r/TEFL

In this sub there are a lot of legitimate posts about the logistics of the job (courses, where to teach, schools) but not much on how to do the job itself.

For this reason, I wanted to invite people to share books which have changed the way they teach, and to explain why or in what way the book had an impact on them.

To start, I recently started reading Scott Thornbury's 'Beyond the Sentence' and, aside from how accessible he's been able to make what could be a challenging topic, I've been incredibly impressed by easy the book is to apply to lessons from day one. I would highly recommended to all teachers, new or experienced, who haven't tried it.

So, which book has changed the way that you teach?

I've made a career pivot and gone into teaching, mostly because it is what is expected of white foreigners in Asia, and also due to previous bad experiences working for other employers. I do not mind being a teacher anyway, as I genuinely enjoy helping people improve their skills.

My kids will be two next year, and I will have completed my online studies to obtain a new degree in Business Administration (I was into films when I was younger). So, even though I am already exempt from requiring a work permit in Vietnam, next year I will be in a very good position to find long-term, legal employment.

I initially thought EMG Education was the place to go for a relatively good salary and legal work, but 90% of the online reviews seem to be trash. I am currently working for myself as a teacher. Going back to an employer, well, I am hardly expecting things to be better than my previous experiences with Vietnamese employers. However, surely there must be a relatively good place to teach at in Saigon? I have read that VUS is fairly good, but that you will not earn as much as you would at EMG.

Any recommendations would be greatly welcomed.

Hey all, I'm seeking guidance in terms of going abroad.

I have been teaching business English for close to a year now. I do about 125 hrs a month. I have a Bachelor of Social science in Psychology, a Postgraduate degree in Psychology and 120hr tefl certificate.

I also have a lot of volunteering experience with teaching children from underprivileged areas. I also have some experience in psychological research and university marking.

I don't know how much of weight all of this carries when it comes to going abroad ESL wise. However, im considering Taiwan or China. The thing is, I dont know where to begin.

I've looked at Teast and Dave's ESL café. When do schools usually start hiring ? What do I need to know ? How do I actually get started? When is a good time to apply.

I have already started saving up and I really do want to go for it , see the world and be out there by next year. Im in my mid 20s, a POC and male .

I graduated in 2016 from a Canadian university. At that time, the program was called TESL. A few years later, the name of the program changed because the industry was using TESOL. The requirements of the program remained the same.

When my school tried to apply for a work permit for me, it was denied because they look for TESOL, CELTA, or TEFL. TESL was not one of the acronyms, and my school said Teaching English as a Second Language refers to teaching English in an English majority country, like Canada, US, etc.

Since the requirements of the program didn't change, my school will replace my credential with the proper "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages" to reflect the current program name. I have already completed the requirements and earned the credential while it was called by the old name.

I'm just wondering if anyone has heard of this before. My spidey senses are tingling that this doesn't seem right.

My friend accepted an offer last week to work in Taiwan as an ESL teacher, he will start early next week but they are having him come in every day for an hour or two to train with no pay. Is this even legal? They haven't even signed any contract just yet. Thoughts?

I’ve been living in Korea for two years, and honestly, I’m sick of it. I can’t stand the attitudes of some of the children here and the way their parents handle things. It’s really starting to take a toll on me. Is there somewhere better I could live and teach?

Hey all. After 9 years living in Taiwan teaching English I’m moving back to the city close to my hometown. Main reason is my Taiwanese American partner will be doing an internship.

Certainly a lot to be anxious about, namely much higher cost of living, particular in the city we’re moving to. I don’t have a ton of savings but also don’t have much debt either. My partner is in a bit better financial situation and has somewhat of a financial safety net from parents. My parents are also in the area as well as my sibling and lots of friends, so decent support structure in place.

My degree is in business administration, but no real work experience related to that. I have cultivated fairly decent Mandarin Chinese abilities, though not native level.

Anyways, just looking for any general advice on career changes, or things to be prepared for when making a transition.

Thanks

I can't find anything anywhere about the price for this program, only mixed reviews.

how much does it cost and what is the age limit for people to be accepted?

We mainly came back so my wife can get citizenship which will take about 4 years total. I was very nervous and tbh did not want to come back. I had such an easy job in China making decent money. I also worked in Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

We have been back two months and so far everything is going well. We both found jobs right away working in a kitchen and we make a combined income of ~$105k with benefits. It was the first job we applied for. It's been two months.

We are also staying with my mom temporarily while we figure out if we want to rent or buy a place.

I'm kind of shocked to be saying this, but I am very content right now and honestly don't really have that crazy desire to go back like I thought I would. I work much harder here, but for me it seems to be worth it as life is very comfortable.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good morning/afternoon/evening, everyone,

I appreciate there is a lot of “beginner” questions, though I haven’t seen any talking about this specific situation, and I’d really appreciate your honest advice.

For background; I am mid 20’s, British, and have a bachelors and 120 hour TEFL certification. I have taught ~50 hours of 1-on-1 online classes (just on the side while I maintain my full-time employment in the UK). I have also worked in rural Thailand for 4 months as a teacher and loved it, not just the country, but the job. I taught Kindy 3 days a week, and Prathom (primary) 2 days. I had to return home after the semester because of family-related issues, and they wont give me a reference, no big deal, it was only 4 months.

I’ve been back in the UK now for 5 months and I’m looking to get back into it, long term. I don’t want to be stuck with entry-level qualifications, and I’d very much like to build a life wherever I go.

After consideration, I think I’d like to go to China or Taiwan - choosing these because I’d realistically like to have a comfortable paycheque and build savings to obtain better qualifications.

My questions are these:

What is the actual job market like in China or Taiwan right now for someone in my position?

I would like if I could find work in a new tier 1 or a tier 2, and I’d like to look into getting an iPGCE. Alternatively, if other qualifications are ‘better’ I’d really appreciate some advice here also, as everything beyond a TEFL Course is new territory for me.

What kind of salary should I expect, if I do land a job right now?

Do many employers actually hire in March?

I am aware this is not the start date, but second term start date, and with my current situation. I’d very much like to be able to start in March if possible.

Thank you all very much for reading, I appreciate any and all advice. I’m keen to be (and have been) conducting my own due-diligence, but also thought i’d ask some people with experience.

Can't find much online; interested in pay, work-life balance, visa support, and general feelings about the place.

Hi everyone,

So, just for context, I recently left a consulting position that was not doing me any good mentally, though the idea's behind it were very good (socially conscious thing that was public sector oriented). Now I'm in a position where I think I just want to actually go see somewhere new whilst working and doing something with my life for a year or two. By background, I have a Masters in History and I am a native English speaker. I am also able to play the guitar and speak some Russian, so I feel that these could be additional branches I could market out a later date.

A friend of mine is already a TEFL instructor in China, so I have a handle on what his financial position is like after a couple years out there. However, I'm also very interested in Korea as an option, but I have some quite specific questions about this that I don't believe have been previously addressed. I was wondering if anyone who's been in either (or both) of these countries could relay their experience?

1. I have an exceptionally fair complexion and a hit and miss relationship with hot climates. I can handle them, but when they hit stupid levels (by UK standards anyway) I flounder a bit. Is there anywhere I should avoid. BY this I would mean like routinely 40+ degrees for months on end
2. I am entitled to and in the process of becoming a dual citizen of Ireland alongside my UK citizenship. Is there a passport I should travel on when I have them both, particularly given that I've heard the South Korean set up has tended to favour big 7 passports in the past
3. What taxation considerations will I need to make in both countries? I've emailed the domestic embassies in the UK on this topic as well as the broader paperwork side of things, but I'd welcome any insight here. I've seen a couple of locations in S. Korea state that my tax rate would be as a contractor and therefore lower than the income tax rate of 6%, but that this would be contingent on my only working in one role.
4. From a health standpoint, Korea will (i assume) be better due to the quality of air? Is there anything I'll need to do from a healthcare standpoint like registering with insurance if not specified by the job that I end up getting.
5. Insofar as China, I have a very anxious parent who will be very keen to keep in contact with me via WhatsApp etc. What is it like dealing with the Great Firewall, both in general and with a specific focus on communicating back home to the West on what are ultimately western tech companies communication apps (can you tell I've never done this before?)

Outside of the above I'd welcome just general insight. My understanding is that if I was wanting to save money, China would more than likely be the better option due the stronger rate of the Yuan into the pound vs the Won into the pound. I'm not sure if this translates to quality of living points too (i've seen varying opinions on this), but I've seen a lot about how China's general cost tends to be lower than South Korea. Ultimately, I just need to see and do something different to what is really bloody familiar to me, and I'd be keen to put some cash away in the process whilst I have the chance to be in more favourable cost-of-living conditions than the UK (as I understand it)

Cheers all

I've always been interested in traveling the world more and wonder if teaching English would be an option for me. However, I do have cerebral palsy, and people often have difficulty understanding me at first. I'd describe my voice as sounding muffled or slurred. I am American, but I don't know if the speaking difference would impede me

This is a sample of my voice: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/493001/1/v19mbo4zih6k4wps

Hello everyone! I’m a 2nd-year ELL teacher in the U.S., and I’ve been thinking about doing my master’s degree internationally.

I’m not set on a specific school or country yet, but it would likely be in Northern Europe. I’ve been looking at a couple programs that are taught in English and would cost less than the schools in my state. So I think it’d be worth the experience of living abroad and getting a degree.

For the teachers who’ve done a master’s degree abroad:

- Did employers care where the degree was from?
- Was there any difficulties getting the degree recognized in the U.S.?
- Do you think it made you more or less hirable?
- If you decided to stay abroad, did the degree help you secure a job?

I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions! Thanks!!

Hi everyone, I want to teach English in Central America (Costa Rica or Panama or Colombia) and I’m wondering if anyone has experiences they can share, recommendations or tips for online courses and if you would recommended enrolling in a CELTA course instead.

I am contemplating getting a TEFL certification from tefl.org to get certified or get a CELTA certification from Cambridge. Please let me know what you think!

Hi! I (25F) am just finishing up my CELTA course and am planning to move to Vietnam to (hopefully!) teach English. I'm a US citizen currently living in Ireland, and so far, I have my FBI background check sent for the apostille as well as my diploma. I feel that I'm pretty on top of paperwork, minus actually finding a job lol!

Once months ago when I was on this sub I saw a spreadsheet with a ton of language center resources or jobs, does anyone have a link to that? Or have any practical recs or know of any job openings I could apply to? Basically I'm hoping to start my application process (as much as I can before I have my CELTA cert and am in the country), and would love any recs on the job side of things. Thanks so much!

I’ll keep this brief.

I’m a CELTA Pass A teacher with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, currently teaching English at a university in Monterrey, Mexico.

I have two realistic career paths for the next year:

Option 1: Stay in Mexico.

• I currently teach 16 hours/week at a university.
• There’s a strong chance I’ll also be hired by one or two well-respected Mexican universities to teach additional online courses at a much higher hourly rate, but, I won't know for another week or so.
• I’d likely end up with 2–3 university employers and a full workload spread across them.

Option 2: Move to Istanbul.

• I’ve been offered a full-time university position with better pay, benefits, work-life balance, and, crucially, just one single employer.

My question isn’t about where I’d be happier living. Mexico would probably win that (I speak Spanish, have a girlfriend here, and I’m close to my family in the U.S.).

My question is purely about my CV.

One year from now, which would look stronger to future university employers?

• One year of full-time experience at a single university, or
• One year split across 2–3 universities (with some teaching being online)?

I have a strong feeling that a single full-time university position will look better on my CV, but I’m not sure if that’s actually true or if I’m overthinking it.

If the Istanbul option is better from a career standpoint, how significant is the advantage?

Fair Warning for those considering the move. I'm hoping this pops up on Google.

Academic Coordinators (teaching assistants) are hired to write reports on you after every class. Not to assist with students or parents as it is implied. Most just sit on their phones at the back of class. There is a very toxic atmosphere as a result.

Travel times are significant. Two or three hours of travel to different public schools in one day, through congested, polluted Saigon traffic. This will inevitably make you sick from air pollution.

Class sizes of over 35+. It is very challenging to deal with that many students. 20% tax on income in the first 6 months. The government probably knows most foreigners don’t last that long, as the turnover rate is enormous (for good reason). Working hours, 5:30 am starts. Finish at 7pm. Almost 12 or 13 hour days (that means a 250k VND per hour real time salary).

Vietnamese AC’s are paid 6-9 million, compared to 50+ million VND for foreign teachers. This breeds obvious resentment.

Unpaid paper work is expected after class, especially in December. You will find yourself working four weekends in a row. Then, after school parent teacher-meetings. The money is tempting for Vietnam but you will find yourself the most miserable you’ve ever been in a job. It’s not worth selling your soul. This company works you to death. HR own you as far as they are concerned. It is about as far from western working standards as you can possibly get.

The managers get a cushy schedule. So, they are completely ignorant of what it’s like to be out there, driving to classes 45 minutes away in monsoon rain. They teach in the schools for the students of corrupt government officials.

In our public schools, there was no AC in classrooms. Chalkboards. Frequent power cuts. Classrooms were not fit for purpose. They are dirty, gritty, with no sunlight. Technology rarely works, if ever, in classrooms.

The homeroom teachers strike students (corporal punishment is common). If you are comfortable with witnessing child abuse, you will fit right in here. Perhaps most importantly, management takes the side of physically abusive homeroom teachers. I never want to see a child flinch in my teaching career ever again.

They have an exit fee for a reason. NEVER work for any company that has an exit fee. It is around 40 million VND, a full months wages stolen, if you decide to leave. This is against employment law (criminal).

The turnover is enormous and their only concern is making their money back on you.

Absolute Bloodsuckers. 0/10

TLDR: never work for a company with an illegal exit fee OR a company that turns a blind eye to child physical abuse. Learn from my mistakes.

Edit: I have an international contract now. For all those saying ‘tHaTS JuST THe WAy IT IS’ - you are part of the problem, children are beating beaten. It’s the reason why nothing changes.

Edit: EMG is such a bad company, they have bots that try to improve the reputation of the organisation and slander those that speak out. I won’t even reply to the bots 🤖

I am a 25F Latina with a bachelors in kinesiology from the US. I am correctly trying to get my teaching license for my state and my TEFL classes start in January. By the end of next year I’ll have my teaching license, TEFL and bachelors degree.

In China , what is a decent range and location that I should aim for ? I want a housing allowance and wanted to make at least 25kRMB and good holidays/time off. Is this possible? I’m trying to get as much as I can under my belt so that way I can make more money with good benefits.

Entry level wages have been 400k (16 usd) to 450k (17.50) per hour for the last decade while cost of living increased by over 30%.

Do you think people will still move to Vietnam if the wages remain frozen to 2016 rates in 2036?

(Presuming the cost of living in Vietnam stays above 3% increases per year)