Teaching English abroad as a foreign language (TEFL)
Getting a TEFL job, the basics
The starting point for a beginner looking into the world of TEFL is a course leading to a qualification. The jobs for unqualified teachers in Europe have all but dried up. Courses are available all over the world (including many in the UK) and can be residential, day or night school or online. Once you have taken a TEFL course most course providers provide a provisional grade to enable you to get started on your TEFL job search.
TEFL work in Britain tends to be highly seasonal (summer months) and is often incorporated into other roles such as adventure centre monitors or kids summer school counselors. Spain is a TEFL hotspot – again summer is prevalent but there are jobs in the cities all year round. March is probably the best time across the board to be applying for jobs although many centres and schools recruit well ahead of the summer start dates.
If you are going to work overseas, it is generally recommended that you use the resources available to find a job before you set off. Fiona travelled to Galicia in Spain and remembers the experience well:
“I think that out of the three months I was there, it rained heavily every day except for two weeks, when it rained moderately. By this stage I was walking round the town looking for schools and hand delivering my CV. The constant rain, being wet, messing about with umbrellas, trying to keep my CVs from getting soggy while still looking like a professional was tough. And at every school it was the same answer; sorry but we employ our teachers in the summer, we don't have any positions available now but we'll keep your CV on file. “
Applying for teaching jobs is the same as with any other industry, you need concentrate on relating your past experience to the job you are applying for. A good tip is to use the xperience you received on your course if your working life doesn’t offer much up.
The British Council lists accredited schools, which is always worth a look. Or try TEFLjobs.co.uk which lists jobs in the UK and overseas. A different way to approach this is to qualify as part of your gap year and use English teaching as a way to spend time traveling afterwards, igapyear.com covers this area.
Links to TEFL and language courses and jobs
Online TEFL course for just £195 - details on how to Teach English as a Foreign Language.
Cactus TEFL - Cactus TEFL Online courses help you learn to teach English as a foreign language from the comfort of your own home. Watch video extracts, submit tasks to a tutor, reflect and learn.
Cactus Teachers - for internationally recognised qualifications in teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Cambodia TEFL - for Gap Year students & university graduates looking to travel & study an International TEFL Teaching Qualification abroad with the prospects of a paid teaching English job in Cambodia or Asia afterwards.
How to Speak Chinese - East-West Connections helps you study and learn to speak and communicate in the Chinese language FAST. Learn Chinese language quickly.
EFL Teaching Jobs is an on-line directory of TEFL jobs for qualified TEFL Teachers seeking temporary, permanent or summer school employment in the UK or overseas.
ESL Base provides information, advice and resources for teachers, as well as new job opportunities daily and a worldwide directory of TEFL courses.
ESL Directory - the premier search site for ESL Lessons and English as a Second Language Programs around the world.
Learn English in England-Scotland - Language travels for adults and students. You must immerse yourself in the customs of another time - the tea ceremony being only the most famous example.
Learn French Guide - all about how to learn French and how to speak French.
Pure Vida Language Institute - Spanish language school in Costa Rica. Small classes & excellent instructors. great locations, homestay, adventure tours and tons of free activities.
TEFL Scotland - TEFL courses and jobs for teaching English abroad.
Top Language Jobs - the largest multilingual and bilingual recruitment agency in UK and Europe.
Travel In Languages offer top quality locations to take an overseas language course with courses in Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador and Germany.
