A native English speaker with a TEFL certification can realistically teach English in up to 100 countries around the globe from Argentina and Spain to Japan and Thailand. Unfortunately, however, English-speaking countries are not typically viable job markets for teaching English abroad, particularly for Americans. Why?
International TEFL Academy is proud to offer a world-class 4-week Costa Rica TEFL class at our licensee in the heart of Heredia. Employing a state-of-the-art curriculum and taught by expert instructors, this course is designed to provide you with the skills & qualification you need to succeed in teaching English abroad. This course is fun and you will learn a ton, but it is also very demanding and requires that you be prepared to meet the full-time demands of a rigorous university-level course.
Accreditation is a method of quality assurance for educational and professional certifications that incorporates review and approval from a recognized independent organization in the field.
Most schools, language institutes and ministries of education recognize TEFL certifications that meet certain basic standards that are also recommended by leading bodies in the field. These standards reflect those incorporated in to a standard, accredited intensive four-week TEFL class and include:
1. At least 100 hours of coursework and training;
2. At least 6-20 hours of live practice teaching and observation involving actual ESL students (not peers - no role-playing);
Should you take the 11-Week Online TEFL course or the 4-week In-Person course instead?
JET stands for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, which is a cultural exchange and teaching program sponsored by the Japanese government that employs university-educated, native English-speakers to teach English in Japan. Accepted participants are placed in positions throughout the country, so while you can request preferences, your teaching location will ultimately be chosen for you.
One of the great fears that one faces when moving to a new community, let alone a new country, is “Will I be able to make friends?" Certainly this is a challenge that anybody who goes abroad to teach English must confront, but the good news is that moving to a new country like Korea to teach English offers the opportunity of a lifetime to make new friends and enjoy experiences that you would never have otherwise. Not only will you be welcomed by the local population with open arms, but you will also meet, live, and work with a diverse assortment of people from throughout the English-speaking world.
South Korea is one of the largest and most popular job markets for those looking to teach English abroad. With thousands of opportunities spread throughout the country, you might be wondering who exactly your employer will be. While public schools employ a small amount of English teachers each year, the bulk of jobs will be found at Hagwons. “Hagwon” is the Korean language word for a for-profit private educational institute (school). So, essentially, hagwons are private language centers or academies that operate like businesses and apart from the South Korean public school system.
How will teaching English abroad pay off in the long run?
Those interested in teaching English in Korea will need to decide whether they want to teach in a public school or in a private school (private language schools in Korea are often referred to as hagwans). Many positions are similar in that they involve teaching English to school children and teachers in both private and public schools can expect excellent benefits, including free furnished housing, reimbursed airfare, paid vacation and salaries that enable the teacher to save $800 - $1,000 a month after expenses (sometimes even more).
