Job Discussion Forums

Adahma · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Greetings,

This is my first post to this website. I am interested in becoming a teacher of English as a foreign language. I currently live in Atlanta GA and have a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication, but no experience teaching. My questions are what is the best and cheapest way to get TEFL certified? Also I have credit card debt and I'd like to know if it's realistic to think that I can make enough money to live on and continue to pay off my credit card debt? I appreciate any and all suggestions.

Evan Wix

rlloydevans · Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 26 Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador

A couple things to your post...

Best and cheapest are normally two different things. Teaching a language to non-native speakers is more than just "Here is a lesson plan." Or, at least, it should be.

There are a number of ways you can get a TEFL certification through a variety of Internest sites - these can run a few hundred dollars and gives you the barest basics. There are other programs through schools and colleges that can run from several hundred to several thousand dollars. These are generally better if you are knew to the field because you get more in depth and individual attention. Even more important, you often get more practical experience. This is extremely important if you have never actually taught before.

As far as money, this is nearly impossible to tell. It depends on where you are, what your expected standard of living is, and what kind of teaching you want to do. Expect a Western style of living, and the money can go fast. Live more frugally and you have many more options.

Of course, that's true no matter where you live Very Happy

Check out the rest of this site's forums and you can get a good idea of what areas pay well and how much they cost to live. Get the right situation and you can live okay and pay off some debt... not a lot... but some. However, most positions will allow you to get by and do a bit of traveling, but that's all. You normally need to head off with some money and credit available to get by until the money catches up with expenses.

Good luck Laughing

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

For training, I suggest ITTO in Guadalajara. The program has its weak points, but in general, it's a legit program, will give you a certificate that most employers will accept, and give you the opportunity to spend a month in Guadalajara. I think it will set you back like a grand.

As far as your credit card debts are concerned, it all depends on how much you owe and where you live. When I first came to Mexico I ended up earning less than $300 US a month. I nearly starved to death. Obviously, I'm now making more money, but if you're looking at monthly payments to MC and Visa of a thousand a month, you should probably hang tight in the states until you get those debts down to a size that is manageable on a Latam salary.

Best of luck.