{"id":665,"date":"2019-08-22T13:33:37","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T17:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teflcoursereview.com\/blog\/?p=665"},"modified":"2021-04-30T13:29:37","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T17:29:37","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-before-doing-tefl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teflcoursereview.com\/blog\/what-you-need-to-know-before-doing-tefl\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know Before Doing a TEFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

If<\/span> you\u2019re thinking about doing a TEFL, your mind is probably filled with thoughts of aeroplane food, postcards and cocktails on the beach. But before you get to Cuba or Cambodia or Kazakhstan or wherever you want to go, you will need to invest in a TEFL course. As with anything that involves your time and your money, you need to be sure you are serious before committing. So here are a few things you need to know before doing a TEFL.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be spoiled for choice\u2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u2026but you need to choose wisely. There are a lot of TEFL courses out there. It can be overwhelming to decide which course to take. This is an important decision, so it is necessary to compare your options<\/a>. The first point is that your TEFL course should not be less than 120 hours. To be proficient and comfortable in teaching a class, 120+ hour is essential. Also, awarding government bodies like the DEAC<\/a> and Ofqual<\/a> will not certify courses below that time frame. The course should provide you with support and the option of practical experience. Cheap and cheerful is not an option in this case \u2013 look for a course that is serious about TEFL. Check out their accreditation and make sure they know what they\u2019re talking about. Most of all, find out what other people are saying about the course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to be from the USA, Canada, UK or Australia<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u2026or be a native speaker. Your first language is a non-issue as long as you have an advanced level of English. There is even an argument that non-native teachers are better equipped to teach English as a Foreign Language because they have taken the journey themselves. They have been in their students\u2019 shoes, so to speak. The bottom line? If you\u2019re not a native speaker, you can still do the TEFL and find a TEFL job.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need a degree<\/b><\/h2>\n

Having a four-year degree will most certainly make your life easier, we can\u2019t deny that, but having a degree is not essential to being a TEFL teacher. While there are many countries which won\u2019t, loads of countries will give you a working visa without a degree<\/a>. Having an accredited TEFL certificate is usually more important to employers than a degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

It will<\/em> take more than five minutes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Yes, there are people who claim that they can complete a 120-hour online TEFL course in a day. But let\u2019s be real. If this is possible, then the TEFL course is probably not worth the paper the certificate is printed on, or you\u2019re doing it wrong. The TEFL course involves a ton of reading. The course materials are not particularly complex, but they will require some thought and concentration. Completing a TEFL course is not possible without this reading, so go make yourself a pot of tea and get comfortable. Don\u2019t underestimate the hard work that goes into a TEFL course. If it\u2019s not challenging, what have you even learnt, anyway?<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all Pictionary<\/em> and Simon Says<\/em><\/b><\/h2>\n

When you first start your TEFL it might seem like it\u2019s just a whole lot of fun. Because it is. But that doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s easy. Being able to engage your students with creative lessons which are at the same time effective takes skill, knowledge and practice. The TEFL course will introduce you to a mountain of learning theories and teaching methods. Plus you need to make sure you have a handle on English, too. So while being a TEFL teacher is a lot of fun, doing the TEFL course is a lot of hard work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

English is a funny language<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you are going to teach the language, you need to know the language. We don\u2019t just mean that you need to be able to speak the language. You need to have a firm understanding of word classes and grammatical terms and natural language. If you don\u2019t know what a phrasal verb or a conditional is, then you need to crack the books. On the TEFL course you will be given a chance to brush up on your linguistic knowledge so that you will be prepared to explain the language in the EFL classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

TEFL can be a lifelong relationship<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you want to be, you could be a TEFLer for life. Many people think TEFL is only for backpackers or gap year students, but the truth is that many TEFL teachers never return to their original jobs and lifestyles. Having a career in TEFL is not only being a teacher\u2013 you can become involved in teacher training, materials writing, marketing or publishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you don\u2019t have to make that decision now. Right now, you need to choose a TEFL course, get your TEFL certificate and find the dream job that\u2019s waiting for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Editor’s Note:<\/h4>\n