Teaching EFL Overseas - FAQ

A sampling of discussion board postings and e-mail  exchanges over several years:

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) overseas is a great career. 

Following is a sampling of exchanges and Q and A's I've had with numerous people. 

I've tried to keep the people anonymous.  If you see anything too revealing, let me know and I'll change or remove it.

I also wrote the piece below for for another website with some specifics about teaching EFL on Phuket - go there to get even more information.

Click on the question to go to the answer.

Question: Can teaching abroad be the "real deal"?

Question: Could the people you left behind at home do this job/life?

Question: What about an on-line or distance TEFL Certification?

Question:  Benefits of getting a CELTA Certification [vs. other certifications]?

Question:  Wondering just how much weight is assigned to the AGE FACTOR by prospective employers in Thailand?

Question:   Please tell me how this scenario (a rough one with big classes in a Thai public school) compares with other Asian countries.

Question: Any advice for a teacher just arriving? Types of schools  that are good, bad? Is there a particular website that you like for  Job ads?

Question: Can teaching abroad be the "real deal"?
- question asked by someone teaching in Korea

you asked - so here's my opinion. TEFL can be a fine career.

My personal experience: After 89-91 in Africa (as a Peace Corps Volunteer - not EFL) - I decided there was a big wide world out there I wanted to be a part of, so in 1992 I went to Korea and haven't lived or worked "back home" since.

I've worked almost exclusively college and university jobs as I have two master's degrees. But, I have to admit that I had almost nothing when I started and now I am much better off financially. I own rental property in the United States - paid off already.

In the process during these years I've worked in Korea twice, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Sometimes for big money, sometimes for peanuts. Most of the jobs were just fine and with good people and friendly students. But, I don't apply Western standards to what I do. These are different places with things done differently. And enjoyably so.

Also during that time, I've had the opportunity to visit many other countries and usually for extended periods of time. I have rarely had less than a couple months paid vacation per year - sometimes as much as 4.5 months off per year.

All that said, look at language schools only as an entry level job and get yourself an MA, M.Ed., MATESOL or something similar AS FAST AS YOU CAN,  if you can. It will make your life immeasurably better, even if it does not immediately increase your income significantly.

You will be able to  increase your time off sometimes by ten fold, possibly move your work week down to four days and twelve or fewer teaching hours - from five or six days and 25-30 hours. It will also allow you to do a little time in the Middle East and earn some serious money when you want to buy a house back home and quickly pay it off - and/or purchase investment property or make investments for your eventual retirement.

In this business you will have to look after yourself. The government isn't here holding your hand. There is and will be racism, sexism, ageism and just about every other "-ism" you can name. But, in the end - we are all responsible for ourselves and you can feel proud of what you create for yourself.

Research, plan carefully for, and get good medical insurance, plan for your own retirement (the world is your option now!), and even consider disability insurance. 

Most people don't know that, for example, if you are totally disabled overseas and haven't paid into [the USA] social security system for five years, you are NO LONGER covered by SSI).

Don't let these things be the responsibility of your employer or home country, or parents - or you WILL at some point be left out in the cold. Educate yourself in all the fine points of being responsible for yourself while living overseas.  It's not all that difficult, it's just a time to grow up and pay attention to the details of your life.

We have to be big boys and girls out here. But it's good for us. Frankly, I'd be going crazy back home.

If you don't mind the challenges - go for it.

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PS: I added a little edit here - as the poster asked a LOT questions . . .

Just my opinion: Owning property overseas is always a bit of risk. Laws and protections vary from place to place and are almost non-existent some places. After a lot of thought I kept all my investment in my home country. I think that you can get a better return on investment - more worry free that way.

For example: I, too, looked into buying property in Thailand. I found that by investing the same amount of money back home - the net net rental income from back home would rent me MORE house in Thailand than my cash would have bought. AND, I didn't need to worry about shady titles, forged deeds, lack of zoning (with a karaoke joint opening next door) and other issues.  [edit later: as time goes by . . . I have purchased an apartment in Phuket - for investment purposes - but I invested no more money that I could afford to lose (a very common measure for buying property here).

This area is what I meant above by researching the many issues that will come up. Thailand has NO title insurance - one mistake and your entire investment is lost.

And one small final edit: For God's Sake - don't limit yourself to just one country - there is a big wide world out there! Teaching in a variety of countries will greatly enhance your understanding of the world - and broaden your teaching skills.

Taiwan taught me how to teach pronunciation better, Saudi honed my discipline skills and showed me how important structure was, Thailand taught me how to inject more humor into the classroom - it will all add up and make you a better teacher. After all, the bottom line is delivering a good product to those happy campers in the front row. Doesn't matter if the front row is in a university, a corporate classroom, or a language school.

You asked about an MBA, [my second master's degree]. While I would actually prefer to teach business - Biz English can be a financially productive sideline.

Sorry to be so wordy - but I do love this career and all it has done for me - so I take your questions seriously - and would like to encourage you.

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Question: Could the people you left behind at home do this job - live this life?

The people with the real cojones are those who stay home, work the mortgage,
drive the SUV, pump out the kids. There really is something to that discipline.

I don't know how they do it.

I gots me wanderin' shoes on . . .

Question: What about an on-line or distance TEFL Certification?

Distance learning is better than nothing, but . . .

I don't know if it is an option for you, but most any course that you attend in person will give you a superior experience. Especially in the area of supervised teaching.

Personally, I have several certifications, but you will find that ones with supervised teaching are worth about twenty of the online/distance ones.

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Question:  Benefits of Getting a CELTA Certification [vs others] in Thailand?

What follows is just my opinion
- other people often hold very strong opinions on some of the issues.

CELTA yes, is well recognized. However, my guess is that you will not end up well compensated for the improvement in your qualifications.

Few schools in Asian countries (other than Thailand - which is quite certification focused!) seem to really appreciate a certified teacher. However, I know more than a few qualified teachers and I suspect that they are MUCH better teachers (in general) than those with no training at all.

As a former TEFL certificate teacher-trainer, something I can tell you is that of all the certification schools in Thailand the content is about 70+ per cent the same. So, look for a good positive teacher who has experience teaching kids and adults (or whatever population or specialty  you'd like to teach) and with whom you find a positive chemistry.

Even the six-week courses are very intense and if you don't like or can't get along with your primary teacher(s), it will be a miserable time. As part of my training as a TEFL-cert teacher-trainer I observed several different  teacher-trainers, all teaching the same material.

Most were okay, but one or two were great and I would have wanted to take a course from them, as I would have learned a lot more. But then I am an experienced and picky teacher.

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Most TEFL schools in Thailand will let you, or even encourage you, to sit in for a day or two without paying. Do that, but first (as you'll probably get sold right away) talk to the different teachers that are available. Picking the right teacher(s) can double the value of your experience.

Again, only my opinion, but the variation between different teachers can be so great (the variation in content will only be moderate) that you might want to make your school decision based on the teachers.

I KNOW, as many people will yell later, that CELTA is the old workhorse, but you find many people with generic (and much less expensive) TEFL certifications who have no trouble picking up even some of the very best jobs. In my opinion, it really doesn't matter.

Are there a few employers who want only CELTA certs? Yes, but then there are a few universities that want only MATESOLs, and what of us with M.Ed.'s with PGCE's in TEFL? Or what of MATESOL people when certain schools want/prefer a PGCE?

There is some of that in the industry - but not enough to make a real difference. Most employers (at higher levels anyway) will make their choice based on what they perceive as your ability to handle the work. Not on your specific qualification (beyond a minimum requirement anyway).

Finally, sorry for such long note!, getting the right training (and teacher) can well make the difference between deciding that you will love this career (I do), and pursue it for most of your life, or just do it as a lark for a few years. Once you are out there teaching you will be able to see the difference.

One last note - CELTA is adult focused and much more expensive that most other programs.  Other schools can probably give you more experience with children. Check to see if a TEFL certification school will give you a variety of teaching experiences.

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Question:  Wondering just how much weight is assigned to the
 AGE FACTOR by prospective employers in Thailand?

I'm "only" 56, but look in my sixties plus and I haven't had any trouble finding work in Bangkok, or Phuket.  Phuket takes more time as it is a smaller market - and you have to be more picky as the wages are often poor - and the competition for jobs greater.

I think how you present yourself is probably more important.
I am a high energy teacher (and person) - and I think that comes across.

The places that are just looking for the blond-haired blue-eyed models in their 20s - aren't usually good places to work anyway.

A quality school will place more value on your life experience, patience, people skills, etc.  Thailand is probably one of the more liberal countries in terms of accepting older teachers, non-native teachers and other groups that are often discriminated against in other countries.  The problem exists in Thailand to, but to quite a lesser degree than China, Korea or Japan, for example.

Question:   Please tell me how this scenario (a rough one with
big classes in a Thai public school) compares with other Asian countries.

The real problem is that you are teaching in public schools - pretty much the worst option in almost any country.  Even in my home country I would be loath to teach a classroom of 40-50 young people.

Try the language institutes. Thais generally are great fun to teach, particularly as you state, they love to play games. I've often thought you could get them to do very hard physical labor for days without pay - if it only involved a game with points! If it works - use it.

Try also the quasi-international schools with smaller class sizes and usually a Thai teaching assistant to help you.

Compared to other countries in Asia (I've taught in Asia, only in Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia), Thais are the most fun and relaxed. Of the other countries Taiwan might be the best compromise of students, student respect for teacher, student discipline, and decent income.

Best advice - get out of the public schools - to somewhere where you will have decent size classes - that meet at a frequency where the students can actually learn something.
 

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Question: Any advice for a teacher just arriving?
Types of schools that are good, bad?
Is there a particular website that you like for  job ads?

Read the forums at Ajarn.com and eslcafe.com . Also at eslcafe.com is what they call the "job information journal" [edit: it may not be there anymore - I am not sure] - read that section on Thailand as well.

There is a great amount of information (and just plain crap) out there - and you are right: much of it is contradictory and confusing. However, a move to a new country and a new job is worthy of a bit of research (call me old fashioned!).

However, once all that is read - many common themes will be found - and a general idea of where to go and what to do will evolve. Then, perhaps, your friend can ask a more focused question.
 

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If you are unsure how to pick a TEFL school and of all the things that should be considered, check out the guide I wrote:
How to Pick a TEFL School

Would you like my opinion on which TEFL Certification Course offers you the greatest benefit?
Ted's Recommendation

Learn More about Teaching English Overseas - TEFL as a Career at:

TEFL Boot Camp: Free Online TEFL Training

TEFL Temp: Short-term TEFL Jobs - just right for your first job

TEFL eBooks might have just what you need to know . . .

Some of the Best Jobs Abroad are now in China! Interested? Want to Teach English in China? A BA or BS in any major can help you land some of the best jobs in China - with proper visas and working papers. Save Money? Pay off debts?  Get the Low Down on What's Up in China at TEFL Jobs China