Teaching English abroad is a popular career path for travelers young and old. But if you want to teach and live abroad successfully, you’ll need a TEFL certificate. Though there are numerous certification programs for teaching English as a foreign language, the most widely recognized option is TEFL. And despite its popularity, there are myths about the process that still need to be debunked. Keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions, as well as information that’s not too easy to find about getting TEFL certified.
1. Age is not an issue.
Anyone is welcome to go through the TEFL/TESOL certification process. With very few age requirements, TEFL programs attract people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Whether you are deciding what to do after graduation, looking for a career change, or determining what retirement means for your life, you are eligible to enroll in a TEFL program.
At Máximo Nivel you only need to be 18 years old to participate in a TEFL certification program. So grab a pack of cigarettes, a lottery ticket and a TEFL package and come visit us in Costa Rica, Guatemala or Peru. But really, if you’d like to try something new and teaching abroad might be something you’re interested in, consider enrolling in one of our programs. A TEFL certificate is valuable currency in the English language job market.
2. There are in-person and online options.
At all three of our Latin American locations, Máximo Nivel offers a comprehensive four-week TEFL training course. Your 150 hours of onsite training include coursework in grammar and ESL techniques, as well as 15 hours of practical teaching experience and observations. Yes, you’ll memorize the conditionals and review reported speech, but you’ll also have the time and guidance to really get a feel for what it’s like to be a classroom teacher.
An onsite certification program allows you to become familiar with your new home while you’re learning. But if you need more flexibility there are also online and hybrid options. For those of you that are parents, professionals or just juggling other responsibilities, the online certification option is still a thorough introduction to English teaching.
Online doesn’t have to mean impersonal. In addition to the course’s modules on theory, you would still have tutoring hours with your TEFL trainer and deliver live online lessons to fulfill your practical teaching. You would also receive individualized feedback on all of your assignments at a more flexible pace and a lower price.
And if you’re busy at home but also wanting to get certified face to face, the hybrid program is a blend of both. The first half of the hybrid TEFL program takes place online. But after you complete two weeks of virtual learning, you can complete your certification at one of our locations abroad. For many students this is the answer: a shorter travel period with the same benefits of in-person instruction and cross-cultural experience.
3. You can get teaching jobs in English-speaking countries too.
No matter what platform is best for you, Máximo offers job placement assistance on the other side. You may have loved your onsite training and be unwilling to leave Latin America any time soon. Or you may be looking for job opportunities in Asia or Eastern Europe. But an option that is often overlooked is taking your new skills home with you.
There is a demand for ESL teachers in English-speaking countries too! Immigration patterns form a constant whirlpool and there will always be newcomers eager to learn the language of their new home. The International Rescue Committee, for example, employs ESL interns and teachers to aid refugee communities in the United States and across the globe.
An ESL teacher is also needed at any public American school. Although most states require their ESL teachers to be licensed by the state, some do employ people with TEFL or TESOL certifications and a bachelor’s degree due to the great demand for ESL instruction. Keep in mind, however, that these jobs are often long-term sub positions that may require you to go through a state certification program if the school takes you on permanently.
4. You don’t need a teaching background.
If you have experience in education that’s great too. But to get a TEFL certification and build a successful career abroad teaching experience is not a necessity. TEFL programs are pretty thorough and practical unto themselves so you’ll be prepared. Besides, once you have a classroom of your own you’ll be learning by doing just like your students. And sometimes coming in with a fresh perspective can actually help.
When you’ve taught before you have certain notions of how to teach. But teaching students who are in the process of learning the language in which you are delivering instructions changes the classroom dynamic significantly. As a high school math or chemistry teacher, there is nothing particularly bad about starting class with a little bit of lecturing. Direct instruction can be clear and efficient in small doses.
But when your students don’t speak English you actually sound like the teacher in Peanuts. Narrating between activities and explaining things in detail suddenly becomes obsolete. So no experience? No problem. You can learn to think like an ESL teacher from the very beginning.
5. A degree is not required.
If you’re tentative about investing four years of your life and your right kidney in your education, earning a TEFL certificate may be a more accessible way to launch a teaching career. Although a college degree is necessary to obtain a job in some locations, it is not required to earn a TEFL certificate. And though not having a bachelor’s may limit the regions in which you can apply, many institutes are satisfied with TEFL training. This is especially true in Latin America.
Your certification will help you get your foot in the door. And once you’ve landed your first job, experience and recommendations often supersede unrelated degrees. That being said, the TEFL certificate itself isn’t a university degree. Getting certified and teaching abroad may give you valuable insight into whether or not you’d like to go back to school. Or you might build a life abroad and never look back. You never know which teaching location might be your last.