Has anyone done a TEFL course?

Question

I'm commencing my course in October and would like to know if anyone has done it before and whether it was worth doing it. Also if you did it, was hard to find teaching english jobs or did you have to gain some experience first some how?

I'm doing the course in London, will be there jobs available for TEFL qualifiers in London????

DoubleA: Do you have to be excellent with your grammar before you do the course? Also, where did you do your course? And did you get a job overseas out it yet?

Answer 1

I suggest that if you have the chance don't just do any old TEFL course - do a CELTA course - I did and I now work in Taiwan teaching English. The CELTA course is quite expensive £1000 for a one month course; however, it is regarded as the best of it's type, even my employers gave me a higher starting salary (so you will end up covering the extra cost of doing the CELTA).

CELTA is accredited to Cambridge university - if your future employers haven't heard of CELTA (then I don't know what planet their from), they will have heard of Cambridge university.

If you can get your hands on a certain yellow book called 'Teaching Tenses' it will be very helpful for you - you may need to get this book on Amazon or ebay as shops don't tend to keep it in stock.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

A TEFL is the best thing i've ever done, and I don't think your age should hold you back, however, research institutions' requirements- some countries need you to have completed a degree before you can teach English there. Also I've heard less than great things about teaching English in Italy- apparently the wages are poor and the schools not the best employers. Still I think teaching English is brilliant if you can get a job- its great experience before doing a teaching course. you can do online TEFL courses for a couple of hundred, or a month long residential course, far more expensive, but far more useful!

Answer 3

I did it 13 years ago - it was a passport to a job and yes, I found it very easy to get a job with it. I don't think you will need to gain any experience before getting a job, as part of the course will no doubt involve teaching practice.

I remember it was quite intensive, so cancel your social engagements for the month or however long it takes.

I ended up teaching a method "Callan" which did not actually require me to have a TEFL certificate but on the whole I think it was worth doing.

In Rome in 1993 and once or twice imbetween jobs in London (Oxford St)

Answer 4

I took the CELTA course recently. I did it part-time instead of full-time but it was still very intensive so make sure you don't have a lot of plans during this time.

It was very helpful! As you learn how to teach in CELTA, you have actual ESL students coming to classes several times a week that you teach lessons to. Your methods and techniques are analyzed every time by the professors and your peers and the practical advice & experience is much more valuable than any textbook.

Be organized and prepared-- you will receive many, many papers. Before you get overwhelmed, make sure you have binder dividers and a place to file larger handouts.

In the CELTA course, the professors were forwarded job offers from all over the world and locally, looking to hire the students that would be graduating. I'm not sure if your institution will do this-- but there are many, many jobs out there, especially if you are willing to travel.

Enjoy and have fun!

Answer 5

I have written some of the modules used on a TEFL course. The key thing to remember is that the people you are teaching assume you are an authority on English. If you make a mistake and don't correct it and later on they find out you begin to lose their respect so staying on top of grammar (and spelling) is important.

Answer 6

I did my TEFL course in Hastings and got a live-in summer job soon afterwards in Hertfordshire. I think it's important to get some experience as soon as possible after the course so you can consolidate your learning and get some real-world classroom experience. The course was very intensive, lots of fun, and I learned heaps. I have since lived in Asia for more than a decade on the strength of that four-week qualification. I highly recommend it to you. B

Answer 7

HI there,

Yes I took a TEFL course in Canada, and it lead to work in Canada!!!

I know most people get the course to travel abroad but for me it was to work in the city that I was living in... I had no teaching experience at all.

I simply contacted one of the schools that offered ESL/TEFL classes and asked them to provide me with a list of the other schools that offer the course in the area. Then faxed my resume and a copy of the certificate over to them all and it lead to a position that I held for 6 years!!

My only tip would be to really focus on the lesson planning... helps keep your classes focused and you can really see the progress that you have made with your students.

Answer 8

I have.
I found a job immediately in Spain, Bareclona, in fact.

Then when i moved to France i found another straight away.

If you are a good teacher, you'll find work with no problem.

If you are crap, however, you won't find a job even with a Delta.

Most decent places will make you do a mock class in front of their staff or teachers even if you have the certificate.

As with most things, the qualifications get you a foot in the door, but you need to prove your worth before they'll employ you.


DANIEL M - I've taught Callan too !
Where and when did you do it?
lol

Answer 9

yes i did my TOEFL test last september and scored 8.
all i'd suggest is to find a TOEFL preparation book. spend two weeks to s month on it. please DO work hard on the READING section cause the time is so limited and u have to be a fast reader in the exam. i don't think you will get any time to proof read the reading passages.
concerning listening trust me it is damn easy. writing is easy too. but always remember try to have plenty of ideas about whatever you want to write about and try to state the abviouse first.
regarding speaking, just be CONFIDENT, BRAVE TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.try to show the examiner that you know alot.
and yes GOOD LUCK with it. always think positive. you can get the best marks!!!!!!!!!lol.
hope it helps

Answer 10

No but i did a Tefal course & ended up with a forehead like you wouldn't believe