Motivations Behind Doing A TEFL
Editor’s Note: I am addicted to the TV show House Hunters’ International and have always been intrigued by how many of the young people fund their travels by teaching English along the way. Recently a friend’s daughter shared with me her experience with TEFL i.e. Teaching English as a Foreign Language and I asked her if she might share her experience with Everyday Tourist readers.
Motivations
I gained my TEFL after college as part of a gap-year study as I had a real interest in the English language and had the desire to teach it in Spain. I wanted to not only teach the English language but experience another culture while at the same time learning the Spanish language. These were primarily my motivations for wanting to do a TEFL:
Wanting to teach a subject I was passionate about b)
Learn the Spanish language and experience another culture.
I gained my online TEFL certificate at an accredited language school, an intensive month course, and I must admit that it was one of the biggest challenges I faced in my life. However, upon completing the course, many opportunities unfolded for me.
So, what are the main motivations behind doing a TEFL?
The desire to teach abroad
The world really is your oyster when you have a Tefl qualification. You can teach in on any continent and experience all that your chosen country has to offer at no extra cost because you will be earning a salary while living there. You may have chosen to teach disadvantaged students on the other side of the globe which is a highly rewarding experience. Or maybe it is your gap year and you would like to gain some valuable experience teaching in another country before going to university or doing your Postgraduate course in teaching.
Wanting to learn a foreign language
You might love language learning and would like the opportunity to learn a foreign language in your chosen country. Language learning can be a highly enriching experience and what better way to learn the language than living and working in the country? I can definitely vouch for this as I spent time living and working in Spain, Chile and Italy while improving my language skills. Even if you have no knowledge of the language of the country you will be teaching in, you will be surprised at how much of the language you will pick up while living there.
To experience another culture and travel
Tefl teaching is a great way to experience another culture as you earn a salary while you experience a diverse and different culture to your own. I spent one year teaching in Chile, known for its outstanding beauty and interesting culture. I earnt a salary while living there, therefore, I was able to spend the time I had not teaching to travel and experience everything the country had to offer. I was even fortunate enough to travel to other countries on the continent and have incredible recollections of my time spent living and working in a country outside of Europe for the first time.
To boost your CV
Tefl teaching is a fantastic way to gain some valuable experience and will look really great on your CV whether the experience you gain is in your country or internationally. International work experience is viewed as highly desirable to many employers and you may well learn a language while teaching in the country which is also seen as a great skill to have in today’s globalized world. You may also want to pursue a career in teaching and gain some experience in EFL teaching which will stand you in good stead to enter this challenging and exciting field.
To earn money
It will really depend on the country that you choose to work in and how much you will earn. Some schools and establishments can pay quite a decent salary and business English teachers can certainly earn a good wage. As a student, I worked on a number of summer courses which took place in the UK and abroad which enabled me to save money to fund my studies. If you are a student, then TEFL teaching is definitely a great way to earn some money to fund your university years. You may also be on a gap year before university and would like to earn some extra cash before going to university as well as gaining experience living and working in another country.
To gain invaluable skills
TEFL teaching will enable you to gain some invaluable skills which you will be able to use in a variety of contexts and will open many doors for you. For instance, you will gain great interpersonal skills from the teaching experience you gain which will make you stand out to future employers. You will also gain greater cultural awareness and the ability to communicate with those from other cultures.
You may also acquire language skills as well as experience another culture including its traditions and customs. You may gain experience as a volunteer EFL teacher or teaching more disadvantaged students English. This will not only be a rewarding experience but will enable you to develop your ability to work with and support those less privileged in possibly a challenging working environment.
Whatever your motivations might be behind doing a TEFL qualification, you will definitely experience the many advantages and opportunities that a TEFL certification can bring you in this interesting and varied field of work. You may choose to teach in your own country or abroad and gaining this teaching experience will provide you with many invaluable skills, experiences and memories that will stay with you for your entire lifetime.
Last Word
It will really depend on the country that you choose to work in and how much you will earn. Some schools and establishments can pay quite a decent salary and business English teachers can certainly earn a good wage.