34 Part I: Getting Started in TEFL
chances of finding work and you may find yourself feeling pigeonholed even
after you’ve expanded your skills. It pays to brush up on your own gram-
mar anyway and take an interest in how the English language works. (Look
at Chapter 15 for info on grammar.) Think about when and why you say the
things you do.
Getting initiated
If you intend to teach for more than a few months, make a reasonable living
at TEFL, and give your students value for money, you really should invest in
a TEFL certificate course of 100 hours or more. Teachers at this level are offi-
cially called TEFL initiated. Most EFL teachers remain at this level as this is
what the majority of employers require from job applicants.
Before enrolling on a certificate course, consider who you want to teach and
where. Each country has its own standards and preferences, so failing to
meet the criteria for visa applications and the standards set by local employ-
ers hampers your chances of finding work.
The UK TEFL market is a prime example. The two strands of English course
providers are the private sector and the public sector:
✓ Private sector: The more established private language schools tend
to be accredited by the British Council who expect EFL teachers to be
graduates (in any field) and to hold the CELTA (Certificate in English
Language Teaching to Adults) or Trinity CertTESOL (Certificate in
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualifications. Other
qualifications are technically acceptable but school managers have
to jump through hoops to convince inspectors that their teachers are
worthy if they don’t meet the British Council’s standard for EFL teaching
qualifications or if their qualifications are not so well known. As a result
they usually avoid hiring anyone who doesn’t fit the profile or may cause
them extra work.
✓ Public sector: On the other hand, in the public sector, schools and
colleges have to meet ever changing government standards. So these
days, all new teachers have to take a ‘Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong
Learning Sector’ qualification.
Unfortunately, one certificate alone won’t easily grant you entry into both
sectors. The point being that, if you know where, who and how you want to
teach, you can do your research and select the right course.
Look at TEFL job ads specific to the country you intend to work in and even
call or email a few employers to find what exactly they are looking for. If you
need a work permit before you can work as a teacher in your chosen destina-
tion, check whether you qualify for one. If not, you may have to put in a bit
