Few professions are better than Teaching English
as a Foreign Language (TEFL) if you're the type of person who loves to learn
about different cultures, meet new people, and travel the world, because
English is still one of the most sought-after foreign languages globally.
You can spend your weeks correcting spelling and
conjugating verbs and your weekends touring the French countryside or enjoying
the gorgeous vistas of Prague. But if you're going to do it, chances are that
you'll need to get a TEFL Certificate.
Thankfully, there are lots of schools that offer
them, and most programs are incredibly quick - around four weeks. Pick a good
program and you can be ready to teach English in a foreign country in little
more than a month!
The key phrase there, however, is "pick a
good program." How do you know if the schools you're looking into are good
or not? Here are 7 things you should consider when looking into different TEFL
programs - and don't be shy about asking questions and expecting answers;
reputable schools should be forthcoming if they want your money.
What does the program actually teach you? Sure, you'll
earn a TEFL Certificate, but if you leave your training not really knowing what
you're doing, your chances of finding a job are slim - and keeping it is probably
even more unlikely. You want a curriculum where you're going to learn how to
manage a classroom, put together a lesson plan, engage in appropriate classroom
behavior, and, of course, actually teach.
What will your teaching practice be like and how
many hours will you get? One of the biggest positives of going through a
good TEFL Certificate program is that you get a chance to practice your English
language teaching skills. Typically, schools will offer a mixture of three
different kinds of practice teaching:
- Public - You will teach at one of your school's courses that is open to the public
- In-company - You'll head out to a local place of business and teach English to a group of their employees
- One-on-one - You'll teach students privately on an individual basis
Some schools, however, only offer some of the
above options. And others don't offer any of them, instead limiting your
"teaching" to practicing with your classmates. Obviously, that's not
an ideal situation, and you should keep looking if a school tells you that's
how you'll be practicing. The other important thing to note is how many hours
of this practice you'll get. Industry standard is usually 6 to 8, but some
schools offer upwards of 12, and higher is always better.
Who recognizes this school's TEFL Certificate? Sadly, not
all certificates are created equal, so you have to make sure that the school
you're considering has an internationally recognized program. Otherwise, your
job options might be limited to whatever language schools your program is
attached to. Not the kiss of death, but certainly not good for someone who
might want to travel more and work and live in several different places.
What degrees or other qualifications to the
people training you have? Reputable schools almost exclusively employ
trainers with at least an MA in English, Education, Linguistics, or some other
field that's related. Unfortunately, not every school out for your money should
be considered reputable. Ask this question early on to weed out programs that
aren't worth your money.
What is included in tuition? Look at a
dozen different schools for TEFL programs and you'll probably find that most of
them seem to cost about the same. That, however, is just how it looks on the
surface. Some programs have hidden costs that most people don't think to look
for, like internet access, teaching materials, and money for making copies. And
on the flip side, there are many programs that offer "bonuses" such
as a well-stocked library, on-site teaching resources and…
Is there "settling in" support? This is a
huge one, especially if you're traveling to a foreign country to take the
course. Lots of schools consider it part of their tuition package to help you
find temporary housing while you're in the program, but the quality varies widely.
You want to ask about the area of town where the housing is located, how close
it is to the school and public transportation, and just how nice it is in
general.
How easy is it for graduates to find jobs? When people
graduate from well-respected programs, they are usually snapped up very
quickly. Lots of out-of-work recent grads, however, is a sign that the school
may not have the best of reputations. Ask for the school's recent employment
statistics, but also try to track down recent grads to speak to them about how
hard it was for them to find work.
About the
Author:
Samuel Clemens is a former educator who has been writing about study tools and
student resources for many years. You can find him reviewing college essays for companies including GradeSaver.
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