So, are TEFL teachers in demand? The short answer? Yes! The slightly longer answer? Yes, they definitely are!
Teaching is a very stable field of work to get into, and the demand for English teachers in particular is only growing year on year. So, if you’ve been thinking about becoming a TEFL teacher, there’s never been a better time to get involved!
Why are TEFL teachers in demand?
The Department of Education has said that TEFL teachers are some of the most in demand teachers across the globe. Why are these teachers in such high demand? We’ll tell you! The English language is often referred to as a ‘global language’ or ‘lingua franca’ and is one of (if not the) main language used in to communicate in business, travel, and educational settings. According to reports, one-fifth of the global population speak English, that’s over 1.35 billion people and a lot of people who are looking to learn the language or build upon their existing knowledge – so it’s a big pool of students looking for teachers!
So, where do people turn to learn English for their careers/education? TEFL teachers! Teaching English as a Foreign Language to non-native speakers is a very specific skill and, if you don’t have the right training (e.g. a TEFL qualification), you’ll find it difficult to master. Because it’s a very specific skill, and not everyone is trained for it, this creates a higher need for more of this type of teacher – explaining why TEFL teachers are in such demand all over the world.
Why should I become a TEFL teacher?
So many reasons, where do we start! Well, the obvious first one is one we’ve already mentioned – the fact that it’s a really stable career field. As we’ve said, TEFL teachers are in demand and that demand is only growing. So, if you want to get into a career that almost guarantees you constant and long-lasting employment – TEFL teaching is right for you!
Reason #2? You could earn a lot of money! TEFL teaching is well paid, especially in competitive locations like South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East, and specific areas of TEFL, for example IELTS and Business English, are extremely lucrative – you could earn up to £45 per hour!
Reason #3? You’re really making a difference to people’s lives and having a positive impact, so you’ll feel amazing every day!
How do I become a TEFL teacher?
Now you’ve heard the reasons, we bet you’re itching to get going. Well, as we’ve said, to become a world-class TEFL teacher and help your students to achieve their goals, you need to make sure you have the proper training first. The proper training comes in the form of a TEFL course. There are lots of different TEFL courses out there, but you need to make sure of the following points before you book, to ensure you don’t waste your time or money on a course that is no use:
Make sure your course is accredited by a government-associated body
-
- The TEFL industry isn’t formally regulated, so there are lots of cowboy organisations out there that will take advantage and produce courses that aren’t fit for purpose (translation: they won’t actually prepare you for TEFL teaching). This is why you need to look for providers with accredited courses, that have gone out of their way to get accredited by reputable organisations, who will check the courses thoroughly and verify that they are of high quality. If an accrediting organisation is reputable and good at what they do, they will usually be associated with the government of the country they operate in. For example: Ofqual in the UK (associated with the UK Government) and DEAC in the US (associated with the US Government).
Make sure that you’re completing at least 120 hours of study
-
-
- This is the employer-minimum for a TEFL qualification in most countries around the world. So, if you want to make sure you’ll be able to get a job at the end of it, make sure you have 120 hours at least. The best thing to do, however, is achieve the highest TEFL qualification possible, e.g. an Advanced TEFL Diploma, as this way you will have access to the highest-paying TEFL jobs and be able to land roles in more competitive locations.
-
Make sure your course provider has been around for a long time
-
- You don’t want to be learning from a course provider that only just came on the market and might not have the most comprehensive TEFL knowledge. You want a course provider that has been in the industry for many years, knows their stuff, and has excellent links to employers around the world (to give you that leg-up you need when you’re looking for your first TEFL role).
Make sure you have access to DELTA-level qualified tutors
-
- You want to ensure you have the best support when you’re completing your course and that you’ll be learning from highly qualified tutors, who have serious experience in the TEFL industry. DELTA is a Level 7 TEFL qualification (not achieved without serious experience, money, and time) so you want to be aiming for course providers that have DELTA-level tutors on their books.
Ready to get started? We would be too!
Check out our accredited courses here, or take our quick 2-minute course-matching quiz to find out which one is your perfect fit!
Have questions and want to speak to someone first? No problem! Arrange for a free call back and one of our friendly TEFL team members will be in touch ASAP to help you out.
