How to become a globally certified English teacher
So there I was taking the Greyhound bus from Atlanta, Georgia, back to Miami, Florida, to go back to my family and think about my next step in life. I had recently graduated from college with a business degree and needed a break after more than four years of study. On the bus I noticed this older gentleman in his 40s in front of me wearing one of those clichéd vacation shirts with palm trees all over it.
His name was David and I found out that he was visiting his son in Florida who was going to have his first grandson, but he is an English teacher in Thailand. So I started asking him questions about how he became an English teacher and to my surprise I signed up for an online TEFL class and am preparing to move to Thailand in late January 2017. Here’s what I learned from David . on the Greyhound ride that changed my life.
1. He first said that, although not a requirement in some countries, having a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university increases your chances of finding a job. It all depends on the country in which you would like to teach. Places like Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, France, and Morocco require at least a bachelor’s degree. But don’t let this stop you because there are dozens of countries that don’t have this requirement. China, Egypt, Spain, Nicaragua and Cambodia will accept it only with the TEFL (or TESOL) certification that we will talk about now.
2. You have to get the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification through an accredited school. The good news in this regard is that you can take the course online or in class depending on your personal situation. Online classes tend to be cheaper than face-to-face classes, and you can plan to spend between $ 900-1,400. Remember this, if you are going to spend money, you can also spend it by investing in yourself. This certification will allow me at any time for the rest of my life to travel to different countries of the world and live there. That alone is worth the money to me. The TEFL certification course will teach you how to develop lesson plans, interact with your students, and become the best teacher you can be, among other things.
3. Decide where you want to go and find out the hiring seasons for that country. I decided to teach in Thailand as I spent the 2014 Christmas holidays there and fell in love with the place, plus David would guide me through the transition. Plus, most schools give you job assistance for life wherever you go. Thailand hires teachers throughout the year so that I can choose when I want to move there, although this is not the case in all countries. For example, places like Argentina and Brazil hire during February-March, while Belgium and France hire during September and January.
Other things to consider are the visa requirements for your country. Some grant you a visa upon arrival for a certain number of days, but you will have to apply for a long-term one later. Also consider the interview process, as some institutions conduct video interviews before you move in, while others would like an in-person interview. If you’ve always wanted to travel but didn’t know how you could afford it, this is a great way to see the world. I hope this article has helped you.