TESOL Planet provides the TESOL Teaching community with current TESOL teaching jobs, TESOL Teacher Training, and TESOL Information for those English speaking teachers looking to Teach English as a Second Language around the world. TESOL planet is here to help all TESOL teachers make informed choices about their TESOL teaching career.
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The LD Training Centre, Jieyang, China, advertise positions on this website. WARNING!!!! They do not comply to their job offer, in fact, they regularly change their teachers through agencies as to avoid contract terms. Poor accommodation and it’s not free, they operate illegally, they drop you when they choose, teachers I’ve met were left homeless and unpaid for months of work!!!! Avoid this school at all costs. I feel sorry for the s....
hey guys.So I've been teaching English in my country for 4 years now. And I've been thinking of applying for a TESOL course for a while. The only thing that keeps me hesitant is not knowing the reality of prospects regarding finding jobs outside my country. Everywhere I look, in every ad, they want a native teacher. Would I be able to find jobs with a TESOL certificate as a non native in Asia or Europe or South America? I am asking of course, bec....
Hello and great question. The answer is varied. In short, yes you would bel able to find a teaching position. However, it may not be the most desirable position with the best benefits. Additionally, you need to consider visa requirements since some countries require both a 4 year degree and a TEFL certification.....
I am a teacher from Australia. I have a bachelor of education (middle and secondary schooling) and bachelor of arts (history, English) double degree. I also have a graduate diploma in Teaching English as a Second Language (working towards my masters).I am hoping to teach English abroad in schools or universities, however, I am open to teaching in other contexts.Feel free to contact me for more details! ....
Hi, I’ve heard that as CELTA is geared towards teaching English to adults, it’s not as good if you’re looking to go into a school teaching children. Is this true? Thanks.....
Hello Kerrie. Good question. Firstly, CELTA is the most widely recognized and accepted qualification for teaching English anywhere in the world. The only drawback for many is (1) the cost, and (2) the time commitment. Regardless, I think it is extremely beneficial while also helping to improve your potential employment opportunities. CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is primarily focused ....
Hello, I'm looking to start a TEFL course in the hopes of teaching English in a Middle Eastern country - particularly the UAE. I have no previous teaching experience but do have a BA and an MA. Am I likely to be successful? Thanks....
Hello Steph. It seems you have the qualifications (degrees) to be able to find a good job. With regards to TEFL, I would not suggest that for the Middle East. They tend to prefer a CELTA course from the University of Cambridge. You can learn more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CELTA If you have your heart set on a TEFL, it is best to ask your perspective employer (if known) what they prefer. If you don't ha....
Hi there! So -- I've recently graduated from a UK university (Portsmouth) in TESOL and Applied Linguistics. Now, I'm looking for jobs in Korea, but there's something I can't seem to find out -- without a BA, can I still work in Korea? I know that in some countries, the government won't issue work permits unless you have a degree, regardless of what higher qualifications you have. Is this the case with Korea? Thanks in advance! Gabriel....
Interesting question. The short answer is no but I am not sure if they would ask to see the BA. It depends on whether they accept the MA. When you apply for a job in South Korea, they will tell you if they can get it...they will not pay for a plane ticket to fly you over unless they are sure you can legally work there. Additionally, before you leave for South Korea, you will need to have your degrees, etc. approved at the Korean embas....
Hello Admin. Thank you for this formum to help answer question. My question is if there are any age restrictions for techers to work in Asia?....
Hello and thank you for contacting us. The age limitation for teachers is usually tied to the ability to get a work permit in that some countries will not issue one after a certain age. That being said, the more qualifications you have, the more likely this run can be bent. For Japan, the age is 65 but they have been known to increase that to 70. For Vietnam, the official limit is 65 but becomes difficult for anyone 60+. F....
Could you suggest any "physically active" activities that I could do with students (private and groups) as part of their English lesson?....
Hello Ron and thank you for the question. The first thing to ask is: 1. What is age appropriate activity? (not sure what ages you want to teach) 2. What are you teaching? For example, if it is young learners just learning and you want to teach body part names, "Simon Says" is a great activity. But for example, if it is olders students and you want to practive giving directions: rearrage the desks in the classroom to make "....
Information on TEFL Courses - Online versus Face-to-Face?....
Hello Mr. Bendary. Thank you for the question. Firstly let me say that if you have the time and money to commit, I would suggest a CELTA or a TrinityTESOL. I say this because they are recognized around the world as the best TEFL/TESOL teacher training programs. Additionally, there are some areas (such as Saudi Arabia) that make a CELTA a prerequisite. If you are going to do a TEFL, then doing it face-to-face is a better op....
Hello. Thank you for this forum to ask questions since I am new to TEFL teaching. I recently obtained my TEFL certification and am now looking for jobs. I am a little nervous because of all the posting out there about TEFL job scams. How do I avoid these scams?....
Hello Melissa and welcome to the world of TEFL teaching. I have received this question many times over my 15 years of teaching abroad. My number one piece of advice: “If it sounds too good to be true, it problem is.”My second piece of advice: “NEVER send money for the promise of employment.” I have actually put together some resources to (1) give you advice and identify scams, (2) share any scams you encounter, and (3) adv....
I wish to teach abroad within Southeast Asia. But I can barely find jobs that I could reach their requirement. I'm not a native English speaker and still pursuing Degree in TESOL. I previously graduated in Diploma in Business Admin. But I've been in teaching industry for some years during college time until now as an English private tutor. I really love teaching (especially children) and hope to teach in various places and countries to gain more ....
Most schools in China and Thailand have native English speaker as a requirement but will consider non-native given their need and the individuals English ability. The degree issue stems from requirements for a visa/work permit so sometimes schools can't get around this. That being said, you are more likely to find a position in rural schools that have more need for a teacher. Additionally, some rural schools are given a waiver f....
I received an email from Phil Negus at ESL starter for a job in Colombia. I shall paste it here please let me know if it is legitimate or not? Thanks a mill. "Dear Shiuomeunjo, Many thanks for your mail and interest in the ETF Program Colombia. This program is an initiative of the Colombian government with the aim to make Colombia bilingual by 2020. You are highly encouraged to visit this link to read more information about the initiative. Our pr....
Otopo: The job seems legitimate. In the email, they are asking for, and giving, basic information regarding the position. Similar to the information they provide on their website at http://www.eslstarter.com/teach-english-in-colombia-public-school.php What leads you to believe it is not legitimate?....
Hello. I am a new teacher who will begin teaching primary students in Shenzhen, China next month. I was wondering if you have any tips for classroom management? I am a little nervous about how I am going to control all these kids. Thanks!....
Hello Marjorie. Firstly, congradulations on the new teaching adventure. For mananing young learners, I would suggest you look at Class Dojo. It is a great app that allows the teacher to award points to students for good behavior and effort. Additionally, students can create cute monster icons for their account and the parents can even access...all this can be done right from your phone. The link is below.......
I thought it would be good to share my experience coming to Chengdu, China. i2, the company were I am currently employed really supported and helped to make my experience one to remember. This is the first time I have ever travelled outside of my country and China, being my chosen destination, was a little daunting. I knew I was in for a big culture shock, nontheless its been a great experience so far. Yvonne from HR, who I had been communi....
I hold a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) awarded in the UK with a lot of teaching experience, could I find and secure jobs in TEFL/ESOL abroad with this and no TEFL qualification?....
Given your PGCE and teaching experience, I believe you would have no problem getting a job teaching abroad. Most schools ask for a TEFL as part of the employment requirement but that also has to do with getting a work permit/visa for teaching. Many of these countries will accept a teaching qualification such as a PGCE in lieu of this.....
If you have a TEFL qualification but not a degree, can you still get a job in Saudi Arabia?....
Thank you for the quesiton. The short and simple answer to that question is, unfortunately, no. Employers will not hire a teacher without a degree (condition of employment) and it is needed for the visa. For Saud Visa information, this is a useful bit of information from U.S. State Dept. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/saudi-arabia/768382/yoderja/guide.pdf ....
I am considering becoming an English Teacher and traveling abroad. Before I go, I want to get a Teaching Certification but I don't know which one to choose. Which is better for teaching abroad? A TESOL course or a TEFL Course?....
For teaching abroad, either will suffice and it is usually best to see what the schools in your country of choice are asking for. Regardless, the difference is: TEFL Courses: Teaching English as a Foreign Language Course which focuses on training for teaching students that live in a country where English is not the native language. TESOL Courses: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages which encompasses both teaching stu....
What kind of visa should I get if I am going to go to Thailand to find a teaching job when I arrive? Thanks!....
Hello. There are two types of visas you can get when going to Thailand...keep in mind these are for USA, UK, Canada and Australia. First, there is a visa on arrival which you receive at the airport upon arrival. These are usually good for 30 days. Second, there is a tourist visa which you can obtain at a Thailand Embassy or Consulate in your home country. These are the best because it gives you more time to find a job and conver....
As a teacher I am well aware that many students do not hear what is said but what they want or expect to hear, and many times they hear nothing at all. This is particularly
Research journals are filled with strategies to motivate students to increase student engagement and performance. It seems to me, an important prerequisite question isn't asked enough. That is, how do you motivate teachers to be more effective? If teachers aren't motivated to improve the performance
When teachers collaborate, they do so with the goal of investigating additional ways to support their students' literacy development. It is even more helpful and beneficial to collaboration if each teacher brings information about their classroom success and needs to the dialogue once they've experi
~~Children, especially very young children, are physical, tactile and use all their senses to experience the world around them. They need a variety of activities to acquire the language they are presented with: music, games and movement. Research has shown that using craft in the classroom results i
~~What knowledge are you using to read this? One thing you are using is your knowledge of the grapho-phonemic relationships of English, i.e. the links between written letters and the sounds they represent. You’ve also had a lot of practise with English spelling conventions. You’re using your kno
Grew up in an English speaking country? Or your Mum and Dad taught you to speak English? Or both? Congratulations! You have a talent that is in huge demand and that
So, how do you become a TESOL teacher? The answers are many and various and range from strapping on a backpack and buying a plane ticket to an exotic destination, or choosing a TESOL Training course to better prepare, all the way through to taking a Master's degree.
Regardless of your route, you will learn that TESOL teaching is a practical skill that is continually improved as you teach. As such, you will find that no matter how in-depth your TESOL training was, you will feel pretty overwhelmed when you encounter your first real learners. Don't panic, you'll quickly get better with teaching practice. And don’t get discouraged because even these most experienced TESOL teachers have bad days.
The key to effective TESOL teaching is to develop an awareness of how a TESOL lesson is being received. Is the topic too easy or too difficult? Are the students interested or bored? You should have some sort of plan for every TESOL lesson. In other words, have a plan as to what you want to achieve and what you want your students to take away from their TESOL lesson. However, if a lesson isn't working, don't be afraid to improvise according to the needs of the moment. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected!
TESOL Teacher TrainingI can't over-emphasize that TESOL teaching is something you learn by doing. However, TESOL teacher training courses are useful, as they will introduce you to a range of techniques that you can employ to help your English language learners succeed. A good TESOL course will also teach you about the more technical aspects of language such as rules of grammar, phonetics etc. In other words, all the things we do as native English speakers without thinking, but can't necessarily explain why its done that way. If you've completed a recognized TESOL Training Course it will make you much more marketable to potential employers and private students, simply by showing you're serious about TESOL teaching. There are many TESOL training options out there, both online and face-to-face. Pick the teacher training option that is best for you. TESOL courses which include actual teaching practice with real TESOL students is a benefit. This is helpful because when you graduate you are not only qualified but experienced too.
Finding a TESOL JobTESOL teachers have several TESOL employment options. They can be employed by a school, teach privately or - as many do - combine the two.
There are different kinds of TESOL schools. These include private English schools, schools and colleges in mainstream education. When applying for TESOL jobs, try to sell yourself as much as possible with your resume. Don't only state your TESOL qualifications and experience, but include absolutely anything that may be relevant, such as previous training experience, private tutoring, or teaching assistant. Be prepared to do some sample teaching, or even give a free, observed, trial lesson when you attend a TESOL school for interview.
Teaching English should be fun. As an English teacher you have the opportunity to travel anywhere, giving back to the people you meet. You will meet many interesting and wonderful people (and a few difficult ones too). Language is learned best when the learners are having fun, and learners are most likely to have fun when the teacher is enjoying what they do. Enjoy yourself and your TESOL Planet adventure!