Taking a TESOL certificate course can open new horizons, suggests Kris Koonar
A glance at a clothing boutique, a brisk walk down city streets, or an earful of automated customer service messages is proof positive that we live in an ethnic melting pot. Our world has stretched its borders and every person wanting to take advantage of that shift needs to know how to speak English. If you want to be the person that teaches them, you need the TESOL course.
Knowing how to read, write, and speak another language is no longer a trend of the future but a way of life for the present. The knowledge of another language and culture is a powerful leveraging tool in every sector of society, and that means there are huge opportunities for English teachers overseas. But even beyond the career potential, a TESOL qualification can open your eyes to other cultures. Studies show that children who are multilingual grasp concepts more quickly, and even the elderly are increasing their very quality and span of life by using natural forms of medicine that hail from continents beyond North America.
Given the impact that world customs are making within our borders, the TESOL course comes to the fore in preparing for a career teaching English overseas, locally, or just to retain a global outlook on life. While foreign speakers can access self-help curricula, it is helpful to have an instructor, because a person-to-person guide makes the language come to life in a way that far exceeds the textbook experience.
The question arises about the need to take a TESOL course. Here are some things to ponder:
To Thine Own Self Be True. Taking the test is a sound tool to assess your actual level of linguistic competency. Once you have this knowledge, you will know your strengths and weaknesses with respect to the language.
Talk the Talk, make the coin. Taking a TESOL course will equip you to effectively teach a world that wants to speak English, leading you to a career that can take you through Asia, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. Many of these nations can be places you earn a lot more money than you’re used to at home.
Taking Care of Business! Gone are the days of only conducting business on the West Coast and East Coast of America. The real movers and shakers see as many possibilities in India as they do in Indiana. Making a mark in the marketplace can be done as people expand the scope and breadth of their linguistic skills.
While training others to speak a native language and embracing world culture is favorable, there is another consideration to be made. As the test is administered and the vast majority becomes multilingual, more competition may arise in the marketplace. Those who were once seen as a “cut above the rest” - based on their command of several languages - may now be deemed average. There is also the possibility that the mixing of ethnicities may cause the discrete differences to be lost in a sea of cultural compromise.
Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore the truth that stares us square in the face. This truth is that our world has now become our next-door neighbor. The choice is up to us. Only we can decide whether to open the door or to remain behind closed doors. It’s that decision that will dictate whether we make the grade and ultimately pass the test.
The bottom line is simple: Millions of people need to learn to speak English. They’ll pay you to teach them. And the TESOL certificate is the first step to making that happen.
About the author
For Free TESOL information please visit ezenglishonline.com. You can also email Andra Molnar at ezenglishonline@hotmail.com.
In this article, Luke Fisher discusses the life of the English teacher in Spain:
There are a wide variety of TEFL course options available in Spain leading to TEFL jobs for those with TEFL certification. Spain has such a tremendous amount regional diversity that one is almost dealing with this country as a mini continent. The Costa’s - Spain’s huge coastline - differs greatly from the geographic nature of the big cities, which in turn differs greatly from the environment of the thousands of picturesque rural villages, which is again is different from the mountainous regions of Andorra or Granada. Dispirit locations and circumstances are united in a profound love of life. Hence it is very easy to get swept up in a seemingly constant round of festivals and fiestas, dancing and music - eating well and drinking well being all part of pursuing the good life in the best of all possible worlds. Few who have lived in Spain for a spell would disagree with the idea that, in terms of quality of life, Spain is a world leader. There is a high demand for English language skills in all walks of life generating a vast market of TEFL jobs for those with TEFL certification.
Spain is a big country with a varying climate in different locations to suit all tastes. The country is very hot in the south with temperatures getting into the 40s, cooler in the north, and snowbound in the Pyrenees. The official language is Spanish, though Catalan, Basque and Gallego are the official languages in the Autonomous states. The population is approximately 42 million, and while there is plenty of hustle and bustle in the larger cities the rural areas leave one with the idea that no one has been there for years.
TEFL jobs for those having completed a TEFL course in Spain are excellent. Teachers of English have long been sought after with language schools catering to the needs of high school and university students seeking to shore up the tuition they get at their main place of study. Spain has undergone a huge period of economic growth during the late 20th century, and continues to be Western Europe’s fastest-growing economy. The result of this is that more and more employers in Spain require that their prospective employees have good English skills. Business-specific academies have sprung up almost everywhere to meet the needs of multi-nationals seeking to improve the language skills of their employees.
The large cities of the south such as Seville, Cadiz and Granada offer an array of medieval and Moorish architecture - often together in the same building - along with flamenco dance and music. The Costa’s range from Benedorm, where you will find it difficult to escape the idea that England has somehow been transplanted into the Mediterranean, to the beautiful and un-spoilt Costa de la Luz - coast of light. There are also many amazing locations that fall somewhere in between. Barcelona, in Catalonia, prides itself on its cosmopolitan environment, and has fabulous architecture, not least by the cities most famous son Gaudi. Madrid has everything that you would expect of any European capital city: Art and architecture abound in an air of cool sophistication. In Galicia you are greeted by mountains and mile after mile of spectacular, haunting forest.
For those wanting a TEFL job within a state or private school, employers require applicants to have completed a TEFL course in Spain, or in another country, and have full TEFL certification. Teaching experience is an advantage but often not a pre requisite. With language institutes, or acadamias, expect to find yourself to be teaching university or high school students - sometimes in the same class. Specialist business colleges and schools aim to provide for the needs of large multinationals, in this case a business background is an advantage. Enthusiasm for English is continuously increasing and there are moves to bring English into the school curriculum at an earlier stage. In many cases you will find yourself teaching students of varying ability, sometimes in the same class. Fortunately a great deal of time within the Spanish education system is spent on learning Spanish grammar which is a great help when learning English grammar. So with grammar a Spaniard will tend to know what they are talking about. As a result preparation for teaching classes is very important.
When researching TEFL jobs in advance a useful contact is the British Council in Madrid. They will be able to advise you as to where in Spain the British Council has offices and they keep a list of language schools, both private and state. In addition, the on-line Yellow Pages are a good resource for those with TEFL certification. Within the UK, The Guardian newspaper has a special edition on Tuesdays for TEFL courses in Spain and TEFL jobs. The vast majority of TEFL jobs and TEFL certification courses in Spain can be found on the net on websites such as TEFL.com and the eslcafe. With this said, the vast majority of teaching positions are filled on the spot and it is important to remember that timing is a very important issue. Many language schools close for the summer, thus September is good time to arrive for your TEFL certification course also to look for TEFL jobs. In addition, there is often a spike of recruitment activity in January and generally TEFL jobs are available all year round. Month to month September to June there are constantly TEFL job opportunities available.
A good idea, before setting off, is to contact your local Spanish Embassy to see what information they have available. Most consulates have a document entitled ‘Teaching English in Spain.’, and the consulate in the UK has a list of teaching institutes. It is also useful to contact the Federation Espanola de Centros de Ensenanza de Idiomas (FECEI) which is an organization of the better, more established language schools.
About the Author
Teaching English in Spain with TEFL International. TEFL International provides TEFL certification and TEFL courses in Spain with TEFL jobs. Teach, travel, live and work in Spain with TEFL International.
An article on how to find a school that won’t let you down by Alexia Nestora
We’ve all heard the rumors. Schools that refuse to pay, schools that work you like a Trojan, even schools that expect you to pay them! There are a lot of crummy language schools out there and you’ll want to avoid them like the plague, here’s how to do it…
Turn the tables: A TEFL interview is as much about you finding out if the school is right for you as it is about the school finding out if you’re right for it. Prepare some questions before the interview and make sure you ask them. You can find out a lot about a schools approach to teachers by asking a couple of simple questions. For example…
Does the school only hire qualified TEFL teachers?
Does the school perform regular teacher assessments to ensure teaching quality?
Does the school follow a set syllabus?
Does the school encourage student feedback?
Does the school have regular tests to assess student progress?
This may seem irrelevant but if a school doesn’t value the people paying good money to go there then just imagine how it will treat the people who are being paid to work there! This is also a good time to negotiate your contract. Ask about rates of pay, sick pay, medical insurance, taxation, overtime, covering shifts and most importantly, find out whether the school adheres to the labor policy of the host country. Any reputable language school will have answers for these questions, but they’re rarely set in stone so don’t be afraid to haggle. In the TEFL world if you don’t ask you don’t get – so ask!
Work visas: If you’re going to be teaching abroad you’re going to need a work visa. You know that and so do the language schools you’re applying to. If they won’t support your application for a work visa then you need to find another school that will. Having the right visa is essential, without it you won’t be entitled to health insurance, legal protection or holiday pay and you’ll probably be paid significantly less than TEFL tutors who do have a work visa!
Qualifications: You should be wary of any school that doesn’t ask for some kind of formal qualification. Some schools ask for degrees, other just require a TEFL qualification, but they should require some proof that you are able to perform your duties as a TEFL teacher.
You might want to ask how the school will support your professional development. Will they allocate time for you to shadow experienced teachers? Will they help develop your understanding of teaching techniques while you’re working there?
Resources: It’s easy to say that any reputable language school will have a selection of teaching resources (like handouts, card games, lesson plans, dictionaries and grammar books) but this isn’t necessarily the case. These resources take time and money to acquire and if a language school has just started out then it won’t necessarily have them yet. If they don’t have such resources ask them why and question if they have any plans to build up a resources section in the future.
To help prepare you for the absence of resources in underprivileged schools you can take a Specialist Certificate in Teaching with Limited Resources, to learn more click here: http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl/specialist-certificates-limited-resources.html .
The contract: Needless to say, when you get your contract you need to read it carefully. Make sure everything you agreed on is included and check that they haven’t added any sneaky clauses. Don’t be afraid to ask for a translated copy of the contract. This is completely normal and should be expected.
Research: The internet is a great way to research your school to make sure it is completely reputable. Not only that but you can speak to people who have undertaken teaching placements in your chosen country and get a personal recommendation so that you know the school you’re applying for has made a real impression on past tutors.
If you follow this advice then the chances are you’ll have a problem-free overseas teaching experience that lives up to all your expectations!
For those looking for more resources and articles on TEFL courses visit: http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl-articles/ or call 800-985-4864 for more information.
About the author
Alexia Nestora is the founder and director of Lasso Communications, a marketing, public relations and strategic consulting firm. Specializing in volunteer and adventure travel, Lasso helps companies achieve their strategic goals by approaching issues from a unique and experienced perspective. For more information, please visit www.lassocommunications.com or email at alexia@lassocommunications.com.
Teaching English as foreign language (or second language) is an excellent option for visiting new parts of the world. Because English is commonly used for diplomacy, higher education, business and technology, English teachers and classes are in high demand around the worldwide.
Knowing how to teach English also provides you with an excellent skill to be used in volunteering. There are opportunities around the world where people would benefit from knowing English, yet they do not have the funds to enroll in classes, or perhaps they don’t have access to any classes at all.
If teaching English isn’t for you, international schools require native English speakers to teach other subjects as well, such as mathematics, science, history, and the arts.
There are lots of different abbreviations and acronyms to refer to teaching English. Here is a quick simplifier…
ELT: English Language Teaching or English Language Training
EFL: English as a Foreign Language
ESL: English as a Second Language
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages
EAL: English as an Additional Language
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language
TEAL: Teaching English as an Additional Language
TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
All of the above abbreviations are used for essentially the same thing, however, you may notice that generally ESL is used for non-native speakers learning English in an English speaking country, and EFL is for non-native-speaks learning English in a non-English speaking environment, such as their own country. Moreover, Americans tend to use ESL more, and British teachers tend to use EFL. EAL is an attempt to bridge the gap between the two. Oftentimes people learn English not as their second language, but as their third, fourth or more. Also, EAL avoids using the word “foreign”, which is considered by the more politically correct to have an unpleasant inference.
Do I need a certificate to teach English?
There are many opportunities around the world to teach English without a certificate. However, certification does help, especially if there is an application process involved and positions are competitive.
Do I need to speak a foreign language to teach people English?
Theoretically, to teach English you should only need to speak one language. However, if you are teaching in a foreign country, there is no doubt that some knowledge of that country’s culture and language can make your job much easier, and probably allow you to make your lessons more relevant and interesting for your students. If your students are of mixed international backgrounds, then knowing one or two foreign languages may not be of assistance to the entirety of the group.
There is some benefit to your teaching if you do in fact know a foreign language or have learnt one. By having first hand experience of being a student, you are able to have a more complete perspective of the student/teacher relationship and the trials and tribulations of those you teach. Moreover, learning another language provides you with valuable insight about grammar, such as verb conjugations and tenses, which come naturally to a native speaker. Many other languages use similar grammatical formats as English, and by learning a foreign language you might be able to examine your native language more carefully.
Do I need to speak English as my native language to teach English?
You certainly don’t have to speak English as your native tongue; however you must have excellent fluency and writing skills to start a training course for certification. Oftentimes non-native speakers make the best teachers, however. If you’ve been through it yourself then you are able to relate to what your students will be dealing with.
How long will it take to become certified?
Certification is a pretty quick process, usually taking four weeks or considerably less. You can take the course full time, part time, or through distance learning. There are options to suit whichever method or time frame you prefer.
About the Author
Joel Bleasedale works for www.TravelTree.co.uk, one of the largest directories of Alternative Travel and Gap Year activities online today.
Unfortunately there has never been one single regulatory body for the TEFL industry. Right now there are numerous TEFL schools springing up everywhere, all claiming that their course is better than the rest or, that they offer the most accredited TEFL certificate. It can be a daunting task trying to select the right TEFL course in a minefield of choices.
So how can you tell the good from the bad?
The answer is actually quite simple. Don’t overlook the obvious!
Is it professional looking, well organised? If a TEFL organization cannot organise a website properly then you can’t really expect them to organize a four week TEFL course!
2. Spelling & Grammar -
I’m always amazed at the numerous spelling and grammar errors on many TEFL websites. Do you really think these TEFL schools are capable of training you to be an English teacher?
3. Criticizing Competitors to Win Customers -
This is common practice for many cowboy schools who struggle to get enough students to fill their empty courses. They usually ask if you’re looking at any other TEFL schools and once you mention a name, they discredit them claiming the certificate isn’t accredited, or something along those lines.
Any reputable organization will focus on the features/benefits of their own course and won’t directly criticize their competitors or get involved in a slanging match.
4. The TEFL Trainers Experience -
A good trainer usually means a good course. Ask for details of the trainers experience and qualifications. Get some telephone numbers or email addresses of previous candidates and contact them for feedback.
5. How Many Students Attend Each TEFL Course -
Any more than 16 is far too many. Many international TEFL courses have 30+ students on each course, which is one reason why they’re so cheap. You cannot possibly receive quality TEFL training in such a large group of students. You Get What You Pay For!
So what about the actual TEFL certificate?
A Word of Warning; Weekend TEFL certificates may be a good introduction to TEFL but they are no longer accepted for teaching Jobs in most countries, especially now in Thailand.
The term ‘Accredited’ is used freely but it holds little essence. Most employers will expect you to have around 100 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of observed teaching practice with real students under your belt. They will prefer to see how you perform in a classroom and so the type of certificate you have isn’t always that important to them.
Make sure you choose a reputable TEFL course which has at least 6 hours of observed teaching practice with real students This will give you the confidence to walk into a roomful of expectant faces and not run out again screaming!
Good Luck!
About the Author:
Lisa Walker has extensive experience teaching English as a foreign language throughout Asia. Based in Thailand, Lisa works as a freelance Education Consultant for a number of TEFL schools around the world. Feel free to contact Lisa with any comments or suggestions at: http://www.worldteflschool.com
By M.Enamul Hoque During the last few decades a continuing but significant move has taken place, resulting in less emphasis on teachers and teaching and greater stress on learners and learning. This article provides an overview of key issues concerning the use of language learning strategies (LLS) in second and foreign language (L2/FL) learning and teaching Weinstein and [...]
Celia Webb discusses the benefits of increased vocab acquisition in Business English. Learning English terms for matters of finance and business is an important part of being a successful business person in the English-speaking world. Most common business actions require reading contracts, invoices, purchase orders, and other financial and legal documents. You will also want to [...]
Another article from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, author of the TEFL Tips blog. Many people get into TEFL as a gap year activity before going back to the “real” world and getting a “real” job. However, there are some of us who stay in the game for a while. Although time is a great way [...]
By Luke Fisher Once TEFL certified, course graduates are qualified to teach English abroad. Opportunities for teaching English abroad are plentiful with TEFL jobs, Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language, available in most countries. The vast majority of English teaching jobs tend to be in countries where English is not the first language an example of [...]
Dear all, Thanks for visiting The ELT Times during 2008, I hope you’ll be back again next year. The latest edition of Horizons ELT Quarterly Journal is now available for free download. The contents of the current issue are as detailed below. internet advertising Subscribe to The ELT Times by Email English teaching in Israel can be immensely [...]
By Alex A. Smith Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of thousands of islands, is known throughout the world for its biological diversity and Balinese beach getaways. As culturally diverse as it is biologically, the capital city of Jakarta is a melting pot of roughly 10 million people. Home to numerous expatriates from all corners of the earth, [...]
What can you gain from traveling abroad teaching English? Evelyn Saunders explains If you are looking for a career that takes you to places all over the world, you might want to start with the skills you already have – your language. Teaching English As A Second Language or ESL can help you visit the countries [...]
Taking a TESOL certificate course can open new horizons, suggests Kris Koonar A glance at a clothing boutique, a brisk walk down city streets, or an earful of automated customer service messages is proof positive that we live in an ethnic melting pot. Our world has stretched its borders and every person wanting to take [...]
By Luke Fisher In this article, Luke Fisher discusses the life of the English teacher in Spain: There are a wide variety of TEFL course options available in Spain leading to TEFL jobs for those with TEFL certification. Spain has such a tremendous amount regional diversity that one is almost dealing with this country as a mini [...]
By Andy Burrows Spending your gap year teaching English as a foreign language can be rewarding and fun. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) jobs offer a way to get to know the people of your host country in way that just travelling and passing through would not. Imagine all the great stories [...]
