Teaching English Abroad
Teaching English abroad is a tried and tested way for people to earn a living while experiencing different cultures, traditions, languages and lifestyles. The people who engage in TEFL/TESOL come from a wide variety of backgrounds and countries. The only requirements to teach English in a foreign country are a proficient command of the English language, as well as formal teacher training and certification from an internationally recognized TESOL or TEFL course provider, such as TEFL International.
Recognized TEFL Programs
The entry-level qualification to begin your new and exciting teaching job overseas is a certificate in TEFL or TESOL. The main difference between the two is that the term TEFL is usually used in the UK, while TESOL is predominantly used in the USA. Our courses are 4 weeks - 130 hrs and include 6 to 10 hours of observed classroom practice with actual students of English.
Is Teaching English Overseas for Me?
There are literally thousands of English language teaching jobs available around the world in major cities and smaller towns and villages. Once you begin teaching English abroad, you are sure to make many friends, both local people and other language teachers.
Popular TEFL & TESOL destinations are Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, France, UK, USA, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica and many other countries. If you would like to live and work in a specific country, TEFL is a great way, perhaps the only way, to achieve this.
Taking a TEFL course will greatly help your confidence and ability in the classroom, and will introduce you to up-to-date English language teaching techniques. TEFL International has one of the widest selections of accredited TEFL courses available. All courses meet strict International guidelines for the recognition of TEFL courses and we have our own strict policies too.
Teaching English is a great way to see the word end experience new cultures, however, it is important to know that you will be engaged in professional employment where many people's (employer and students) future depends on professionalism and reliability.
After a year or two overseas, you will have become quite versatile in the effective practices of English language teaching. At this stage you might wish to consider whether you would like to continue your TEFL teaching career, or feel that you want to build on your skills by training for further qualifications. Higher qualifications open greater opportunities for more senior positions and higher salaries.
TEFL Course and Training Options
A good entry level TEFL course will give you a sound knowledge of English grammar and how to teach effectively to language students at different stages of the language learning process, from beginner to advanced. These skills can be gained through online courses as well as in-class courses.
Online TEFL Courses
Other initial teacher training programs are offered on-line or by distance. Some of these programs are very good, such as the courses offered at www.teflcorp.com and www.teflonline.net, while others fall short of really preparing you to teach English effectively. Should you be interested in this route, look for an online TEFL course, which includes 100hrs of training and is tutor lead, this means you will have a course tutor to help you with any questions you may have. Please note that it is difficult for online courses to offer the teaching practice included in an in-class course due to the nature of the course being online.
Combined TEFL Programs
Another option is to take a combined course which unites an online and classroom based course. The theoretical principles and theories of teaching and language awareness are covered online at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home/office. Once the online component has been completed, it is then complimented with attendance for a period of two weeks at a training center to gain practical classroom teaching experience, with observation of your lessons by an experienced teacher trainer. Attendance at a training center gives you the opportunity to put the theory you have learned in the online course into practice. This is a good option for those who cannot take 4 weeks leave from employment but still prefer to gain classroom experience. Combined course options can be found at www.teflcorp.com
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