| For those of us who want to teach English, TEFL | | | | courses can have a steep learning curve if your |
| courses are available in varying shapes and sizes, and | | | | grammar and group learning are rusty. It's surprising |
| are helping more and more people to get the | | | | how much you can learn in a short period of time, but |
| qualifications they need. Whether or not you need a | | | | a career teaching abroad will require a whole host of |
| degree does very much depend on where you want | | | | skills that a degree and a more in-depth teaching |
| to go and how long you want to go for. If you're | | | | course can prepare you for. |
| volunteering for a few weeks by teaching in Latin | | | | It's to this end that some schools will ask for teachers |
| America, a good TEFL course is generally all that's | | | | with degrees even if it's not a legal requirement. |
| required, but if you're planning to earn money on a | | | | Different schools will require different standards of |
| permanent placement in Taiwan then you'll need a | | | | English because their students will need to use it in |
| degree. A longer placement will require either more | | | | different situations. In a country like China where there |
| experience or more qualifications, just as it would any | | | | are so many successful industries, English can be very |
| other subject, but there are a few other considerations | | | | important. If the school wants its students to be able to |
| too... | | | | speak business English, then you'll have to teach them |
| Visas | | | | how convey business strategy as well as the basics |
| One of the reasons you'll need a degree is the long | | | | of the language! |
| arm of the law. In Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Saudi | | | | Political situation |
| Arabia and Hong Kong a work visa for teaching | | | | With so many different opinions, beliefs and cultures |
| English requires a degree. It's illegal to work and earn | | | | some countries have had more than their share of |
| money on a tourist visa, so unfortunately no matter | | | | political unrest and are still trying to recover from years |
| how great your passion for teaching is, you probably | | | | of conflict. As such, they'll often be desperate for |
| don't want to risk working without the right visa. | | | | English teachers so requirements aren't as strict as |
| Individual countries have individual needs and often legal | | | | you'd imagine! Countries such as Honduras are |
| requirements are the only way of making sure they | | | | becoming popular travel destinations and their |
| achieve what's best for the country. If they're already | | | | developing travel industries increases the need for |
| over populated, or just popular with English teachers, | | | | English. However, you'll still need passion and, of course, |
| being a little stricter with their specifications may be the | | | | that all-important TEFL qualification! |
| only way of limiting the number of applicants. | | | | Overall |
| Higher paid jobs in countries like Japan and South | | | | A degree in any discipline won't necessarily prepare |
| Korea will receive a huge amount of interest and often | | | | you for everything. But in the same way that a degree |
| the only way that schools can ensure they choose the | | | | often means a better job at home, many countries |
| right candidate, is to insist on a degree. Fewer | | | | take it as an indication that you've taken more time to |
| applications means more time to consider each | | | | develop your skills. Knowledge is power, so make sure |
| application, so their choice of candidate may have | | | | you know all of the requirements of your chosen |
| nothing to do with their degree but they will be the right | | | | country before you put pen to paper. |
| person for the job! | | | | Links |
| Level of English | | | | WikiTravel - teaching English - Is Teaching Abroad for |
| Teachers around the globe will tell you that it's a | | | | You? |
| rewarding profession, but it's no easy option. TEFL | | | | |