Job Discussion Forums

[Rob91]

I am a teacher with an on-line TEFL and a years experience at a good school in Thailand. I am now looking to continue teaching in S. America. I'm wondering whether my lack of face-to-face training will be a hindrance to getting jobs at language schools in the region. I am well aware of the benefits of a more impressive TEFL qualification but considered whether my lack of face-to-face training would be offset by my previous experience (I have also worked at language schools in the UK but more to do with extra-curricular activities).

Basically, to anyone who has worked in S. America - have interviewers placed more emphasis on prior experience or qualifications?

Thanks for any opinions on the matter.

Rob

[esl_prof]

Latin America is a big place, so I'm sure the answer to the question depends on where you intend to go. My own experience--primarily in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico back in the 1990s--was that experience was generally sufficient to land an entry-level job. Heck, back in those pre-internet days, I didn't even know that TEFL qualifications existed.

I suspect you won't have any trouble finding something with your online cert. Though, again, depending on where you end up, you may find that a CELTA or CELTA-equivalent will ultimately take you further. Oh, and if you happen to have a BA in English (or an obviously related field), you should certainly be able to play that up in your favor.