Ben's TEFL Experience in Italy
Ben took our 20 hour Standard TEFL course in Manchester. Within a year of passing the course, he is already making the most of his TEFL qualification by moving and teaching in Italy!
Ben mostly teaches business professionals on a one-to-one basis. During our interview with him he has told us that, although he only works three days a week, he earns the same as an average full-time salary. Sounds great right?! Ben loves his job and describes it as being like spending time with friends due to the rapport he has managed to build with his students.
His advice to TEFL graduates when planning to move abroad is to ensure they have a good laptop, phone, and mobile broadband. Technology is power in this day and age!
Carry on reading for Ben’s full interview.
How would you rate your course?
Outstanding!
What drew you to taking a UK-TEFL course?
The desire to live abroad, yet have flexibility and control over my work.
Tell us what you’re doing now? Can you describe a typical day as an EFL teacher?
I’m now teaching business people, mostly one on one. I work Monday to Wednesday and earn the same as an average full-time job. Most people want conversation, but I mix it up with some exercises that I mostly find online, including worksheets and audio/video. I don’t over prepare because every lesson can go in a different direction and lead to a good conversation. I just make sure to have plenty of material at hand.
What is your favourite part of teaching English as a foreign language?
It’s actually very easy and the days fly by quite quickly because once you build up a rapport with the student, it’s like spending time with friends. If you work things out with your school from the beginning, you can have a lot of free time to do other things.
Why did you choose Italy? What’s your favourite thing about living there?
I already lived in Italy, and wanted to stay, without having to worry about work. So I made the trip back to England to do my TEFL course and it’s worked out brilliantly. I love living in Italy because it’s still a free country where you can actually enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
What’s in store for the future?
To never move back to Britain if I can avoid it.
What advice would you give someone wanting to teach English as a foreign language?
Do the course! It’s very informative and gives you the confidence you need to go out there and teach. Wherever you go, make it your priority to have a decent enough laptop, or tablet and mobile broadband. You can teach anywhere and everywhere. If you want better jobs, you’re better off owning a car. If you have a car, you will be much more valuable to the majority of schools than those without a car. The most important tool, however, is being nice and friendly. No matter how nervous you may be, your students are more nervous than you. So befriending them from the start is very important.
Do you have any additional comments?
Without doing the course I wouldn’t have known where to begin. It gave me the last little push that I needed to start my new career. Now, every week I have 4 days off to enjoy life and have no stress. I still have my old friends back home, but now have lots of new friends too, and that will happen wherever you go.
