Job Discussion Forums

[RL]

I would like to get into EFL teaching. I do not have a CELTA, but will do so before I go abroad. I have a bachelor's degree, but no teaching experience. I've spent my working career as a practicing attorney. I understand the CELTA is your basic, entry-level degree for EFL teaching. Assuming I enjoy teaching, what are the next qualifications to obtain in order to move up the career ladder. Plus, I assume with the basic CELTA, you will earn enough to support yourself in most countries. I have no debt, so I'm simply looking to support myself (from a monetary standpoint - not certain what I'm looking for otherwise).

Thanks in advance for your help.

[fluffyhamster]

Hi RL! If you haven't done much research on the subject, entry-level wages in TEFL may come as a bit of a shock to you after what you might've been earning in the legal field! But to answer your question, yes, you should be able to support yourself (just about), though you probably won't be able to do a whole lot more unless you've already got something saved (i.e. something that will help subsidize your proposed TEFL venture). And you may be disappointed to know that others (colleagues even) may be earning no less than you even when they don't have CELTAs ~ being a graduate (in any degree subject) is all that Immigraton in most countries requires, and most EFL schools aren't so bothered with education (as opposed to business) as to be asking for anything more than what will get work visas granted.

Anyway, assuming you're still keen on trying it for a year or two, and get some experience, you can then start considering either the DELTA (IMHO, just more of the same [cr*pola?] from UCLES, a lot of which any self-starting halfway decent teacher can learn for themselves by GASP reading a book or two beyond the CELTA reading lists), or an MA in Applied Linguistics or TEFL or TESOL or whatever. MAs are more "academic" (I use the scare quotes to imply that 'There is nothing as practical as a good theory'), provide deeper analysis and analytical tools, and are what you'll need if you hope to be more than a DOS or UCLES-loyal drone (e.g. if you intend to try working in universities, and/or in the Middle East say). Then, there is (in the UK) a PGCE in ESOL, which would enable one to work in UK schools or colleges (or adult education classes), or in international schools, all of which would pay better than vanilla ("un/non-qualified-teacher status") TEFL.

[kazazt]

PGCEs in ESOL died out years ago

[fluffyhamster]

Really? There was a discussion only a year or so ago in which somebody mentioned they'd done one not long before, and there's been a fair bit of immigration into the UK the past decade or so (meaning, funding surely had to be made available for a "proper" ESOL qualification). But perhaps you mean the PGCEs in TEFL/TESL, Kazazt? (Which certainly were withdrawn by the Tories sometime in the Thatcher to Major years, on the argument that skills which might be exported shouldn't be funded - not that ESOL is so far removed from TEFL!).

[kazazt]

The proper qualifications for ESOL are now diplomas in lifelong learning.

[fluffyhamster]

Thanks for the info, Kazazt. All I can say is that government-related qualifications (the titles at least) and awarding bodies do seem to come and go rather!

[RL]

Thanks Fluffyhamster for the information.