| TEFL or Teaching English as Foreign Language is an | | | | external examining body, if it is then the course and |
| increasingly popular way to travel overseas. TEFL | | | | qualification awarded will be recognized and accepted |
| (also known as TESOL) affords the opportunity to | | | | internationally. |
| earn a living while traveling which helps to lessen the | | | | Check to see if the course provides teaching practice |
| costs of what was has become, for most, a | | | | with actual students of English and that the teaching |
| necessary but increasingly expensive desire. The | | | | English as a foreign language course itself involves at |
| advantage with TEFL as opposed to other | | | | least 100hrs of training. Other criteria to consider is the |
| employment and travel options overseas is the | | | | course materials, content of the course and course |
| immediate opportunity teachers have to immerse | | | | structure. |
| themselves in new cultures, more often than not what | | | | Once you have chosen a TEFL course provider the |
| most want from their experience overseas but often | | | | application procedure is fairly simple and quick. The |
| difficult to obtain. As an English teacher you will be a | | | | only criteria for being eligible to undertake a TEFL |
| respected part of the local community. As a result, | | | | course being that the applicant is a native or near |
| windows of social opportunities within new cultures, | | | | native English speaker. Post application, often a deposit |
| often closed to outsiders, will continually open to you. In | | | | payment is a requirement to secure a place on a |
| addition, and probably best of all, TEFL offers the | | | | course with the balance of course fees being payable |
| opportunity to help and enrich the lives of others | | | | at the beginning of the course itself. |
| through education. | | | | TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, once |
| English is quickly becoming the world language of | | | | the bastion of groovy back packers with a mission, is |
| communication. As the need to learn English increases | | | | now the stable path for graduates dearly looking for |
| as does the need for teachers to teach this language. | | | | life and travel experience, for those unhappy with the |
| In times past the simple requirement to teach English | | | | politicians and environment of their home country and |
| as a foreign language was that the applicant be a | | | | wanting to start again in a new location free from all |
| native or fluent English speaker, no qualifications | | | | the nonsense, for retirees wanting to make amends |
| required. As the demand for teachers has increased, | | | | for a working life that was a necessity rather than a |
| most employers now require applicants to have formal | | | | choice and for those unhappy with their jobs and |
| qualifications. Generally, the type of qualifications | | | | wanting a new challenge in a job that gives back a lot |
| required, reflect the financial status of the country. For | | | | more than a salary. There are now more and more |
| example, employers in Japan or Italy require that | | | | people from all walks of life considering TEFL and |
| applicants have a degree in any field and are TEFL | | | | teaching English as a foreign language as a very |
| certified, while employers in say Cambodia or Chile | | | | possible alternative to their current status. With the |
| only require applicants to be TEFL certified. | | | | situation as it stands now, there are not enough |
| There are a number of TEFL training companies to | | | | qualified teachers to cater to the worldwide demand |
| choose from, some good and some not so good. | | | | for English, so fortunately this is better news for those |
| When choosing a TEFL course provider you should | | | | wishing to learn English. |
| ascertain whether the provider is accredited by an | | | | TEFL International: Where the world is your classroom. |