Can a TEFL course really change my life?

When it comes to TEFL, you might wonder “what can I really do with my qualification? What will I gain?” Well, there’s a LOT of benefits to being qualified to teach English as a foreign or second language. You might be familiar with the more obvious benefits such as the flexibility it offers in terms of your workplace and work schedule, and the career advancements, but how else can a TEFL certificate benefit you? 

You’re in demand!

Some would say that the English language has established itself as the world’s ‘second language’, with growing demand in markets such as travel, healthcare services, business, technology and entertainment. It’s estimated that up to 2 billion people are currently learning English worldwide, so it’s no wonder that the TEFL market is one of the largest and fastest growing fields in the education world. The TEFL market reaches almost all of the world’s continents, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, Latin America and North America. The reach of English language education across the globe is unmatched. The TEFL & ESL Teacher Job Market Report for 2021-2022 is proof that if you’re looking for a job in TEFL, you won’t be short of opportunities! 

Real teaching experience

Pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept) and becoming comfortable in your teaching technique and subject helps you to become a better EFL teacher. Having the ability to tailor and adjust your teaching to different learning styles and lesson dynamics makes for a great teacher. The nature of EFL teaching jobs mean that you become comfortable in your ability to teach any level of student and at any age. 

Dip your toes in

If you’re thinking about jumping into a new career, or even a new country, it can be quite daunting and you might feel that you’re placing a lot of pressure on it being the right decision for you. A TEFL course is less of a commitment than signing up to a job somewhere you’ve never been, or doing a year long PGCE course. You have between 90 and 180 days to complete your course (depending on which you choose) and then once you’ve completed it, you can select which jobs to apply for. You might choose a job with a 3-month contract, or an online teaching role where you can move between countries. In doing this, you get to dip your toes into both the world of teaching and living abroad without such a big commitment, and you can decide if it’s really for you. 

Confidence 

A confident teacher creates confident students. The best teachers are confident in their knowledge and their ability to share that knowledge with their audience. Being confident enough to stand in a classroom of students and effectively deliver a lesson is so important in teaching. A TEFL qualification provides you with everything you need to tackle teaching. UK-TEFL’s courses, not only provide you with the knowledge you need to teach EFL, but also takeaway resources that you can use in your own classroom.

Easier to gain a work visa

It can be tricky trying to navigate how to gain a working visa to work in another country. You have to provide a lot of paperwork and know which hoops to jump through. Having a TEFL certificate and using a TEFL agency make it much easier to find your new, exciting job, and are helpful for getting all of the legalities of working abroad in order. You’ll find that a lot of countries require that teachers from abroad hold either a teaching licence or another credential such as a TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA, so it’s a great starting point if you want to work abroad. 

Use it anywhere, anytime!

Once you’ve gained your TEFL certificate, you’re set for life! There's no need to renew it. You can take your qualification with you wherever you go; TEFL is an internationally recognised qualification. 

An affordable way to travel the world 

From Spain, to China, and all the way back to North America, the world really is your oyster when it comes to TEFL. There are TEFL opportunities on every corner of the globe. It can be a really affordable way to travel and see the world. Some TEFL jobs will pay for your accommodation while you’re working for them, or provide benefits to assist with living costs. Doing this takes away the worry of setting this up for yourself. You have the freedom to explore any country and its culture, but the security of a salary at the end of month.

If this sounds like something you’d like to get involved with, get started on your TEFL journey by taking one of our courses! Your next adventure is only one course away…