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FlyingJames
Joined: 13 Jan 2013
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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:11 am Post subject: Do I really need a TELF? |
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Hello everyone,
I'm looking to get into teaching English abroad. I'm a registered teacher in Australia, but with the tough employment market currently, I was thinking of teaching abroad to gain some experience. I only recently graduated.
My degree was in Education (Primary). Is a TELF really needed, with the exception of China, where you need a telf for visa. I have had teaching placements and teaching kids, so if a TELF is required, an online one should suffice, as my degree should be more beneficial than some four week Trinity TELF course.
It's always been on my bucket list to teach abroad and I love Asian culture.South Korea sounds like a great location, but even volunteering teaching English in Nepal, for example, would be an excellent fit for current goals.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice. I'm looking to research as much as I can and this forum thus far. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:20 am Post subject: |
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Get a TELF. Or not. Most places here probably wouldn't know the difference between one of them and a TEFL anyway.  |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:14 am Post subject: Re: Do I really need a TELF? |
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| FlyingJames wrote: |
Hello everyone,
I'm looking to get into teaching English abroad. I'm a registered teacher in Australia, but with the tough employment market currently, I was thinking of teaching abroad to gain some experience. I only recently graduated.
My degree was in Education (Primary). Is a TELF really needed, with the exception of China, where you need a telf for visa. I have had teaching placements and teaching kids, so if a TELF is required, an online one should suffice, as my degree should be more beneficial than some four week Trinity TELF course.
It's always been on my bucket list to teach abroad and I love Asian culture.South Korea sounds like a great location, but even volunteering teaching English in Nepal, for example, would be an excellent fit for current goals.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice. I'm looking to research as much as I can and this forum thus far. |
I assume you mean TEFL or TESOL and not TELF.
As a certified teacher with a B.Ed you do NOT need a TEFL cert to work in Korea as a teacher. Even in China (or anywhere else in Asia) it is not needed if you have an education degree and teacher certification.
I'd suggest looking at the NET program in Hong Kong or a government school in Taiwan (teacher certification required). They have better pay, have better perks and have less crap than a job in Korea will have.
You might also want to look at 2nd tier (minimal experience required) international schools all throughout Asia for the same reasons (unless of course you have your heart set on becoming an EFL teacher in Korea).
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:25 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
As a certified teacher with a B.Ed you do NOT need a TEFL cert to work in Korea as a teacher. Even in China (or anywhere else in Asia) it is not needed if you have an education degree and teacher certification.
I'd suggest looking at the NET program in Hong Kong or a government school in Taiwan (teacher certification required). They have better pay, have better perks and have less crap than a job in Korea will have. |
According to this you do need a TEFL qualification (and not an online one) to teach on the NET scheme
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1300&langno=1 |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| A 120 hr. TEFL will definately be helpful, the question is do you want to take the time and have to pay for it. I would suggest that you take a TEFL course, there are too many things a professional ESL teacher needs to know that are taught in TEFL classes. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
As a certified teacher with a B.Ed you do NOT need a TEFL cert to work in Korea as a teacher. Even in China (or anywhere else in Asia) it is not needed if you have an education degree and teacher certification.
I'd suggest looking at the NET program in Hong Kong or a government school in Taiwan (teacher certification required). They have better pay, have better perks and have less crap than a job in Korea will have. |
According to this you do need a TEFL qualification (and not an online one) to teach on the NET scheme
http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1300&langno=1 |
A recognized TEFL cert and teacher cert coupled with an education degree would put him at cat.2 instead of entry level at cat.5 (starting salary in the range of US$3300/mo PLUS other benefits valued at US$2161/mo). Beats the heck out of a hagwon or EPIK position.
But there were 2 statements:
1) A TEFL is not needed (in Asia) for entry level EFL jobs as a language teacher if you are a certified teacher.
2) Better options (since he mentioned China) to look at (rather than working as an assistant in EPIK/GEPIK or as a hagwon teacher in Korea) would be the NET program or a government school in Taiwan.
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FlyingJames
Joined: 13 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for the replies everyone.
The reason why I starting looking at teaching esl abroad is because I lack experience and getting graduate jobs in Australia is tough with budget cuts recently.
All these International Public Schools require at least two years experience, along with teacher certification. That could be a valid option down the track, but not now.
One particular organisation from China (I will not mention names) told me the majority of China's provinces requite a TEFL for visa purposes, but I could complete the online portion before coming to China and that will satisfy their visa requirements. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| FlyingJames wrote: |
Thank you for the replies everyone.
The reason why I starting looking at teaching esl abroad is because I lack experience and getting graduate jobs in Australia is tough with budget cuts recently.
All these International Public Schools require at least two years experience, along with teacher certification. That could be a valid option down the track, but not now.
One particular organisation from China (I will not mention names) told me the majority of China's provinces requite a TEFL for visa purposes, but I could complete the online portion before coming to China and that will satisfy their visa requirements. |
Do a 30-day TEFL course and start off with a package at about $4,000-5,000 /mo with NET.
Look at JET in Japan. similar but longer period for applications.
Look at public schools in Taiwan. Similar.
In all 3 cases you don't need extensive classroom experience.
At a marginally lower remuneration package you will find EPIK and GEPIK and as a certified teacher you do not need a TEFL course.
If you simply want classroom time and the ability to save a bit then 2nd tier international schools in Thailand or China will take you with a B.Ed, teacher cert and no experience.
Thailand jobs will start in mid May. Just be there in mid April and your chances of employment with a package that will allow you to SAVE as much as you would in Korea (lower salary but much lower cost of living) are 100%.
At the bottom end of the ladder in terms of quality of job are the language academies (hagwon in Korea, buxiban in Taiwan, language academy in Thailand). you have all that you need for a job: Degree, passport from Australia and willing to work. You're still looking at jobs that will allow you to live comfortably and still have $1000/month.
Don't get sold a bill-of-goods. Just get a job. There are lots of them out there.
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