TEFL Forum - Help & Advice

How can we tell if a TEFL job ad is legitimate or not?  Unfortunately it is getting increasingly difficult with some fraudsters creating multi-page school websites and paying for company-named email addresses.  You will even be able to speak to someone on the phone number provided on the website.  The golden rule is that you should never pay any fees to the school – you might pay fees at the embassy for a visa or pay a travel agent for an airplane ticket, but never ever pay the school money.  Here are a few warning signs:

If you are considering studying a BA in English, then why not consider a degree which incorporates a TEFL certificate? This will provide you with a vocational qualification, teaching experience and potentially a means of earning a salary while you are a student. Here teflhub interviews Dr Roberts from Cardiff Metropolitan University and Dr Chick from the University of South Wales to find out more.

It is feasible to teach four short-term contracts with employers from different countries in just one year.  This will allow you to get paid to visit and work in a range of cultures and earn money in the process without having to spend a penny on flights.  The one main disadvantage that seems to be mentioned by teachers who do this is that just as you are settling in to a place and getting to know your students and colleagues, you have to repack your suitcase and head off to your next contract/adventure.  Here teflhub suggests where you might find short-term contracts as well as a few organisations who recruit.

Would you like to work in Spain? The country has been a favourite destination for TEFL teachers for years – drawn by the rich history, beautiful scenery, remarkable architecture, delicious cuisine, the famous wines, and of course by the friendly people. One means for TEFL teachers to find work is by visiting job fairs, so teflhub interviewed Stuart from Spainwise to find out more about their upcoming jobs fair in Bilbao. 

We may not have access to a computer lab or have internet access so we might have to use a more traditional means of preparing for our lessons:  books.  There are numerous high-quality TEFL resources out there so we thought we would introduce you to some of the publications we’ve found particularly useful.  

There are a range of courses out there, so which one is the right one for you?  Should you take the weekend course, one of the online courses, a week-long course or a 4– 5-week course?  Should I take a CELTA, TESOL or other TEFL course? teflhub looks at the options to help you make the right choice.

After a couple of years a teacher may start researching the next step in professional development, so which course should a teacher take?  A master’s degree is a more academic qualification covering theoretical aspects of teaching English (although a few do have a practical component)  while a Diploma/Delta is considered of more practical value as it involves more teaching practice – but both are Ofqual (UK) level 7 qualifications. Here teflhub looks at which course will best suit you.

What the institutions say vs the realities of working internationally and the experience gained.

Students and graduates with international experience obtain higher starting salaries, develop the global skills employers require and achieve better career progression. This week we spoke to Mike F.: an OC ambassador and former teacher in China. He has just returned from 6 months teaching and working at the forefront of the education system in Nicaragua, South America. Here our Ambassador, Mike, advises on the realities of a life teaching abroad and the perceived benefits to a CV or Resume vs. the realities of the impact on a teacher’s future. 

We all experience anxiety to some degree.  A little anxiety is normal and actually helps you sharpen and focus your mind on a project or task, but once anxiety starts keeping you awake and dominating your thoughts it’s time to combat it.  Here are five ways to conquer anxiety.