With global travel restrictions easing, now is an ideal time to start thinking about getting out and seeing the world once more. However, recent rises in inflation globally have made it more imperative than ever to have a secure financial footing when planning travel getaways.
Luckily, one great way to both view the sights and earn money while doing it is to think about becoming a TEFL (or Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher. Read below to find out about a quintet of wonderful work opportunities connected with this exciting field.
Idea One: Learning on the job
Getting a reliable TEFL certification is the ideal way to get started in the TEFL domain. There are several reasons for this, and to find out some of the essentials, read more on The TEFL Org for the lowdown on the most important aspects.
For one thing, getting a genuine TEFL certification is the perfect chance to refresh one’s knowledge on all things connected with the English language. These courses are packed full of all the technical terms for grammar and vocabulary, and they also explain how to teach each facet to the appropriate learning level.
Additionally, high-quality programs are led by a team of experienced TEFL experts, who have a wealth of experience in real-life TEFL settings. This knowhow is invaluable for any new TEFL teacher, from topics as diverse as lesson planning, scaffolding, and classroom management.
The qualification process is also a good moment to meet other new TEFL teachers, and share in the learning together. From collaborating on course tasks, to maintaining contact while in those early months of teaching TEFL, the opportunity to make friends for the course and beyond is one to be grabbed with both hands.
Idea Two: Travel somewhere new
With that all-important TEFL qualification in hand, the time is right to really explore the world and help others learn the English language. One fantastic location to contemplate for this is Japan, with its technological mindset dovetailing nicely with a more traditional approach to life.
For the hustle and bustle of big city life, Tokyo really is hard to beat. With major global electronics brands such as Sony hailing from Japan, many of the products used by people around the world are actually road-tested in Japanese settings months or even years before elsewhere.
This means that for those who are tech-savvy, Japan really offers a great chance to take advantage of the latest happenings, from VR (virtual reality) headsets, through to wireless communications technology that most people have never even heard of. This places Japan at the forefront of all things tech, which is exciting news for anyone interested in this sphere.
By contrast, there are huge pockets of Japan that are much more tranquil and serene, and full of English language learners hoping to improve their knowledge. Classes are often interactive and playful for children of a young age, gradually shifting focus towards more serious topics as they evolve through the education system.
Idea Three: Teach TEFL closer to home
For those who might wish to dip their toe into the water when teaching TEFL, staying closer to home might just be the answer. Countries such as France and Spain have large tourism industries that frequently rely on knowledge of the English language as part of their success.
Hence, this creates a niche for TEFL teachers to help workers in these industries thrive in their work. This could be something as simple as assisting a tour guide with their presentation pitch, or even aiding a group of hotel workers to brush up on the way they greet their guests.
In any case, English as a global tourist language has added another layer to the way in which some TEFL learners may wish to access the language, and with that, the help that they may need. In particular, mainland Europe does present a series of suitable locations for TEFL teachers to get started in their careers, from helping cruise ship employees communicate with one another effectively on board, to guiding waiters and waitresses through the finer nuances of welcoming diners to their establishment in a comforting and precise manner.
One further advantage of starting a bit closer to home is that this might just mitigate some of the concerns or worries about missing home that a new TEFL teacher could have. By being less far away from loved ones, the TEFL teacher can feel reassured that it is easier to hop back for a short visit if times get really tough, or even have friends and family come for a visit to see the new surroundings.
Idea Four: Teach TEFL online
For those who prefer to work remotely, teaching TEFL online is a great possibility. For starters, it allows the new TEFL teacher to avoid the dreaded commute, meaning more precious time is available for lesson planning and evaluation.
On top of that, with a decent internet connection and computer setup, it is theoretically possible to teach TEFL from almost anywhere. This means that the TEFL teacher can much more easily combine work and travel, perhaps teaching in the morning and then sightseeing in the afternoon or vice versa.
What’s more, it is possible to work with TEFL students from different parts of the world, which is an exciting challenge in and of itself. For example, the TEFL teacher could work with Japanese students in the morning, take a break to visit a tourist site in the middle of the day, before returning in the evenings to collaborate with some Chilean learners.
Idea Five: Take a blended approach
For anybody trying a new vocation, it is often a good idea to try lots of different ways of working in the early months and years, in order to truly find out what they like best.
TEFL is no exception in this regard, as it is possible to teach both in person and online at the same time, provided one considers how to balance a timetable effectively. Also, this is a good time to experiment with teaching learners of different ages, from kindergartners to adults, so that the TEFL teacher can truly find out what the best fit is for them in the long run.