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UKscape · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 6 Location: UK

I intend to go to Costa Rica this summer to do a spanish language course followed by a TEFL course in order to teach for 6 months. I don't intend to carry on teaching once I return to the UK.

I am hoping that the teaching will add to my confidence (I am confident now, but you can never have too much), communication skills and add a sense of adventure to me and my CV. The trip will cost over $2500 and I will make only enough to cover my living expenses, if that. Does anyone feel that 6 months is long enough to get the experience and benefit of teaching or is this something that comes with time. I'm just wondering is 6 months worth the trouble of a TEFL course. I do want to do all this but I do need to know that it will be a positive experience and worth the expense.

I know it is a decision I will make by myself, but I always think it's good to get an objective point of view.

Super Mario · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:42 pm Post subject:

TEFLing can be a damn good life if you're suited to it. 6 months should give you enough of a taste to decide.
I know you're saying you plan to return home and do other things, but you might find the lifestyle a bit too good to give up. Living in a different culture, working short hours but having plenty of local dollars, great food, interesting women [depending on your gender and preference, of course], are very "more-ish".

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I agree to keep an open mind about what you may do after the six months are up.

I think six months of teaching will give you an idea of what it's like to teach (although lesson planning and delivery gets easier, and exponentially better, with time) but not so much of what it's like to actually live in the other country (six months is often right at the height of a major culture fatigue phase- culture fatigue is culture shock- it isn't something that you have when you arrive and get over, it comes and goes in waves).

Personally, if I were you (keeping in mind that I don't know your age or anything really about you, other than that you want to be able to put it on your resume to show a sense of adventure, and want to make the cost of the TEFL certificate worth it) I would think of teaching for more like 18months. Do the six months in Costa Rica, followed by a year in a more culturally different country- like somewhere in Asia. Or else stay in Costa Rica for another year, but it sounds like you are going to want/need to recoup some dollars, so going to Japan, Taiwan or Korea would be a good bet.

Chris_Crossley

Doing a TEFL certificate is what I would consider to be an investment, but it is not the be-all-and-end-all of qualifications. I do have a Trinity College (London) Certificate in TESOL myself, and I did it only because I knew at the time that I wanted to make a go of this career for at least a few years. By this June, it will have been 5 years since I completed it, and I have been TEFLing ever since I got it.

A few posters in the past have simply packed their bags and gone out into the world to teach without any TEFL qualifications for about the same length of time that you intend going out. You may find that you are bitten by the TEFL bug and decide after six months that you want to continue with it. You may then either continue teaching without a pause or else get a TEFL certificate first and then continue. Either way, teaching experience will be very useful when it is away from home, although you should note that you can't really regard it as a holiday because language schools, especially in the private sector, will work you hard because they want their money's worth.

UKscape · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 6 Location: UK

by the sounds of it the TESOl sounds like a good idea. I hear that the longer you stay in the overseas TESOL community the more difficult it is to return. Perhaps I misunderstood - I now get the impression that people enjoy it so much they don't want to return, rather than it's difficult to get back into your career.

... Super Mario, I keep hearing about the women, but being a straight female that's of no use.

Super Mario · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject:

UKscape, I knew I was in unknown territory there, so tried to cover my ass with some conditions. I've heard Costa Rican men are handsome, chivalrous and free spending..

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 6:49 am Post subject:

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

The reason most long termers stay is that they cannot get a well paid job back home.

I did not know there was an international TESOL community, where is it?

Ciiques abound

tedkarma · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 2:04 am Post subject:

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I agree with Ted. A university job back home in Canada would be a step down from my current job. [/url]

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Ted

1 Long term TEFL expats in the Middle East are unable to go home-they are institutionalised

2 we are everywhere is just a one liner

3 who said that there were not any good people?

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

luckyloser700 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Japan