Opinion: Travel the world with TEFL

Get TEFL Certificate and realise all your travelling dreams now!

To most of us, travelling the world is that distant dream which we all hope “one day” will come true and transform our miserable lives into something truly unique. It will make our problems disappear, our broken relationships forgotten, our underpaid labour compensated for, and will give birth to our new selves as released-from-the-shackles-of-society bohemians with now enough spare time to trek freely the fairy worlds of virgin jungles, magical fountains, steep mountains in search of better lives.

Well, I myself am still looking for a way to somehow reify that longed-for fantasy and, unfortunately, you won’t find out how to do it through this article. Not all of it, at least. Here, I will offer you a course which will certainly get you closer on the path towards that dream-destination. So far, it is one of the easiest and most promising I have found.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) refers to teaching the English language to students whose mother tongue is some other than English. It can either take place within a public educational institution, at a private language school or even at the home of the student. Being internationally recognised and getting increasingly popularised each year, TEFL has now become one of the fastest-growing educational fields in the world.

How does it work?

Easy. There are many TEFL institutions now that offer a whole plethora of online courses, from the 20-Hour Weekend Course via www.tefl.org.uk to the 320-Hour Combined Course at www.i-to-i.com If wondering which one to choose, mind what they say, “Quality training means top jobs.” So, needless to say, the more money and hours you spend on the course, the better the chances of getting a better-paid position. The prices vary accordingly, although, from what I have observed, the courses are offered with massive discounts almost all the time. If you are quick and resolute, www.tefluk.com offer 120-Hour Advanced Interactive TEFL Course on sale for £99 (normally costs £349!).

Two things must be noted here: the courses are offered to both native and fluent English speakers. That is to say that, even if you are French whose English “R” sounds like the pug puppy’s cute yip, or you are Spanish and use the “E” as a prefix to every single English word, don’t worry, you are still eligible for taking the course and applying for jobs as an English Teacher. Moreover, there is no need for a degree in education or prior teaching experience. You can apply for jobs only with your TEFL Certificate. It is recommended, of course, though it is not mandatory.

Where can you teach?

You can teach almost everywhere. Once you have completed your course, your institution provides you with the support and assistance you need in order to find the job you want. And here we are, finally, standing at the threshold leading to your next trip to Thailand, Peru, South Korea, Vietnam, Asia, South America, Europe, Central America, Africa. I name it, you travel it. Currently, TEFL Teachers are increasingly sought-after. Because, let’s face it, as much as we want our own languages to be the most spoken ones in the world, they are not… it’s English. Okay, it’s third … but only because Chinese people multiply so quickly you can’t even tell who’s who anymore, and Spain conquered half the world long before TEFL came about.

In the end, let me briefly present to you the beautiful Cynthia Miller from Seattle, WA, and her job in Malaysia as a TEFL Teacher:

I work anywhere from 32-37 hours a week from Wednesday to Sunday. During the week I work in the afternoon and evening. On Saturday and Sunday, I teach during the day. The pay is pretty good. I make just under $2000 a month, with an apartment allowance, a petrol allowance, an internet stipend, and reimbursed airfare. The cost of living is quite low here so I can save about half of my salary if I am careful with my spending. I get a total of eight weeks of vacation a year.

I work at an English centre that teaches exclusively English classes to children as young as four up to high school aged kids. They attend evening and weekend classes to supplement what they learn in public school. The level of English is already quite high; I just help them to improve it. Many of the students already speak English at home, they just need some vocabulary development.

[full interview conducted by and found in www.internationalteflacademy.com]

So, pack your books, sign up for ANY of the TEFL courses and make your dream come true. Travel and Earn… oh, sweet life, here we come!

Before you say “Thank You”, if you have reached so far with reading this obviously very informative, though hardly entertaining article, that means that you are one of those patient and considerate people like me, and not one of those aforementioned rash and resolute people, who must have already gone and purchased one of those “discounted” courses.

My reward for you is, as always, a valuable nucleus of information:

If you have never heard of it, https://www.groupon.com is a website that offers an avalanche of cheap deals, on everything. TEFL courses there start from $5 for an easy 120-hour course to $100 for a super intensive course.

You’re Welcome!

Good Luck and Happy Travels!