| When I decided to train as a TEFL teacher in Madrid I | | | | Find out what support you are given pre course, such |
| discovered that like many important decisions I had to | | | | as accommodation; organizing visas; setting up a bank |
| step away from it and carefully evaluate all of the | | | | account; getting a mobile phone and anything else you |
| aspects of where this could take me. After years of | | | | need to be make your transition into the new culture. |
| helping future teachers decide what TEFL course is | | | | This is especially important if you don't speak the |
| right for them, I have worked out a fairly simple set of | | | | language of the country you are going to. |
| guidelines to find the right course for you.o | | | | With post course support, you need to know that the |
| Accreditationo Remember - there are never too many | | | | academy is there to help you with getting a job, |
| questionso Is there support pre and post course?o Do | | | | resources and advice about life in general. There is |
| you get that fuzzy feeling?o What are the job | | | | nothing worse than being given your TEFL certificate |
| contacts like?o If it's too good to be true......o Do you | | | | and being tossed out there into the world without |
| want to pay to party or to become a teacher? | | | | much of an idea about how to go about it all. This was |
| Accreditation | | | | the case when I did my TEFL and I took some really |
| There are quite a few accrediting bodies and it can | | | | silly jobs and spent the first 6 months feeling stressed |
| often get confusing which one to take. However, my | | | | and out of my depth. |
| experience with the job market post course is that the | | | | Do you get that fuzzy feeling? |
| schools and agencies generally want to know that it is | | | | Don't underestimate your gut instincts. If you get that |
| accredited, that it has real teaching practice (6 hours | | | | warm fuzzy feeling and the course is accredited, go |
| being the standard) and that you know your grammar | | | | for it. If the feeling you get through the initial contact is |
| post course. An online course is a nice introduction but | | | | good, then you are probably on to a winner. |
| for me, its simple, would you drive a car after only | | | | What are the job prospects like? |
| doing an on line course (if the answer is yes, please let | | | | It can be the best TEFL course in the world but if they |
| me know where you drive so I can avoid you!)? | | | | don't help you find a job and get you connected then |
| If you are doing a course outside your own country | | | | they have let you down. Talk through the type of |
| and are unable to visit the school yourself, make sure | | | | work you are looking for, business; general; children; |
| the accreditation body regularly visits the facility and | | | | teenagers; intensive work etc. Do they have contacts |
| inspects it. You can then be sure that everything they | | | | with that particular field? Again, ask to be put in touch |
| say they have - they do indeed have. | | | | with graduates who have been there 6 months plus to |
| Beware of TEFL academies that use the term | | | | find out about their experiences with work. You are |
| 'internationally recognised' which means - nothing. | | | | never going to get your golden schedule and the |
| Check that it is actually accredited and check with the | | | | perfect job straight after the course but by the 6 |
| organization to make sure it is true. It takes a few | | | | month mark, you should be nearly there. |
| minutes to check and could save an awful lot of | | | | If it's too good to be true... |
| heartache. | | | | The TEFL industry whether it is in Madrid, Morocco or |
| Remember - there are never too many questions | | | | Mauritius, as with any industry, has a cowboy element. |
| It is always frustrating being referred back to a | | | | If the claims seem too good to be true and not |
| website for information when what you were looking | | | | backed up with real evidence or the price is very |
| for was a personal answer that related to you. Moving | | | | cheap, then think carefully before taking the plunge....if |
| away from home and setting up your life in a new | | | | it's too good to be true... |
| country is a big step so you should make sure the | | | | Do you want to pay to party or to become a |
| TEFL provider is willing to answer as many questions | | | | teacher? |
| as you have. Be persistent and get the answers you | | | | The social side of any course is very important - post |
| want. | | | | course! Remember you are learning to become a |
| Ask to be put in touch with recent graduates who are | | | | teacher and more importantly, you are paying to |
| a similar age and background to you. They won't be | | | | become a teacher. A good TEFL course should be |
| trying to sell you a course and you can usually rely on | | | | intensive, hard work and rewarding. I have never once |
| them to give you some frank and honest advice. | | | | described our course as fun - we would be sued! |
| Remember, you should get all this support before you | | | | All these elements combined should help you make the |
| even consider paying a deposit. | | | | right choice about your TEFL course. |
| Is there support pre and post course? | | | | |