There is a lot of demand for qualified individuals to become teachers of English as a foreign language, so I’m aiming from this article to ensure that you can find your way to the schools, companies, and organizations which are looking for someone like you to teach EFL.
The first thing that you should consider to get a TEFL job is to differentiate yourself from others.
Here are the most important 5 things you need to consider to differentiate yourself from others.
1. Having A College Degree:
Most schools and organizations will look for you to have at least a Bachelor’s degree in order to become a TEFL teacher.
That does not mean that a Bachelor’s degree in TEFL is a must. Most employers only like to make sure that you can speak English fluently, and that you have enough knowledge in language arts, linguistics, education, and methods of teaching.
But having a BA degree in TEFL for some employers is not enough.
2. Having A Course in TEFL:
Courses in TEFL give you the background you need to look desirable to an employer. You may be required to get a specific certification to show that you have a background in TEFL, which enables you to stand on a solid base while you are teaching EFL.
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I Recommend International TEFL Academy (ITA)
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3. Having Work Experience:
For many of you, a 4-week TEFL course is your first step toward becoming a teacher, or toward becoming a TEFL teacher. But, some of you may not yet have this work experience.
However, many organizations and schools welcome volunteer teachers at different levels of commitment. Some of these organizations and schools give priority to these volunteers to employ them.
Other organizations and schools are looking for volunteer qualified individuals to supervise and manage their volunteering EFL staff, which could give you good experience in the TEFL career.
Working for free at first shows that you are passionate about your future career and go a long way in the eyes of a potential employer.
4. Having A Strong Resume:
I tackle how to build and write an effective resume in the following article:
How To Make The Best TEFL Resume That Will Get You Hired
Check it out before starting to write your TEFL resume.
5. Doing Well in the TEFL Interview:
a) Start with reading my featured guidepost: Ultimate Guide to Preparing for a Job Interview: 8 Tips That Guarantee Your Success in Any Interview,
b) Then check out the top interview dos and don’ts in detail: Top 15 Interview Dos And Don’ts
c) In addition, if want to excel in any TEFL interview and show the interviewers that you have enough knowledge and awareness of English language teaching methods, you can get My Featured Book
It is a list of the top +50 TEFL interview questions and answers. They are thought of as the most common questions that can be asked in TEFL interviews. They are available for you now with their model answers in this book
Building and writing an effective resume and then preparing yourself for the TEFL interview are considered the most important 2 things of the 5 things.
You should make sure that you know well the best TEFL interview techniques to show your skills and the value you can add to your potential employers.
Another 5 important things you need to make a success in your TEFL career
Moreover, if you decided to start a career in TEFL, you would need to explore and be aware of many other things in order to make a success in this career.
For example, you need to explore and be aware of the following 5 things:
1. The goals and intentions of the EFL course you are teaching
What is its main aim? Is it to provide students with practice and useful resources to enhance their English or is it to enable them to pass some national exams in the future?
2. The suitable techniques for assessing students’ progress in English.
How and when to apply these techniques? What are the formal specifications of the English exams in the country you are teaching in?
3. The philosophy of the course you are teaching
What are the main methods of teaching on which the curriculum is based? How can you proportion the teaching time? How much time should you allot to each aim?
4. The expectations of the parents after their children end their EFL course
Are you required to play the role of encouraging students to become lifelong learners?
5. The practical steps and procedures to follow in EFL classes
That’s to know how to prepare your EFL lessons mentally and in writing.
Getting to know how to be professional in EFL lesson planning will help you perform well in the classroom.
That’s all so far!
Do you have more things you want to add? Share what you want in a comment below.
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Want To Continue Your ELT Professional Development?!
I offer various ELT publications on teaching English as a foreign language. In these publications, I put the gist of my experience in TEFL for +15 years with various learners and in various environments and cultures.
The techniques and tips in these publications are sure-fire teaching methods that worked for me well and they can work for you, as well, FOR SURE.
