Taking a TEFL course for teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What is a TEFL course for Teaching English abroad as a Foreign Language?

• TEFL literally means Teaching English as a Foreign Language.In a nutshell, a TEFL course is a training program that gives you the skills and confidence you need to teach English as a foreign language to children and adults.
• TEFL: The TEFL course is entirely in English and is made up of various modules aimed at developing didactic skills and the methodology of teaching the English language to non-native speakers. With the globally recognized TEFL diploma, you demonstrate the essential skills for an English teacher. Internationally, the demand for English teachers is increasing, and with a TEFL course, you significantly increase your chances of a paid teaching job!
• More about TEFL courses - online and abroad

Why should you take a TEFL course abroad?

• The TEFL course is a course that trains you, without a background as a teacher, to teach English to children and adults.
• The course is entirely in English and focuses on developing teaching skills and methods for teaching English to non-native speakers.
• The demand for English teachers has been growing internationally for years, and a TEFL course will significantly increase your chances of finding a paid teaching job.
• There is a wide range of course options available, from online courses to intensive practical courses in Spain, Italy, Thailand, or Costa Rica. All courses can be supplemented with short modules for those who want to specialize in grammar and specific target groups.

Where is the best place to take a TEFL course?

• Taking the TEFL course in the country or region where you wish to start your teaching career can be very helpful, because the TEFL school generally has a local network for English teacher jobs.
• Go to Malaga, Spain: take your TEFL course, including job search assistance.
• Go to Rome, Italy: start working as an English teacher in Italy after your TEFL course.
• Go to Bangkok, Thailand: Intensive TEFL course with practice hours with real students.
• Go to Chiang Mai, Thailand: onsite courses on level 3 and level 5, paid internship program available.
• Go to Costa Rica: Intensive 4-week TEFL course with practice hours with Costa Rican students.
• The online course can be done at home, but also while traveling the world, as long as there is an internet connection.

What kind of teaching jobs can you apply for with a TEFL certificate?

• In non-Western countries paid teacher vacancies are most often found at schools where the parents of the children belong to the richer upper class of society or are stationed in that country as expats. People who speak fluent English are often hired to encourage conversation, rather than to teach grammar. Basic knowledge of English grammar is a big advantage when students come to you with strange questions. There are many non-Western countries where you can teach English, even if English is not your native language. To guarantee the quality of education, a certificate or (TEFL) diploma is increasingly requested.
• As a voluntary English teacher, most teaching positions are available in less developed countries and rural areas. Teaching materials and educational facilities are often limited.

What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school with your TEFL certificate abroad?

• Helpfulness: for rewarding work, you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
• Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop their English or need help.
• Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
• Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
• Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
• Income: when you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterward.
• Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

What do you need or can you learn after getting your TEFL certificate and you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

• Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
• Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
• Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
• Being able to be convincing: when you teach, you will learn how to deal with students and different kinds of teaching styles. What works and doesn't work to be convincing. 
• Being able to plan: teaching asks you to plan ahead to be able to get the most and best learning experience for the students.
• Being able to radiate self-confidence: as a teacher, being confident helps you to be taken seriously by the students; not only feel it, but also resonate it, so you are authentic.