Are you sick and tired of the tourist packages? The row
upon row of 5 star hotels and western fast food giants? Have
you had enough of travelling half way around the world only
to find yourself in an area that looks like downtown at
home? Is it time to leave the tourist trail? Well
this may just be the thing for you. Teaching abroad is one
of the most challenging and exciting things you can do.
You'll contribute far more to the local people than a few
dollars will. Everyday is different, everyday day is
unforgettable. You'll walk the backstreets, talk to real
people, bargain at local markets and even squeeze into the
public transport with everyone else. And hey...you get paid
for it as well! There's no running out of money half way
through your dream trip. Why not turn a 2 month trip into a
6 month adventure?
One of the great things about teaching English in Thailand is
that teachers are highly respected. Students will
enthusiastically greet you everyday. They're genuinely
interested in learning! And there are few jobs in the world
where you get to muck around and have fun everyday. I taught
English in Thailand and I can tell you, it's the best
decision I ever made. But don't take my word for it, listen
to what others have to say. Then there are some Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) for you to look at. |
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Paul Forester, in Chang Rai - Thailand
"The preparation and support I received as a teacher and
as an American living in a developing country was more than
I could have hoped for. The room I stayed in was much better than I expected,
there was a hot shower, bottled water, and good food.
Tena certainly felt like it was in the middle
of the jungle, but the people were friendly and it was clean
and safe.
"Spending a summer as a volunteer at the
beginning of my college career has made a significant impact
on the way I have approached my remaining years in college.
I never imagined that I would spend the summer following my
freshman year in Chang Rai - Thailand, but it
happened. The experience has taught me to broaden my
aspirations beyond that which I already know or expect, and
to seek out the tremendous opportunities to which I have
never been exposed. Whereas previously I had felt
pressure to determine my career goals early and then shape
my college experience around preparing to reach those goals,
my summer teaching English has given me the confidence to use
my college experience for exploration as well as
preparation. I now realize that I would be
disappointed if my goals at the end of college matched my
goals going into college."
"In addition to changing my approach to my college
experience, teaching english also gave me confidence that
non-traditional careers can be very rewarding. It is
much easier to pursue a career that guarantees a comfortable
life, a set career path, and job security than to pursue a
career path in which there are no guarantees. However,
I learned from my experience in Chang Rai that there are
intangible benefits that come with serving others that make
the experience worthwhile and perhaps more rewarding than a
more traditional career."
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Julie Valente, Shongdong Province - China
 "The children were more than enthusiastic about
their lessons. Imagine a seven year old shouting an answer at you as loud as he/she
can manage. Now multiply that by forty-two and you will have an idea of what my
classroom often sounded like after I posed a question. When I asked them to raise their
hands instead of yelling out they would scream to be called on. "Every time I entered
the school grounds, I was treated as though I just fell from the sky. One child would
initially spot me, shout "Jula!" (that's what they called me), and soon the entire
schoolyard population would be screaming my name. And it was not uncommon to get wrapped
up by dozens of little arms that dragged with me as I tried to make my way along. It was
bedlam - every time." |
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Karl Fischer, in Costa Rica
Karl's students had never played
basketball with a real hoop and ball, so he asked friends and family from home to donate
money so he could build a basketball court in his town. He shoveled sand from a nearby
river to mix with the cement, hauled construction materials in a local cattle truck, had
a friend in San José make the backboard from tropical hardwood and had a local welder make
the pole. Friends from home brought the rim on a visit.
"Since the court was erected, the basketballs have not stopped bouncing, and can be heard
on any night until at least 11 o'clock at night. Everybody in town, from 5-year-old girls
to 45-year-old men are taking at least a mild interest. And I can add to my ever increasing
list of nicknames Chaqi Oni (Shaquile O'Neil )and Mical Zordan."
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- What do I need to get started? In many countries like China you can just turn up and
start working. However in other countries like Japan they require you to have a uni degree.
In Thailand however it is up to the school. One thing that all places prefer is a certificate
in either TEFL or TESOL.
- What are TEFL and TESOL? How are they different? TEFL is short for Teaching English as a
Foreign Language. This means that you are teaching English to students in a foreign country,
that only speak a foreign language. TESOL is short for Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages. In general, there is not much of a difference between these two qualifications.
TEFL is taught in the UK whereas TESOL is taught in the US, Canada and Australasia.
There are many others out there, all with slightly different meanings. But if you want to
teach overseas then you will need one of the two.
- Do I really need a TEFL or TESOL certificate? Yes. In many countries they will take
pretty much anyone (like China). But in other countries like Japan and Thailand it is
a very competitive market. You will need every advantage you can get. And these certifications are
internationally recognised.
- Is it important to get these qualifications through an accredited provider? Yes,
this is to ensure that you get what you pay for. Below we have found two of the best providers of
TEFL and TESOL around. Both are accredited providers.
- How will a certificate help me do the job? The TEFL or TESOL certificate will prepare you
for the challenging environment. It will teach you the fundamentals of class planning, the typical
mistakes of first time teachers, how to get your class interested in the subject, how to manage
large classes and many companies provide a support centre to deal with any problems you might have
(teaching problems or problems with your school management).
- How long does it take to do the courses? The amount of time varies depending on
which course you do. But in general it will take you a weekend or 40-60 hours to complete. You
can do courses at home in your own time, or often you can go to the providers centre and get trained by
a professional.
- How much does it cost? A course in TEFL or TESOL is usually around $300US.
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- Internationally accredited TEFL and TESOL courses.
- Provides both online and weekend courses.
- Free TEFL trial.
- Help in finding a job.
- Tutors to help you study and to help you in your first job.
- A break down of every country with their pros and cons.
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- Internationally accredited TEFL courses.
- Provides online and 4 week courses.
- Help in finding jobs.
- Tutors to personally guide you through your first job.
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