enough to live on sure, but you won't save anything. Fifiov will be able to comment more on that though.
Finally, do you have a degree? You'll struggle to get a visa in a lot of places without one unless you have extensive experience in another field. You say that you're in your 30s. Perhaps have a look at business English if you've been in business for some time? I'm looking at ways to teach legal English but there's not a great demand in it.
I put myself through the course with the intention of getting a job pretty quickly but that's been delayed a wee bit. However, I think it's worth while doing it and seeing if you like it. It's a great way to see the World and do something worthwhile.
People seem to think it's an easy gig, but it's really not. During the CELTA course you have to teach students (whereas a lot of the others you don't) and it can be quite hard work. Hell, some lessons I was teaching them something that none of my friends or even myself could explain. However, you'll get better with time. Plus, the money is generally terrible in schools. Enough to live on sure, but you won't save anything. Fifiov will be able to comment more on that though.
Finally, do you have a degree? You'll struggle to get a visa in a lot of places without one unless you have extensive experience in another field. You say that you're in your 30s. Perhaps have a look at business English if you've been in business for some time? I'm looking at ways to teach legal English but there's not a great demand in it.
I put myself through the course with the intention of getting a job pretty quickly but that's been delayed a wee bit. However, I think it's worth while doing it and seeing if you like it. It's a great way to see the World and do something worthwhile.
hey i expect dinner and a diamond the size of a monkeys brain before you get anything sunshine!