How to Find a Good TEFL Employer/school
How to Find a Good TEFL Employer/school
So you’re all done and dusted with the course and quite rightly feeling very pleased with yourself, but it doesn’t stop there; it’s now time to find a job! With English in demand all over the world choosing a job can be tricky, simply because there’s so much choice. Doing your research will help you decide and there’s plenty of information out there about the TEFL markets of different countries. Whether you’re planning to go for a few months or a few years, it’s hard to know whether you’ll be happy in a country until you’ve actually spent time there, so you may want to explore the world before you actually decide where to teach.
Planning ahead – going with a company
You’ll often find that your chosen TEFL trainer will offer a free placement or placement service on completion. This is usually hassle-free, but researching your employer is always a good idea. You can use the internet to research the local area and culture, while travel guides such as Lonely Planet also offer handy tips. The organization you opt for should be able to give you information about the school and may even offer contact details for their in country coordinators. If you can get hold of a phone number, ask to speak to any western teachers currently in the school to get a true idea of what it’s like to work there.
Going it alone
If you’re arranging your own placement the most important thing is to network. Most schools depend on local advertising and word-of-mouth, long before considering internet adverts. The TEFL community is vast, so the sooner you start making contact with both schools and other teachers, the better. Employers are looking for people who have a genuine enthusiasm for teaching so make sure your bubbly personality and love of working with children come across in your application and your CV. Your CV itself should be packed full of TEFL-related information, up to date references are essential and lots of experience always looks good.
Be tenacious with your applications, get back to schools you hear from and try and arrange phone interviews at schools that are far away. Large international volunteer companies and language schools will often have offices in several countries so you may be able to talk to someone in person without having to get on a plane. Establishing contact with the school beforehand will help you to make a much more informed decision.
Travel first
If forward planning isn’t really your thing then it is possible to find a teaching position in-country. It can be risky as jobs aren’t always guaranteed as soon as you step off the plane but it depends where you want to go. Schools in popular countries such as Thailand, Spain and Japan offer good standards for English teachers and recruit locally due to their popularity as travel destinations. Networking is still important, as is establishing contact with the local schools: internet forums are a good place to start, as they often have plenty of experienced teachers as members. Being in-country is a big advantage as you meet with the school director and actually visit your prospective work place and make a decision based on experience.
You will, however, still need to have a good CV, references and, of course, your TEFL certificate (we’re hoping you’ll already have your passport!) You’ll also need to carefully consider your budget, especially if you’re arriving in Europe. Make sure you arrive at the best time for recruitment, usually a month or so before the start of the academic year. This will be more important in popular destinations in Asia or Europe, but less so if you plan to teach in rural Ghana; teachers are in high demand in local schools though pay won’t be high. If your desire to teach is more important than your salary, teaching off the beaten track is a rewarding and culturally-enriching experience, and you’ll face almost no competition for places!
Checklist
A few things for to consider before setting off on your travels:
What is it like to live in my chosen country? (Community knowledge)
Do my qualifications meet the standards of the country I’m going to?
Do I have all the correct documentation; visas, passport, certification?
Where will I be living?
What is the average teaching pay in my chosen country and if I’m going with a company, how much will they contribute?
What hours should I expect to work?
What sort of materials will be at my disposal?
What support will there be before and during the role?
How big is the school I will be teaching in, in actual size and class size?
What level of English will my students already have?
What will my pupils’ average age be?
What will my non-teaching duties be?
Here are a few useful websites to help you start your research:
http://www.tefl.net/esl-jobs/teach-abroad.htm
http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-jobs-abroad
http://www.eslbase.com
http://www.eslcafe.com
Honor Baldry – Online TEFL courses with over 20,000 course graduates each year, international accreditation and certification recognised by schools worldwide. To Teach English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world and immerse themselves in new cultures. http://www.onlinetefl.com
Looking For More Information?
Make sure to explore other articles in the Education category or contact us to suggest a website or a service to review.
