Job Discussion Forums

[bc2rlh]

Hiya,

I'm debating about starting a career in TEFL and would like some advise. I was all ready to sign up for a TEFL course and then people started trying to discourage me saying 'no security, no pension etc etc' and frankly got me a bit rattled.

At the moment I work in an office, ok wage but no challenge and I'm not interested in the field I'm in.

I've always wanted to see other places of the world and the hate the thought of working all year for a measley 2 weeks holiday. Also, getting taxed to high heaven here in the UK makes me very disgruntled.

The reason for me wanting to enter a TELF career is that I've always loved learning and the thought of helping other learn and help them to enjoy learning sounds such a challenge and at the same time much more satisfying that where I am at the moment. The other bonus of TEFL would be to see a difference part of the world, but this isn't the deciding factor.

Any help or advise on why others entered TELF as a career and advantages and disadvantages would be great.

[denise]

If you care more about having a fulfilling job than about having creature comforts and material wealth (and it sounds from your post like you do), then this could be a good career for you. Keep in mind, though, that you can test the waters without making any decisions about a long-term future. You can try it for a year or two and then decide.

And also keep in mind that, while high-paying jobs with pensions and benefits are difficult to come by in this field, they are not impossible to find. The folks who are warning you (and scaring you off?) most likely have your best interests at heart, but they aren't seeing the whole picture. If you do decide that you want to make a career of this, and you get yourself properly trained and qualified, then there are options (not many, though!) for advancement. You probably won't ever be as well-off as the folks who stay back home, but how important is that to you?

And, for what it's worth, I am also planning on making a career of it. I started with a TEFL certificate, taught for two years, loved teaching, went back for an MA, and am now in my second full-time year post-MA. I, too, am a bit concerned about the lack of financial security/stability, but I love what I do and I have faith that I will be able to find decent jobs. I've got a very hazy, tentative plan for the next few years. And I've got no savings or assets to speak of and am seriously in debt now after grad school.(Then again, I've recently been accused of being... gasp!... an optimist!)

Good luck!

d

[Gordon]

Denise, you are a serious optimist and should be shot.

To the poster, I would say go for it, if money is unimportant. I have been in this field for 9 years now and like Denise, think this is where I will stay for quite some time. I also support a family on my salary so it is possible. If you take off for a few years, be prepared to take some heast from family and firends. I think part of the discouragement we get is because they will miss us and don't want us to leave. It is selfish, but people are that way. See if you can volunteer somewhere and talk to a few teachers in person. I also would recommend getting a TEFL certificate as this will help prepare you somewhat. Nothing prepares you like experience, but we all started somewhere.

[badtyndale]

It is possible to obtain a TESOL qualification by part-time study in the UK over a period of either three months or a whole academic year. Three month courses often start in January or February, and if you are working full-time may be a good option because you can spread the workload and maintain your income. If you study at a local college you will also have the benefit of being exposed to a higher number of English learners since it will be 'normal' term time for them. Check out your options. Whatever course you decide to take (assuming you will), ensure that it is validated and externally examined by either Cambridge or Trinity.

[Glenski]

Speaking from experience in Japan, you really need to think things through before jumping into the waters.

Having an unrelated career will be a disadvantage if you want some kind of high paying teaching job right off the bat. Remember, you will likely have to make up airfare and housing deposits before you even break even. In Japan, you would probably start out only as a conversation school teacher making 250,000 yen/month, and after basic necessities, having about half of that to spend on everything else in life. A couple nights on the town every week would cut that to about 70,000 to 90,000 yen/month.

If you are quite the industrious type, you might be able to string together more than one job and/or private lessons in order to double your income, but you will be working 6-7 days a week (not 8 hours a day, but you have to decide if you can hack having 0-1 days off in a field that you are just starting out, in a country that probably attracts you to sightsee). Moreover, getting private lessons takes time and they are fairly unstable.

Gordon says he supports a family on his TEFL income. Many of us do, including me, but you won't have much luck doing that on an entry level conversation school job.

I agree with others that if you are the least bit serious about this, get qualified/trained to some degree. Some people will tell you that conversation school classes are a breeze, and all you have to do is stand there and chat. While that may be true in some countries (and sometimes in Japan), you should STILL be prepared to create lessons entirely from scratch and on your own, know how to present them to a class of interested and serious students, and be prepared to explain grammar. Who knows where that silly conversation school job may lead?

[GreenDestiny]

[Spinoza]