| The issue of the age of the potential TEFL is one that | | | | teachers without advertising the industry and don't feel |
| rises again and again. It makes me fairly angry actually! | | | | that they need to reach millions of potential new |
| I have heard again and again the question asked "I'm X | | | | teachers to fill the 10 positions they have a year, they |
| years old... am I too old... TEFL is a young person's | | | | tend to see advertising a job on an internet job board |
| game isn't it?" No! It is not a "young person's game". | | | | as a huge marketing campaign they may not have the |
| True the young adapt very well to TEFL, and the | | | | resources or knowledge to pull off. Unless they also |
| entry level wages are often lower than a middle aged, | | | | teach CELTA or a similar course for would be English |
| professional, college educated person may be able to | | | | teachers then there is no real need to advertise. |
| earn at home but you are not too old (unless you are | | | | The big players money wise in the TEFL industry are |
| on your hospital bed and the priest is reading this to | | | | not really the certification providers (CELTA the |
| you because he forgot to bring the last rites sheet | | | | industry standard is produced by the world famous |
| with him). I have heard people ask if they are too old | | | | Cambridge University, although individual schools who |
| at 26! | | | | teach the classes often advertise) but by companies |
| The reason lots of people think they are too old is that | | | | offering gap year TEFL courses. They have access |
| most of the marketing of TEFL is aimed at gap year | | | | to a huge market (17 and 18 year olds about to start |
| students. In actual fact most TEFL teachers are older, | | | | university), who want to see the world, have an |
| often a lot older. They tend to fall into two broad | | | | adventure, do some good, don't expect to get paid a |
| categories of 26-32 and 40+. This is a huge | | | | salary yet, are willing to rough it and have parents who |
| generalization and you will find a large number of | | | | are willing to pay- especially if there is a big home |
| teachers of every age including plenty that are 60+. | | | | based company they can yell at if anything does go |
| Most people taking TEFL certification courses within | | | | wrong! |
| the US, UK and Canada are 30+ and many are retired. | | | | These kids are trained overseas in a TEFL course, |
| Some schools prefer older teachers, some younger. | | | | then stay with a local family, get pocket money and |
| Age is not however a barrier to getting a teaching job | | | | have their parents pay up to $10,000 or more for the |
| in any country. Period. Schools often like the idea of an | | | | privilege! That works out at a tidy profit per applicant. |
| older teacher as in many cultures elder people are | | | | No wonder the gap year firms advertise so heavily |
| equated with wisdom. But being young isn't going to | | | | and get themselves into the press more than anyone |
| affect employment either. Your main skill is that you | | | | else. I don't blame them, it makes good business sense |
| speak English and can look reasonably presentable. | | | | and I think it makes the kids who take the course |
| Don't be worried about factors like age! | | | | grow a lot too. It's just that there is no reason for |
| As far as marketing to gap year students is | | | | these companies tell people that a graduate can get |
| concerned there is a very good reason. Most schools | | | | free flights to Korea, a rent free apartment, only pay |
| that teach English as a foreign language are on the | | | | 5% tax, live a very comfortable life and save $12,000 |
| other side of the world. They make a profit but are not | | | | every year they are there. A graduate isn't going to |
| huge (outside the big chains, which do often prefer | | | | get his parents to pay the companies $10,000 for telling |
| youngsters because they feel they can pay them less | | | | him or her this! |
| and will do exactly as they are told), they can get | | | | |