Getting Started In TEFL Finding Your First TEFL Job
o you've done it! The TEFL during five years as a Software
course is finished, the Engineer. Instead, briefly
certificate is in your highlight a couple of skills that
hand, and you're ready to get out you developed in that job that
there and put into practice what could be relevant to language
you've learnt: It's time to start teaching – maybe you led training
looking for that first teaching workshops which required
job. self-confidence and enthusiasm,
or worked on a project abroad for
Probably the most common way to a year which meant adapting to a
find a TEFL job is through one of new culture.
the many TEFL employment
websites. For jobs abroad, the If the school is interested, they
process normally goes something will contact you to arrange an
like this: interview (possibly by
telephone), usually with the
1 The application School's Director of Studies, or
in larger schools, a Recruitment
When you find a job which you Coordinator.
like the look of, you'll need to
send your CV. You should 2 The interview
emphasise points which are
relevant to the position you are The interview can last anywhere
applying for – your TEFL from 10 minutes to an hour or
qualification, and any relevant more (possibly influenced by the
skills and experience, should school's budget for long-distance
feature strongly. Too many CVs calls!) You will normally be
cram all this into a couple of asked the types of questions you
lines, and then list two pages of would expect in any job
technical expertise developed interview, about your
qualifications, experience, of what it's really like. What
strengths and weaknesses, and so are the working conditions like?
on. If the job is in a culture The teaching resources? The
significantly different to your nightlife? The boss? The
own, you may be asked why you are accommodation? Do you get paid on
interested in that particular time? Is there internet at the
country, and how you would cope school? And so on. Make sure you
with the types of cultural are clear about things which are
differences you could expect to important to you. If the school
face. works on Saturdays and you want
your weekends free, for example,
Some interviewers ask teaching or it's best to find out at this
grammar questions. "How would you stage!
introduce the past simple tense
to a group of 12 adults?" for 3 The contract
example, or "How would you
explain the word 'proud'?" These All going well, the school will
are difficult to prepare for offer you a contract. A typical
specifically, but this is where contract is for one year,
your training course will come renewable thereafter. Read this
in! very carefully and don't be
afraid to ask if anything is not
The interviewer should give you clear. A reputable employer will
an opportunity to ask any appreciate the fact that moving
questions you have about the to another country to live and
school, the city, the salary and work is a big step (if you are
so on. This is a good point to dealing with the Director of
ask if you can talk to/email a Studies, he/she was in the same
current teacher. Teachers working boat once) and should be
at the school are a good source forthcoming with help.
should at the very least provide
There is no set format for a help with finding it. Schools
contract, but it should at least should also sort out paperwork
be clear about several important and legalities for you, or tell
points: you exactly what you need to do.
- Working days and hours, In the EU and North America,
including the number of contact things are often very different.
teaching hours - between 20 and You will more likely be expected
25 a week is normal. to sort yourself out in terms of
getting there, finding
- Holidays – how many days? Are accommodation and sorting out
they fixed? paperwork. A job is often very
much just that – a job, without
- Probationary period – if so, such a network of support.
how long?
Other means of recruitment
- Start and end dates of the
contract Many schools, especially in some
EU countries, use other means of
- Salary, overtime and any bonus recruitment, including TEFL
– when is it paid, and how? recruitment agencies, newspapers
and local expat magazines, and
For jobs outside the EU and North just relying on people to contact
America, many schools offer them directly or walk in off the
return airfare as part of the street in search of work.
deal, often paid on successful
completion of the contract. Some Some teachers choose to travel to
offer free accommodation, others the country where they want to
provide it but not for free. All work first, and look for work
when they arrive. There are some contracts go without a hitch. But
pros and cons to this approach. of course, as in any profession,
On the plus side, some schools there are some disreputable
are more likely to hire you if schools who seek to take
they have met you face to face, advantage of unsuspecting
and you are already established teachers. So, make sure you
in a place. But the risk is research a school as thoroughly
spending a lot of time and money as you can. Get as much
with no guarantee of finding a information from the school,
job, particularly if you are other teachers, TEFL websites and
newly qualified and the majority forums that you need to feel
of schools in that country comfortable in making a decision.
require several years of
experience. Here are a few things to look out
for with every job that you apply
If you choose this route then, for:
get to know the typical
requirements of schools first by - Are they offering you a job
looking at job adverts, or without speaking to you first?
contact some schools directly
before you go. - Are they unprepared to put you
in contact with current teachers?
Things to look out for
- Are they expecting you to
The great majority of schools are accept a job without seeing a
reputable businesses and, except contract?
for the inevitable mishaps and
inconveniences (broken - Are they asking you to send
photocopiers, cultural them money?
misunderstandings!) most
All going well, you've survived embarking on your TEFL career. So
the interview and accepted your now it's time to get on the
first job in a country where plane, meet your new colleagues,
you've dreamed of living since and start your new life!
About the Author:
Keith Taylor runs http://www.eslbase.com/, providing free resources, advice and information for TEFL teachers. He also runs the language exchange, http://www.eslbase.com/language-exchange/.
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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