A Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate is obtained by attending a comprehensive course that will provide a student with all the tools necessary to teach English in a foreign country. Any English speaker can take this course and learn valuable skills that can be used when applying for English teaching jobs.
Besides picking up a new skill and adding more education to a resume, there are other benefits for those who obtain a TEFL certificate and subsequently teach English overseas.
Get Paid to Travel
Once a TEFL certificate is earned, a door is open to search for jobs available to teach English abroad. There are jobs available all over the world including China, Thailand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Mexico, and more. BridgeTEFL and i-to-i are good resources for finding information about obtaining a TEFL certificate and finding jobs abroad.
Meet New People and Discover New Cultures
Travel to a foreign country can offer opportunities to interact with a different culture. As an English teacher, there will be instances to not only meet foreign students, but other teachers as well. Some teachers may have been placed for several months or longer, and give new teachers an introduction to the culture. There will also be students that may want to give TEFL teachers a tour of their city. In other instances, one may may wish to explore a city, or country on their own.
Learn a New Language
While it is not a requirement as a TEFL teacher to learn any foreign languages, or even the local language in which they will be teacher, it is a helpful skill. Most accredited TEFL courses show students multiple ways to communicate using English only, and many even discourage speaking in the native language. However, if a teacher will be placed in a country for an extended period of time, learning that language is an option.
Gain Valuable Work Experience
Teaching English will require some work and may be challenging for some. Obtaining a recognized TEFL certificate requires creating lesson plans, organizing and setting up classes. In some countries, there will be a language barrier that will require creative and thoughtful teaching and communication skills. As in any teaching job, these organizational, planning, and communication skills will be a valuable addition to a resume.
Give Something Back Teaching English as a Volunteer
If teaching experience is more valuable than getting a paid teaching job, there are opportunities to volunteer as a TEFL teacher. This could be an option for those that are only available on a short term basis. Volunteering as a English teacher, especially in third world countries is a opportunity for those that are interested in giving back to a community.
Getting a TEFL certificate may require some hard work, but it can also be fun and a valuable skill. Teaching English abroad gives people opportunities to see different cultures while having a fulfilling job at the same time. Researching accredited TEFL programs is a way to begin this process.
References: Website: BridgeTEFL Certification (accessed June 25, 2010).
Website: Cross-Cultural Solutions. Teaching English (accessed June 25, 2010).
Julie McElroy - Freelance travel writer with published articles about places all over the world, including Italy, Colorado, Japan, Germany, and Spain.
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