TEFL study guide
Part I: Getting Started in TEFL
Finding your level
In the world of TEFL there are four or five levels of ‘teacher’. Deciding whether you want to earn enough to keep you in beer money whilst on your travels or whether you’re looking for a long-term career helps you decide what kind of training is appropriate.
The various types of native and proficient speakers of English working fit into these categories:
✓ The opportunist who has no training in EFL or any other teaching qualifications but needs to find work.
✓ The teacher who has a basic level of training amounting to 20 hours or fewer. He’s been introduced to the overall principles of TEFL.
✓ The TEFL initiated teacher who has completed a certificate level TEFL course of about 100 hours.
✓ The teacher qualified in another subject who needs to learn the principles of teaching EFL. At this same level are people who have studied the English language extensively, perhaps having a degree in English literature or linguistics, but who have no experience of teaching.
✓ The TEFL qualified teacher who has a diploma or master’s-level qualification in EFL.
Don’t underestimate the responsibility teachers have. Once you’re facing 20 eager students who’ve parted with their hard-earned cash hoping that you can change their lives, it’s a little late for regrets.
Get some training or do your own research but never walk into a classroom completely unprepared. A little training is better than none at all.
Being an unqualified teacher
Most language schools belong to professional bodies, which set criteria for teaching staff so that there’s a level of quality control. This means that usually you can’t find paid work in an English-speaking country without a wellrecognised teaching qualification. However, there are exceptions to this if the school runs its own training programmes for would-be teachers. Charitable and state-run organisations with volunteer programmes sometimes welcome people willing to
Finding your level
In the world of TEFL there are four or five levels of ‘teacher’. Deciding whether you want to earn enough to keep you in beer money whilst on your travels or whether you’re looking for a long-term career helps you decide what kind of training is appropriate.
The various types of native and proficient speakers of English working fit into these categories:
✓ The opportunist who has no training in EFL or any other teaching qualifications but needs to find work.
✓ The teacher who has a basic level of training amounting to 20 hours or fewer. He’s been introduced to the overall principles of TEFL.
✓ The TEFL initiated teacher who has completed a certificate level TEFL course of about 100 hours.
✓ The teacher qualified in another subject who needs to learn the principles of teaching EFL. At this same level are people who have studied the English language extensively, perhaps having a degree in English literature or linguistics, but who have no experience of teaching.
✓ The TEFL qualified teacher who has a diploma or master’s-level qualification in EFL.
Don’t underestimate the responsibility teachers have. Once you’re facing 20 eager students who’ve parted with their hard-earned cash hoping that you can change their lives, it’s a little late for regrets.
Get some training or do your own research but never walk into a classroom completely unprepared. A little training is better than none at all.
Being an unqualified teacher
Most language schools belong to professional bodies, which set criteria for teaching staff so that there’s a level of quality control. This means that usually you can’t find paid work in an English-speaking country without a wellrecognised teaching qualification. However, there are exceptions to this if the school runs its own training programmes for would-be teachers. Charitable and state-run organisations with volunteer programmes sometimes welcome people willing to