TEFL Jobs - How To Find One?

Nearly a quarter of the world's population speaks some English. That includes around 400m who speak it as their mother tongue and about the same number who speak it fluently as their second language. English is the global language of academic research, and perhaps 1,500 master's degrees are taught in English in countries where the language has no official status. It provides the vocabulary for some specialised fields, such as air-traffic control. And it is the working language of a growing number of international companies-a big reason why so many of them choose London for their headquarters.

Enthusiasm for English is spreading-even in lingually correct Brussels. In China 180m students are learning English in the formal education system, and more than a fifth of Japanese five-year-olds now attend classes in English conversation.



Countries as diverse as Chile and Mongolia have declared their intention to become bilingual in English over the next decade or two. And this year English was added to the curriculum studied by Mexican primary-school children, who are learning the language along with 200,000 teachers. According to David Graddol of the British Council, a cultural organisation, "within a decade nearly a third of the world's population will all be trying to learn English at the same time.

If you prefer to have a taste of what ELT entails before investing time and money in a further qualification, Far East countries will generally employ native speakers with a degree and no formal TEFL qualification or experience (although this trend is changing in some centers). There are also very short, one or two day taster courses which can give you an idea of basic skills etc.
If you are keen to "give back" something, gain experience of teaching and other cultures and consider remuneration to be less important, you may wish to apply to voluntary organisations such as VSO or The Peace Corps. They generally require candidates to have undergone TEFL training or alternatively, they may provide it before posting.
If a good to above-average salary and a sound professional environment are important to you, again look carefully at your intended destination/s. Some countries' economies, while providing a living wage in the host country, cannot provide one which translates into savings and/or a reasonable currency exchange with the teacher's country of origin. Also, be aware, that such posts are in high demand and therefore competition is tough. In these situations, it is unlikely that an applicant with only the minimum qualifcations will be successful and that at least two years' experience plus perhaps a qualification at diploma level would be required.

You will also want to consider the time you have available before deciding on the best course of action. There are now TEFL training courses provided by distance, via the Internet. These allow you to study when and where you want and are generally more flexible in terms of spreading your study hours to fit in with existing commitments.


Distance study does not necessarily mean study in isolation. Nowadays technology permits fully interactive courses and good training courses will also include a teaching practice component.