5 Reasons Why a TEFL/TESOL Certification is a Must-Have for Teaching English Abroad
Teaching English abroad has been an extremely popular career path. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to move and experience life in a different country. Having a TEFL/TESOL certification typically is the first step of this journey. There are many reasons to take a TEFL/TESOL course and get certified but better teaching opportunities (especially in countries where a certificate is required) and a higher teaching salary are usually the biggest perks. Let’s dive in and discover some more reasons why a TEFL/TESOL certification is a must-have for teaching English abroad.
Internationally Accredited 220-hour TEFL/TESOL Course This TEFL/TESOL course is a solid foundation for your career teaching English abroad. With this internationally recognized and accredited course, you can find a teaching position anywhere around the world.
Reason to have a TEFL/TESOL Certification #1: Professionalism
30 years ago, all you needed to teach English abroad was to be able to speak English. Okay, maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration but there’s a lot of truth to it. That’s why today, the biggest fear of English schools and EFL employers is that their new hires only go abroad for some fun and adventure.
This is where having a TEFL/TESOL certification is a huge advantage to secure a good teaching position. It demonstrates a high level of professionalism and dedication to the teaching profession.
EFL employers know how much rigorous training and coursework is involved in obtaining a TEFL/TESOL certificate. No one would go through this effort if they weren’t determined to become an English teacher.
Also, hiring a foreign teacher is expensive for many schools but with a TEFL/TESOL certificate on your resume, your potential employer knows that you are serious about teaching and is more inclined to hire you.
Reason to have a TEFL/TESOL Certification #2: Increased Job Opportunities
The competition for English teaching positions abroad has significantly increased in recent years. This is especially true in popular destinations like China, Korea or Japan. That’s why many schools and organizations require candidates to possess a TEFL/TESOL certificate, often of at least 100 hours of study. That’s why many teachers take the 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course to fit the requirement.
Some countries even make TEFL and TESOL a requirement in order to get a work visa. This is true in China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea’s EPIK teaching program.
Even in countries where a TEFL/TESOL certificate is not a requirement to obtain a work visa, many employers still prefer hiring teachers who are TEFL/TESOL certified.
Additionally, you can also start teaching English online with a TEFL or TESOL certification course.
As you can see, a TEFL/TESOL certification is one of the best things you can invest in!
Reason to have a TEFL/TESOL Certification #3: Improved Teaching Skills
Let’s forget for a minute the official requirement part of a TEFL/TESOL certificate and focus on yourself. Imagine you are an English learner yourself and ask yourself “Who would I rather want my teacher to be? Someone with a proper teaching certificate or someone without?”
Besides being an official requirement, a TEFL/TESOL course also helps improve your teaching skills. During the course, you learn all the techniques you need to know to lead a successful lesson. These skills and techniques include things like lesson planning, classroom management, cultural sensitivity, and so much more!
Being able to speak English doesn’t necessarily mean that you are good at teaching it. Native English speakers in particular find the grammar components of a TEFL/TESOL course to be especially helpful. They go over all the English tenses, parts of speech, and all the other important grammar topics English learners need to know. The course goes even further and teaches you exactly which grammar topics most English learners have trouble with and how to better explain these structures in an easy-to-understand manner.
All of these things are extremely important in order to be a great teacher and offer value to your students. You will also appreciate knowing these nifty techniques when you stand in front of a group of wide-eyed faces eagerly anticipating to learn something interesting from you.
Reason to have a TEFL/TESOL Certification #4: Higher Salaries and Better Benefits
Having a TEFL/TESOL certification can also lead to higher salaries and better benefits when teaching English abroad. Teachers who work in countries where a TEFL or TESOL is not a requirement to obtain a work visa, certified teachers typically earn more than their non-certified counterparts.
I obtained my TEFL certificate before moving to South Korea in 2014. Then, when I taught English at an English-speaking kindergarten there, I earned more money than my fellow co-teachers who did not possess a TEFL or TESOL certificate.
Teachers with a TEFL or TESOL certificate might not only be able to negotiate higher pay, but also better benefits, such as a housing stipend or year-end bonuses.
Because you will earn a higher salary with a TEFL/TESOL, the investment in this type of course is definitely worth it – already on your first paycheck.
Reason to have a TEFL/TESOL Certification #5: Personal and Professional Growth
If you’re still not sure whether a TEFL or TESOL certificate is for you, the opportunity to live in a new country should make it an easy decision.
With this type of certificate in your pocket, you can experience a new culture like a local. Do you want to move to Korea? A TEFL or TESOL certificate can be your ticket to do so! You can also find teaching positions in other parts of Asia but also in Europe, Latin America, or Africa. The options are endless.
Living abroad and experiencing life in a new country is an exciting experience. You will get to see things from a new perspective and grow personally and professionally. You might even pick up a new language while living abroad, which is a huge bonus for other international job opportunities.
Most importantly of all, being an English teacher abroad is an extremely rewarding profession. There is no better feeling of accomplishment than seeing your students improve their language skills in front of your eyes.
Linda’s Pick: 220-hour TEFL/TESOL Course from ITTT
I got my TEFL certification in 2014 from International TEFL & TESOL Training to teach English in Korea and China.
They offer a wide variety of courses and also have a lot of online options! I took their 220-hour online TEFL/TESOL course with tutor support and videos. It was great because I could study at home at anytime and could also ask my tutor when I had questions.
This particular course was perfect for me because it includes the standard 120-hour TEFL certification, plus 2 TEFL specializations: 50 hours teaching English to young learners and 50 hours of teaching business English.
Even though a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course is the international standard, a TEFL course with more hours has its benefits. For one, you stand out among all the other teachers who only have 120 hours of training and you also often get a higher salary.
If you sign up through my link, you can save 20% on their courses: International TEFL & TESOL Training Courses
Internationally Accredited 220-hour TEFL/TESOL Course This TEFL/TESOL course is a solid foundation for your career teaching English abroad. With this internationally recognized and accredited course, you can find a teaching position anywhere around the world.
When are you starting your TEFL/TESOL journey?
As you can see, having a TEFL/TESOL certification is a must-have for teaching English abroad. Not only does it open doors to limitless job opportunities across the globe, but it also gets you a higher salary and adds professionalism to your teaching resume.
A TEFL or TESOL course also teaches you all the necessary skills you need to be a successful teacher and following this path will lead to great personal and professional growth. If you are interested in getting TEFL or TESOL certified, check out my blog post about the 10 best TEFL courses for teaching English abroad and if you are interested in teaching English in Korea, I also have a guide for that!
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