Fay Arnison, Author at i-to-i TEFL

Teaching Teenagers: Being a High School Teacher in Thailand

Posted on May 31, 2022June 23, 2022 by Fay Arnison

After teaching crowds of elbow-height, baby shark obsessed students in Vietnam, facing a class of towering teenagers in Thailand was nerve-racking, to say the least!

Being a high school teacher in Thailand, you’re no longer worrying about how to stop students from putting crayons up their noses, but instead, concerned about how you’ll be perceived. Will my students respect me? Will they think I’m cool enough? While teaching teenagers in Thailand comes has its obstacles, it has a range of benefits that makes high school one of the most rewarding age groups to teach.

Authentic Conversations and Cultural Exchange

Whether you’re teaching in one of Bangkok’s swish academies, or a high school nestled among the mountains, the first thing you’ll notice about your Thai students is their English proficiency.

From the time they learn to walk, children in Thailand are encouraged to speak English: a worthwhile pursuit in an economy based on tourism. As a result, by the time they reach high school level, your students will already be able to hold a conversation in English and will frequently ask if you know who Harry Styles is.

This higher level of English gives you the chance to build rapport with your students and communicate smoothly. While not everyone in your class will be able to chat away in English (which is where we TEFLers step in) there will always be someone to translate your instructions!

However, not everything will revolve around mock exams and grammatical variations (although there is a fair bit of that too!). Many lessons naturally turn into a cultural exchange when teaching high school, and you’ll often come home having learnt something new about contemporary Thai culture.

For example, in a lesson focusing on music vocabulary, my 16-year-old students jumped at the opportunity to show me their favourite Thai singers and even translated the lyrics for me (essentially an excuse to perform some karaoke, but as long as they’re speaking English, right?).

University Preparation

As a high school TEFL teacher in Thailand, it’s rare that you’ll be assigned just one Mathayom (grade) and will likely end up teaching 12-year-olds one hour and 18-year-olds the next. The older the students, the busier they’ll be preparing for university: where English degrees are among the most popular!

Before you know it, you’ll be transported back to the world of UCAS applications, personal statements, and frantic deadline preparation. While it may seem easier to sit at your desk, sip an iced tea and let them get on with it, this is your chance to make a difference and use your mother tongue to help your students prepare for higher education.

Assisting your students in writing their statements by correcting grammar and any vocab mistakes can really make a difference to the outcome of their application (no, I’m not saying write the whole thing from scratch!). You can also dedicate lessons to staging practice interviews and help them build their confidence in conversational English.

Debates, Drama, and Dance

Beyond Tik Tok dances and endless conversations about the members of K-pop band BTS, you’ll get to teach a modern and diverse curriculum. Thanks to high school students’ higher level of English, teaching topics are more advanced, and as a result, culturally relevant.

In a typical week at my Thai high school, I’d go from teaching “Climate Change and its Solutions” on a Monday, to “The Rise of E-Books” on a Tuesday. Naturally, this means you can plan some cool activities; some of my students’ favourites were staging debates on the best ways to reduce carbon emissions, and writing their film reviews before presenting to the class.

Moreover, due to the tech-savvy nature of teenagers, the quality of weekly English assignments is always of a shockingly high standard. Forget the comic-sans laden posters of our school days, marking your student’s homework at a Thai high school is like attending an art show! The first time I asked my classes to design a poster advertising a holiday destination, I expected to receive some modest drawings of the London Eye complete with some hotel descriptions. Instead, each tablet-wielding student emailed me impressive posters that could easily give top graphic designers a run for their money.

The Challenges of a Mai Pen Rai Classroom

If you’ve been to The Land of Smiles, you’ll likely have heard the phrase, Mai Pen Rai. Meaning “no worries” or “it doesn’t matter!”, this Thai phrase encompasses a chilled out, sometimes overly relaxed culture that often influences the classroom. In the world of TEFL, each age group comes with its own set of obstacles. For high-school teachers in Thailand, theirs is the combination of Mai Pen Rai attitudes and teenage laziness!

Students will often turn up to class late with an array of snacks, fall asleep during an activity, or have forgotten to bring basic equipment to class (it’s best to come to class armed with spare paper!). However, this isn’t meant to deliberately vex their English teacher, and any questions you ask about their lateness will just be met with a confused smile.

While it’s always a good idea to remind your students about classroom rules and etiquette, don’t take it personally when your students continue turning up late. It isn’t because they haven’t listened to you, it’s just a part of the unavoidably relaxed Thai culture, and is one that we westerners can probably learn a lot from!

Online Resources For Teaching Teens

Wherever you’re placed in Thailand’s endlessly diverse landscape, even the most rural high schools will rely heavily on technology. When it comes to teaching teenagers, who are particularly screen-orientated as I’ve previously mentioned, it’s essential to have some online resources up your sleeve!

Websites such as Kahoot tap into your classes’ competitive nature and provide game-centric learning. Students can join an educational quiz simply by imputing the code you supply into their phones: which means they’ll be using their phones for good rather than scrolling through insta!

Similar quiz-orientated websites that are free to join include Bamboozle: an online platform containing over 1 million games designed by fellow teachers. Unlike Kahoot, Bamboozle members have the bonus of being able to customise quizzes to their content or create their games from scratch.

While quizzes are a sure-fire way to engage high-school learners, there will inevitably come a time when you must revert to worksheets and plain old powerpoints. Enter islcollective: a website with endless teaching resources and a TEFLers dream. Free users can download the majority of teaching materials: including worksheets, lesson plans, and powerpoints, as well as access to the teacher’s forum, which is an invaluable online community.

Are You Interested in Teaching Teenagers in Thailand?

Teaching teenagers in Thailand is an incredibly rewarding venture and can be a perfect segway into the TEFL industry for those with less experience. While it comes with its challenges, language barriers, and cultural misunderstandings, so does every other type of TEFL job! If you’re ready to judge dance competitions, discuss Netflix shows, and of course, teach some more complex English, teaching high school in Thailand could be the perfect job for you!

LIVE WEBINAR: Teaching English in Thailand

Posted on April 21, 2022April 21, 2022 by Fay Arnison

Do you fancy teaching English in Thailand? Are you wondering how to get started or what life will be like when you get there? UK TEFL teacher Molly is currently teaching English in the Isaan region of Thailand. She went live on i-to-i’s Facebook page to share her experience and answer your questions about TEFL in Thailand. Watch the full webinar or read on for edited highlights.

PREPARING TO TEACH IN THAILAND

How did your TEFL journey start?

In January 2019 I jetted off to Hanoi for i-to-i’s paid Vietnam internship I taught for five months initially and loved it so much I decided to stay for another five months. That was my first experience of teaching English in a foreign country and also my first time in South East Asia.

I came home to England in January 2020 just as the pandemic was kicking off. I taught English online with PalFish and English First until about five months ago, when I came to Thailand through another internship.

Why did you decide to teach English in Thailand?

After teaching English in Vietnam, I wanted to explore even more of South East Asia as I loved it so much. I felt Thailand had the most going for it as a TEFL location.

The landscape is gorgeous. There are mountains in the north near Myanmar and thousands of islands down south. It’s really accessible and easy to travel around plus they had the sandbox quarantine scheme during the pandemic, which made it super easy to get here.

Thailand is very western-friendly while also remaining very authentic. It truly is the land of the smiles. Everyone is super friendly, really chilled, relaxed and everyone is always smiling. It’s a very welcoming and hospitable country and the students are really enthusiastic and want to learn English.

The low cost of living was another big deciding factor. The salary that you earn from teaching is enough to live well in Thailand and you can also put a bit aside to save.

What is the application process for a TEFL job in Thailand?

My friend found an internship for a big group of us to go out to Thailand. I had to have a degree and a TEFL certificate. If you choose one of i-to-i’s internships you get a TEFL course included in the internship cost. That is really handy because it means that you’re TEFL qualified when you arrive in the country.

I had an interview by Zoom, with three other people. After the interview, the company offered me a placement in Isaan region of Thailand, which is near the Lao border about four hours from Bangkok. It’s in a really good position for getting to the city and is also semi-rural so I get an authentic lifestyle here.

I then had to apply for my visa. I needed a legalised degree, my TEFL certificate, a clear criminal record check and additional documents from my school, like visa invitation letters. I sent that all off to the Thai Embassy in my home country and my visa came through in about seven days. Going to Thailand with an internship programme really helps because the co-ordinators tell you what documents to submit and when to submit them. It was super easy.

What are your top tips for applying for a TEFL job in Thailand?

My tips are to get the most difficult things done sooner rather than later, especially if you’re a procrastinator. Start your TEFL course early, even if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t start for a few months – it’s easy to let time go by.

Be energetic and positive in the interview. Don’t worry if you haven’t got previous teaching experience – I didn’t when I had my interview for Vietnam. As long as you’re a degree holder and TEFL qualified and you come across as friendly and personable, you’ll be fine. They want to know that you’re enthusiastic and eager to gain more experience, rather than necessarily having teaching experience already.

A big part of the application process is getting your degree legalised. This basically means sending it to a solicitor to certify that it’s an original copy and then sending it to the Embassy who put another stamp on it. I suggest going through a company called Hague Apostille. It’s a bit more expensive but they sort out all the solicitor certification for you.

What should I pack for a TEFL job in Thailand?

The main point is to pack light. Remember that Thailand is a well-established tourist destination. It has everything that you need. Even if you’re placed semi-rurally, you’ll always be within walking distance of a small supermarket or a shopping mall.

There are a few things that I suggest you do pack, however. First, bring a pair of smart shoes for teaching. If you’re a girl, also pack a long skirt as you’re not allowed to wear trousers in school. If you’re quarantining in the sandbox scheme, remember to pack clothes that are suitable for that location as well as for where you’ll be teaching.

It can be good to bring a mosquito net to have over your bed when you’re travelling. However, I suggest you wait until you get out here to buy repellent as you can buy sprays that are specially formulated for the mosquitos in Thailand.

Do make sure you pack your favourite toiletries as many of the products here have whitening agents in them. It might be a bit trickier to find exactly what you are looking for here.

Apart from that, try not to bring anything that is unnecessary.

Will I need to quarantine when I arrive in Thailand?

When I arrived in Thailand, I went to Phuket as part of the sandbox scheme. With the sandbox scheme, you book a government approved hotel for two weeks. In the first week, you have three Covid tests. If you test negative on each of those tests, you are then free to go about in the island sandbox location.

Since I arrived in Thailand the situation has changed and it has become even easier. At the moment there is a test-and-go scheme, where you do a PCR test on arrival and another PCR test on day 5. However, you can still go to a sandbox location. The locations are Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi. They’re all beautiful coastal locations and absolutely gorgeous places to quarantine.

TEACHING IN THAILAND

Due to the pandemic, schools have been going between online and on-site teaching. My time here has been roughly split in half between on-site and online teaching. At the moment, I’m teaching online but we’re going back into school next week.

What is online teaching like in Thailand?

Teaching online in Thailand is a bit easier than teaching in person, as you can get up later in the morning, but it’s not as fun. You don’t get to see your students in person and you don’t get to build the same rapport as you would do in the face-to-face classroom. However, Thai people are overwhelmingly positive and have remained positive through the pandemic.

If you’re teaching online, you have to adapt the activities you give your students. Group work and pair work are tricky online, as it’s hard to mediate. It’s more focused on presentations, sharing your screen, getting students to watch videos and asking questions and working through online books.

There are two resources that I really recommend for teaching online: Bamboozle which is a free website with lots of ESL quizzes and Kahoot which is really good interactive tool that students can join through an app on their phone.

What is classroom teaching like in Thailand?

When you’re teaching in the classroom, you can really get to know your students. I’m teaching at a high school and teach students from age 12 to age 17. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how enthusiastic the students are. I was expecting them to be a bit less enthusiastic but they’re super into western culture and learning English.

My colleagues have all been really welcoming and hospitable. There is a big teachers’ room where everyone has their own desk. In between lessons, we sit in there, sharing food and chatting. It’s a really nice social space in the school.

Thai students are obsessed with western culture so they’re very keen to learn English. You rarely have students who aren’t engaged in the lesson. My kids always ask me about UK culture and the different accents in the UK. They also ask me a lot about Ed Sheeran and Adele and if I’ve ever met the Queen.

Thai students are also obsessed with Korean culture. All of my students love k-pop bands, like BTS and Blackpink. That is another tip: if you want to really engage your students, throw in some k-pop references.

Will I need to plan my own lessons or follow a curriculum?

The company I work for provides a curriculum for the school and I’m given text books, lesson plans and PowerPoints. You won’t have any shortage of resources. However, there is quite a lot of creative freedom within that framework. You can plan your own lessons and decide what activities you’re going to include.

For example, if you’re teaching the past simple you’ll know what kind of language you have to teach and you’ll have set phrases. Within that, you can decide how you present the language, whether that is watching a scene from Friends or listening to some western music. There is a lot of freedom but you also have the support via a curriculum.

Will I have a good work-life balance as a TEFL teacher in Thailand?

There is definitely a great work-life balance in Thailand. You’ll have plenty of time to explore your local area. I teach about 15 hours a week and my friends teach between 12 hours to 25 hours, depending on their contracts.

You get some time to travel around the national holidays. You might get four days off at a time, so there are opportunities to go on long weekends. However, the main time you can travel is in the semester break. If you sign on for a year, you’ll get about five weeks between the end of one school year and the start of another when you can travel around Thailand.

The other teachers are incredibly welcoming and super supportive. When we arrived for our first day at school, we had a big ceremony and a photo shoot. Thai people are also incredibly generous. One day, one of my colleagues came in with loads of beautiful handmade Thai clothes, especially for me – and she wouldn’t accept any money for them.

LIVING IN THAILAND

What is it like to live in a rural part of Thailand?

I live in Isaan, which is rural and relatively untouched by tourism. I personally love living here.

Everything is really cheap which allows me to put money aside every month. Another pro is that, although some things aren’t as accessible as in a city, I really do get to see the authentic way of life. The countryside is unspoilt, the food is amazing and I get to see a lot of things that an average tourist will not get to see. For example, around this province there are so many beautiful places to go that only the locals really know are there. If you choose a rural location, you’ll have an individual, unique experience of Thailand.

In Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thai people are very used to seeing westerners because there are so many tourists. In somewhere like Isaan, it’s a novelty and I can feel like a bit of a celebrity walking around my school or neighbourhood. People often want to chat to improve their English. Everyone is super welcoming. The downside is that it can be difficult to fade into the background if I’m tired after a day of teaching.

When you’re deciding where to work, make a list of everything that you want: do you want to be somewhere that is really hustle and bustle or do you want a slower pace of life?

Do I need to speak Thai to teach English in Thailand?

No! You absolutely don’t need to learn Thai to teach English in Thailand. The level of English is really good, even in the most rural parts of Thailand.

Having said that, it’s good to learn a few phrases before you come here, like ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you’. It puts a huge smile on the locals’ faces when you say something in Thai. They really appreciate you trying.

What are your top reasons for living in Thailand?

One of the best things about teaching in Thailand is how relaxed and chilled all the locals are. I’ve just written an article for i-to-i called 5 Features of Thai Culture that Make you Feel at Home about the hospitality of Thai people. It’s a great way to live your life.

Thailand has so much to offer in terms of landscapes. Where I’m based feels a bit like the set of Jurassic Park: there are big grasslands with huge rock structures. It’s a bit crazy. To the north, you have rainforests and mountainous areas. To the south, you have all the islands and the tropical coastline. If you come to teach in Thailand, I think you’ll end up staying far longer than you planned because there is so much to explore.

The food is another huge reason to come to Thailand. It’s amazing. There is literally a dish here to suit every taste palate, whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or eat meat and whether you eat spicy food or want to take the chilli out.

Can I get medication in Thailand?

Thailand is really good when it comes to getting medication. There are so many pharmacies scattered everywhere.

If you’re near a big city like Bangkok or Chang Mai, there will be a range of pharmacies that speak English, so you’ll be able to go in and ask for what you need.

How easy is it to find accommodation in Thailand?

If you go to Thailand through an internship, you’ll usually be provided with accommodation, which is great.

My rent is covered by the company I work for which leaves me with more money to save each month. All I need to pay is utility bills, like water and electricity, which are very minimal.

How do you get around in Thailand?

It’s very easy to get around Thailand. Driving motorbikes is a way of life here. Everyone uses one to nip around and you can rent one easily.

If you don’t drive, a great option is an app called Grab that allows you to order taxi motorbikes or cars. You can get around really easily and cheaply with that. Many companies also offer a taxi service to get you to your school from your accommodation.

Is TEFL a good career choice?

Yes! I think there is so much more to TEFL than simply the teaching itself. It makes you into a more confident, well-rounded person. Even if you don’t want to teach long term, having taught English in another country shows that you’re proactive, it shows that you’re ready to move out of your comfort zone. You’ve moved across the world and that says a lot about your character.

I think it’s a great career choice in terms of the skills you gain from teaching English and the skills you gain as a person. Just do it – you won’t regret it.

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10 Crazy Facts About Thailand

Posted on July 28, 2021July 27, 2021 by Fay Arnison

Ah Thailand. What does the name conjure up for you? Stunning beaches, super-friendly people, a capital bursting with energy and fabulous TEFL opportunities for sure. But do you also know these 10 crazy facts about Thailand? Read on and be crazily amazed!

Thailand has fish that walk

It’s true! If you can drag your gaze away from Krabi’s laid back, white sandy shores for a short while (hard, we know!) you might just spot some mudskippers – a fascinating species of fish that really do use their fins to help them walk, climb and even skip out of the water.

And that’s just the start of Thailand’s amazing wildlife. Along with walking fish, Thailand can offer you everything from the smallest mammal in the world (the bumblebee bat) to the world’s biggest fish (whale shark). Thailand even has more species of birds than the entire continent of Europe put together. Now that’s impressively crazy!

Thai people are super proud that their country’s never been colonised

The fact that Thailand’s name translates as the Land of the Free may give you a hint of how thrilled Thai people are that their country has never been colonised. But why shouldn’t they show off about it? After, it takes some pretty nifty negotiation skills to stay independent when western powers are carving up the land all around. In fact, Thai people are so proud that their country’s never been colonised that we’re willing to bet that at least one person will tell you this fact within your first month of teaching in Thailand. Let us know if we win!

It’s illegal to drive without a shirt on in Thailand

If you’re tempted to top up the tan on your chest while scooting around Thailand’s roads, think again. While it’s not always enforced in tourist areas, technically you’re breaking the law if you drive without a shirt on – and that includes scooters as well as cars, so be warned! Oh, and just in case you fancied leaving home without your underwear instead, that’s against the law too. We’ll leave it to you to decide how that rule might have come about!

Thai people leave red Fanta out for ghosts

Even if you’re only in Thailand for a day, you can’t fail to spot the phi houses built outside pretty much every house, shop or office to provide a home for the spirits that live on the land. Thai’s believe that by giving the ghosts a home and providing daily offerings, the spirits will protect the people who live in the buildings, rather than trying to move in themselves. And guess what the spirits love more than anything? Red Fanta of course. Opened and with a straw, ready for the spirits to drink. So don’t tell off your English students if you spot them leaving bottles lying around the school phi They’re not littering – they’re simply offering the spirits a welcome drink, to ensure they don’t cause havoc with your classes!

You must stand for the National Anthem before watching a film

Thailand is a country that takes their king mega seriously – and this is particularly evident through the regular playing of the National Anthem. You may well hear it at 8am and 6pm in your local town square and the Anthem is always played before a film starts in the cinema. Don’t worry about learning the words – this isn’t expected from visitors. However, you definitely do need to show respect by standing up and being quiet while the Anthem plays. After all, you don’t want to be imprisoned for treason!

Most Thai men have been monks

Monks are highly respected in Thailand and if you’re up early enough (or not quite made it to bed) you’ll often see them wandering around in their orange robes at sunrise collecting donations of food for their monastery. What you may not realise is that being a Thai monk is not the preserve of the dedicated few. In fact, until very recently, almost all young Thai men would spend anything from a few weeks to six months as a monk in their local monastery. It’s a way to show respect and build up merit for their family – and it’s still a super common practice today.

Bangkok is not the real name of Thailand’s capital

You might think Thailand’s capital city is called Bangkok but this is actually a nickname – and some Thai people may never have heard of this title at all. The name most Thai people use for their capital is Krung Thep but even this is only an abbreviation.One of the most crazy facts of all about Thailand, is that the full name of its capital city is: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit which roughly translates as: The city of angels, the great city of immortals, the magnificent city endowed with nine precious gems, the city of royal palaces and the seat of the King, resembling the heavenly abode of reincarnated gods, a city given by Indra and build by Vishnukarn. We reckon King Rama I (who named it) quite liked the place!

There are 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand

With more than 90 percent of Thailand’s population Buddhist, it’s not surprising that there’s quite a lot of temples in this country – but still, 40,000 is a ginormous number! Even more crazy than the number of temples in Thailand is the size of the Buddha statues in them. Take Phuket’s 45 metre x 25 metre, Big Buddha, for example – it can be seen all across the famous Chalong Bay. Or, for the supremely crazy sized Buddha, head to Phra Maha Nawamin in Ang Thong. The Buddha statue there is a whopping 92 metres high, more than the height of 20 double-decker buses piled on top of each other. All we can say is, wow!

You can’t hang the Thai flag upside down

In the early part of the 20^th century, the Thai flag had a red background with a white elephant on it, symbolising strength, endurance, and intelligence. Perfect – or at least it seemed that way until the flag was accidentally hung upside down during a huge flood. The king’s solution? Why, create a new flag of course, and make sure this one is completely symmetrical, so it cannot be hung upside down. Whether or not this is exactly how the events took place, what’s definitely true is that Thailand’s flag today is a series of red, white, and blue horizontal stripes, which shows exactly the same pattern whichever way up it’s hung. Now we come to think of it, that’s just good thinking and not crazy at all!

Thailand hosts an annual banquet for monkeys

Yup, you read that right – there really is a massive feast put on each year just for monkeys. Hosted in the ancient city of Lopburi, the star guests are the mischievous macaques that normally spend their days holding court in the ruins, waiting for the perfect opportunity to swipe a hat off a passing tourist’s head or pickpocket your camera.

To celebrate these spirited creatures, once a year, the Khmer temple (now renamed as the Monkey Temple) is transformed into a banqueting hall. Long tables are loaded with everything from sticky rice to tropical fruits to tempt their star guests. Now that’s a crazy fact if ever we heard one. Our advice: immerse yourself in this fabulous event – but make sure you’re out of the way when the food fights start!

So now you know these crazy facts about Thailand, it’s time to get yourself there straight away. Book your TEFL course or TEFL internship today or request a call back for a friendly TEFL expert to chat through your options. You’ll be teaching in Thailand in no time – and can find out even more crazy facts about this brilliant country, all for yourself.

TEFL Course Requirements: Are you eligible to become a TEFL teacher?

Posted on July 12, 2021July 14, 2021 by Fay Arnison

Are you thinking about TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) but not sure if you’re eligible? You’re in the right place. TEFL is a fabulous way to find paid work teaching online and all over the world. And to find out if you’ve got what it takes to become a TEFL teacher, read on. It’s a lot simpler than you might think!

Are you eligible to take a TEFL course?

The number one qualification that TEFL employers ask for is a recognised TEFL certificate. Don’t be put off if you’re not qualified yet. You can complete an internationally recognised TEFL course in as little as four weeks. You don’t need a degree in English language or a PhD in linguistics to apply either. In fact, to be eligible for a TEFL course, all you need is native-level English, a laptop or tablet with good WiFi connection, and bags of enthusiasm.

Our Level 5 TEFL courses are designed to take you from TEFL newbie all the way through to being ready to teach your first paying class. The courses are super flexible, so you can study when and where works best for you with support on hand when you need it – leading to our highly acclaimed 99% pass rate. Oh, and you’ll graduate with a UK government-regulated qualification welcomed by TEFL employers in every corner of the globe.

It’s not just about the certificate itself though. The reason employers look for teachers with a regulated TEFL qualification is because they recognise the training you’ve gone through to achieve it. During your TEFL course, you’ll cover everything including: how to plan and structure lessons, how to create engaging activities for different levels and ages of students, and how to manage your class effectively.

On top of that, you’ll find specialist modules for topics such as teaching English online teaching business TEFL and working with young learners. In other words, completing your TEFL qualification means you’ll be ready to teach students from day one. It’s no wonder that our TEFL graduates are in hot demand by employers worldwide.

If you’ve not completed your TEFL course yet, book online or request a call back from one of our TEFL experts today. And then put a huge big tick against ‘qualified’ in your TEFL eligibility list.

Are you eligible to teach English abroad?

If you’re a native-level English speaker with a TEFL qualification you’ve got all the basic ingredients you need to teach English abroad. However, this doesn’t mean you’re automatically eligible to teach in every single country around the world from day one. To give yourself the best chance of landing your first TEFL job, it’s important to be selective in where you apply.

First up, super-competitive TEFL locations such as most of western Europe, as well as destinations where you can earn top-end salaries, such as the UAE and South Korea, are best left until you’ve got some teaching experience under your belt. You’ll stand a far better chance of landing your first TEFL job if you look for posts in destinations with a strong demand for English teachers such as China, Thailand, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

The other big factor to bear in mind is that for some countries, particularly in Asia, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree and to be a native English speaker on top of your TEFL qualification in order to be eligible for paid employment as a TEFL teacher. This is generally down to visa requirements, so it’s not really negotiable. If you fit the bill, fantastic. However, if you don’t tick these boxes, it’s worth checking out TEFL internships instead. These generally have fewer entry requirements, often come with bonuses such as accommodation and a living allowance and are an amazing way to build up your TEFL experience.

Alternatively focus your TEFL search on parts of the world where you are eligible for paid TEFL jobs. Spain, Cambodia, Eastern Europe and Latin America are all fabulous places to TEFL and tend to be less stringent about additional qualifications – particularly if you approach an employer direct and show off your passion for teaching!

The bottom line is that, if you’re a native-level English speaker with a TEFL qualification and you’re prepared to be flexible, you will be able to find opportunities to teach English abroad. And if you need a helping hand to find your perfect match, get in touch with our wonderful TEFL jobs support team who can provide you with free, personalised advice to super-charge your TEFL job search.

Are you eligible to teach English online?

If you’ve got your TEFL qualification and fluent English, you’re eligible to teach online. However, as online teaching requires a slightly different skillset to in-person teaching, we strongly suggest that you do a specialist module to prepare you for online TEFL – and the good news that this is included as a matter of course in our TEFL Diploma.

If you have a bachelor’s degree, native English and previous experience on top of your TEFL qualification, you should be able to take your pick of online TEFL jobs. However, none of these are absolutely essential to find an online teaching job. There are tons of online TEFL companies where you don’t need a degree, so it’s simply a matter of focusing on the companies that are the right fit for you.

Bear in mind that, to be a successful online TEFL teacher, you’ll need a quiet space to teach, a device to teach from such as a laptop, tablet or phone, a webcam, good speakers (or a headset) plus a really good internet connection – students don’t tend to be impressed if the connection drops continually through their lessons. However, one of the many benefits of TEFL online is that you can do it from pretty much anywhere, whether that’s a student bedroom in Bradford, a hotel room in Brussels or a beach hut in Bali. Amazing!

So now you know what you need to teach English online and around the world, it’s time to get started. Enrol on one of our TEFL courses or your dream TEFL job today. We can’t wait to see you in our amazing global TEFL community.

Top 7 Best Places to Teach Abroad

Posted on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021 by Fay Arnison

Call us biased but we reckon TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is the perfect job. Not only is it a brilliant way to earn money as you travel but you get to peek beneath the skin of a country and spend real time with the people who live there – not something your average fly-by tourist can do!

Even better, with schools re-opening worldwide, there’s a massive demand for qualified English teachers across the globe. And so you don’t have to waste a moment longer identifying your dream TEFL destination, here are our top picks for the seven best places to teach abroad (in no particular order as a certain TV show loves to say!).

VIETNAM

Picture yourself teaching English in a fascinating country packed to the brim with stunning beaches, chaotic energy, winding cobbled streets, and mouth-wateringly scrumptious food. If this sounds like your idea of heaven, Vietnam is your perfect match. Plus, you don’t need previous teaching experience to TEFL here, making Vietnam a top pick for newly qualified teachers as well as those with teaching experience.

Teaching jobs in Vietnam

The vast bulk of TEFL jobs in Vietnam are in private language centres in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Da Long. Most posts are for teaching children but, as Vietnam moves on from its deeply moving past, there’s also a growing market for teaching both business and tourist English to adults. And if you want to dip your toe in the water first, Vietnam is also a great pick for paid TEFL internships. Pretty fabulous all round, we say!

Qualifications to teach in Vietnam

You need a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certificate to teach English in Vietnam but you can definitely find work here without teaching experience. In fact, Vietnam is a great place to pick up your first teaching job.

Earning potential for TEFL in Vietnam

Expect to earn between $1,000 to $2,000 per month teaching English in Vietnam, depending on your experience and where you work. While you’re unlikely to have much leftover at the end of the month, this should be enough to afford a decent standard of living and explore the country.

Don’t miss…

Halong Bay and its less touristy counterpart, Lan Ha Bay, simply must be on everyone’s bucket list. But for us, it’s the extraordinary caves of Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park that are truly unmissable when you TEFL in Vietnam.

SOUTH KOREA

If you’re an experienced TEFL teacher ready to work hard, South Korea offers brilliant opportunities to teach English. TEFL in South Korea isn’t a job for slackers but if you’re willing to put in the hours, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best TEFL wages around plus a fabulous insight into a fascinating country that combines cutting-edge technology and buzzing cities with idyllic countryside and generous, welcoming people. It’s easy to see why South Korea earns its spot on our list of top places to TEFL.

Teaching jobs in South Korea

Most TEFL positions in South Korea are in private language centres in and around the capital, Seoul and, to a lesser extent Deagu, Incheon and Daejeon. If you want to work in a public school, check out government-sponsored programmes such as EPIK or TaLK.

Qualifications to teach in South Korea

To TEFL in South Korea you need to be a native English speaker with a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL qualification. For the vast majority of positions, you’ll also need at least one year’s teaching experience but you may be considered with less if you hold a master’s degree.

Earning potential in South Korea

TEFL teachers in South Korea are paid extremely well. Your base salary is likely to be between $1,500 to $2,500 per month and you’ll normally get housing, airfares, paid holidays and an annual bonus all thrown in on top. Living costs are high but with accommodation covered, you can live well and build up your savings in South Korea.

Don’t miss…

South Korea is not just about long hours and hard work. This is a country that knows how to party, with a calendar packed to the brim with festivals. The pick of the bunch for many TEFLers is the annual Boryeong Mud Festival, full of music, fireworks and, you’ve guessed it, lots and lots of mud. Well, they do say it’s good for the skin!

THAILAND

Ahh… Thailand. The perennial favourite of TEFL teachers – and with good reason. This fabulously friendly country offers great TEFL opportunities for both new and experienced TEFL teachers plus it’s overflowing with gorgeous beaches, jaw-droppingly gigantic Buddhas, a vibrant capital, colourful floating markets and really, really yummy food. Whether you’re looking for your first or twenty-first TEFL job, Thailand simply has to be on your list of best places to teach abroad.

Teaching Jobs in Thailand

The majority of TEFL positions in Thailand are in private language centres in the capital, Bangkok. However, there’s also a good number of posts in more chilled-out Chiang Mai and close to touristy areas such as Surat Thani, Phuket and Krabi. It’s also occasionally possible to find English teaching jobs in Thailand’s public schools.

Qualifications to teach in Thailand

Thailand is a brilliant place to look for your first TEFL job, as there are tons of posts open to newly qualified teachers. You will need a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate to find paid employment but, if you’re not a degree-holder, take a peek at TEFL internships in Thailand. These have a lower entry threshold and are a fabulous way to pick up teaching experience in this amazing country.

Earning potential for TEFL in Thailand

TEFL in Thailand is far more about the lifestyle and experience than the money. Having said that, if you’ve got previous teaching experience, you can earn a good salary here, particularly if you negotiate hard when you sign up for your contract. For newly qualified teachers, a wage of around $750 to $1,500 is normal, which should cover all your living costs and a bit of travel around the country.

Don’t miss…

With so much on offer, it’s tough to pick just one highlight. But, for us, what’s truly unmissable (in every sense of the word!) is Thailand’s amazing Buddhist culture. It permeates every part of Thai life, from the ginormous Phra Buddha Maha Mawamin at Wat Muang through to the teensy shrines built into street walls. Foreigners are welcome at many retreats and classes so you can dive right in – the free daily meditation sessions at Bangkok’s Wat Mahathat are a great place to start.

SPAIN

If you’re a newly qualified teacher and want to teach in western Europe, our top pick is Spain. This warm, fiery nation has an ongoing thirst for qualified TEFL teachers with or without previous experience. Plus this gorgeous country is filled to the brim with a love of celebrations, stunning Pyrenees mountains, energetic cities and amazing beaches where you can relax the day away under those stunning deep blue skies. In fact, it’s pretty impossible not to have an amazing time teaching English in Spain.

Teaching jobs in Spain

The vast majority of TEFL jobs in Spain are in private language centres, which you’ll find all over the major cities. For shorter stints of teaching, also check out the country’s numerous summer camps. There’s a big demand for private tutoring in Spain too, which can be a good way to top up your wages once you’re in the country.

Qualifications to teach in Spain

The main qualification you need to teach English in Spain is your TEFL certificate. While you’ll find more opportunities if you have a bachelor’s degree and teaching experience, neither is absolutely essential to find work, making Spain a great pick for newbie TEFL teachers and students.

Earning potential for TEFL in Spain

Expect to earn around $1,000 to $2,000 per month teaching English in Spain. This should be enough to cover your living costs if you don’t splurge too often. If your budget feels tight, look at topping up your salary with private tutoring.

Don’t miss…

Spain has some truly spectacular architecture, to rival its fabulous beaches and stunning mountains. For us, the tangling sculpture of Gaudi’s La Sagrada Família tops the list of what to see – despite (or maybe because of) remaining unfinished more than a century after building first began.

ARGENTINA

Teaching English in South America should be part of anyone’s TEFL adventure. The tricky part is picking just one country out of so many fabulous options – but we’re going to plump for Argentina as our top TEFL pick right now. This enticing country offers a TEFL jobs’ market that’s bursting at the seams with fabulous teaching opportunities for both experienced and newly qualified teachers. If that’s not enough to tempt you, picture yourself working with super-welcoming people in a country which boasts both spectacular natural scenery and a gorgeous capital – plus is fast positioning itself as a global producer of scrumptious wines.

TEFL jobs in Argentina

The bulk of the TEFL posts in Argentina are in private language centres in Buenos Aires and Córdoba as well as more touristy areas such Salta and Mendoza. Most employers want to interview in person, so you’ll stand the best chance of finding work if you travel to the country first. Once there, you may well get hired on the spot.

Qualifications to teach English in Argentina

The high demand for native English teachers in Argentina means that you only really need a TEFL certificate to find work. However, you’ll find more (and higher paid) opportunities if you also have a bachelor’s degree and teaching experience.

Earning potential for TEFL in Argentina

Like most countries in South America, TEFL wages in Argentina aren’t brilliant but, on the flip side, living costs are also comparatively low. You can expect to earn around $600 to $1,200 per month. Bear in mind that many posts are part-time so TEFL teachers in Argentina often take on more than one job at a time to bring their earnings up to a decent level.

Don’t miss…

The gorgeous capital, Buenos Aires, is the epitome of a vibrant city that never sleeps. But for a truly spine-tingling experience, make sure you head to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares – you can’t fail to be spellbound as vast chunks of jagged ice break off the Glaciar Perito Moreno and roar into the turquoise glacier waters below.

CHINA

No list of top TEFL destinations is complete without China which is far and away the world’s biggest TEFL jobs market. It’s not simply the abundance of work that places China firmly on our best places to teach list though. This unique country’s unquenchable desire for English is combined with 50+ UNESCO World Heritage sites, emerald paddy fields and aeons old temples all jostling for attention with neck-stretchingly high skyscrapers and cities that appear to expand each time you blink. There’s nowhere else in the world like it.

TEFL jobs in China

The majority of TEFL jobs in China are in private language centres in and around the big cities but you can find TEFL jobs pretty much anywhere in China, including with businesses and professionals, particularly if you apply direct.

Qualifications to teach English in China

China is a great place to land your first teaching post, as there are tons of opportunities open to newly qualified TEFL teachers. You’ll normally need to be over 21 years old, have a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate as well as be a native English speaker to find paid teaching work. If you don’t have all of these qualifications, China is another country with fabulous paid internships which have lower entry criteria.

Earning potential for TEFL in China

TEFL wages in China are at the higher of the scale, particularly in comparison with the cost of living. Anything from $1,200 to $3,500 is normal. Housing, flights, completion bonus and health insurance may well be included in your salary package. If they’re not mentioned, it’s worth asking – paid accommodation in particularly can make a big difference to how much you’ve got left over at the end of each month.

Don’t miss…

We would say the Great Wall of China is the unmissable sight but we reckon you’ll already know about that one. So for us, the truly awesome sight that you can’t leave China without seeing is the extraordinary Terracotta Army who’ve silently guarded their emperor for more than 2,000 years.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Ask a TEFL teacher to name the best places to earn a top salary teaching English and the UAE (or, more precisely, Dubai) is pretty much guaranteed to be on their list. And, if we’re honest, it’s the opportunity to earn a top TEFL salary that attracts most English teachers to the Gulf States. However, there’s far more to the UAE than good wages. You’ll find stunning mountain peaks, sparkling beaches and rippling deserts all on offer – plus, of course, the glitz, glamour and fabulous shopping that Dubai is so well known for.

Teaching jobs in the UAE

Most TEFL posts in the UAE are in private language centres and public schools in Dubai but you can pick up the work across the region, with Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Kahmiah and Sharjah all offering some options. Allow yourself plenty of time to apply, as the application and visa process can take several months. Once you’re given a contract however, it will normally last for at least two years.

Qualifications to teach English in the UAE

With such great benefits on offer, it’s no surprise that posts in the UAE are competitive. You’ll normally need to be a native English speaker with at least one year’s experience as well as a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL qualification to pick up work here. UAE is not the place to look for your first TEFL post.

Earning potential for the UAE

The UAE is one of the best places to build up good savings as a TEFL teacher. You’ll normally receive good quality housing, airfares and paid holiday on top of an already generous (and often tax-free) salary of anything from $1,500 to $4,000. This means you can live a super-comfortable life teaching English in the UAE and still build up decent savings.

Don’t miss…

If you’re living in Dubai, it’s pretty much mandatory to indulge in an all-out glamorous shopping experience at least once or twice. But if you want a break from the luxury, head to the never-ending, shimmering sand dunes of Liwa Oasis for an unforgettably stunning experience.

WHERE WILL YOU GO FIRST?

So now you’ve seen our shortlist of best places to teach abroad, which one is calling out to you? If you’re ready to go, head straight over to LoveTEFL Jobs to find your dream job. If you’d like a hand to get started, get in touch and one of our friendly TEFL experts will give you a call back. You’ll be teaching English around the world in no time!

Our Top TEFL Reviews in 2021

Posted on July 1, 2021June 29, 2021 by Fay Arnison

We’re not ones to blow our own trumpet (well, maybe now and again) but we’ve been so overwhelmed by the stunning TEFL reviews we’ve been getting from our graduates this year that we simply can’t keep quiet about it. We love hearing all about what you’ve found amazing and discovering your ideas of how we can make your TEFL journey even better.

So, in recognition of how much your reviews really do mean to us, we’re presenting our top TEFL reviews in 2021 so far.

Top Review of i-to-i’s Virtual Practical TEFL Course

Covid-19 has turned everyone’s plans upside down – and we’ve had to think long and hard about how best to keep delivering the amazing courses you expect. We’re so happy that you’ve embraced our new virtual practical TEFL course with all the fabulous content from our two-day practical classroom course but delivered virtually.

Thank you Gem, for summing up what it’s all about in your great review:

“The Virtual Practical with Suzanne was so fun and went so fast – she kept the energy up and introduced/re-introduced concepts I’d read about and helped put everything in my course into practice which was awesome. Before the 2-day online course I felt like I would never be able to put anything I’d learned about into action, but Suzanne had us teach micro lessons and also participate in assessed Teaching Practices at the end of both days, gave us great feedback on what we did well and where we could improve. Highly recommended!”

Top Review of i-to-i’s Online TEFL Courses

Our online TEFL courses are the beating heart of all that we do here at i-to-i. We’ve received so many positive reviews on all our TEFL courses from our Level 3 TEFL certificate for volunteer TEFL teachers right through to our career-boosting Level 5 Advanced TEFL Diploma that it was almost impossible to pick just one review – but we’ve landed on this fabulously detailed one from Natacha. Thanks Natacha!

“I really enjoyed my course through i-to-i TEFL. The study content in the text is very detailed and informative. Explanations are great and easy to understand, the videos and links for extra information or further reading are awesome too. The quizzes throughout keep you honest with yourself and show you what you need to put more focus on. The feedback on submitted assignments is fantastic for improvement as it’s clearly shown where you are going wrong and what you are doing right. I learnt so much throughout my course, it wasn’t what I expected…it was so much more! The completion of my course through i-to-i TEFL has left me feeling excited, confident and ready for my TEFL journey!”

Top Review of i-to-i’s Student Support

We make our online TEFL courses super flexible, so you can study when and where suits you. But that definitely doesn’t mean you’re on your own. We’re here to help you at every stage of your learning via phone, webchat and email. Thank you, Julia for your amazing review, that explains it so well:

“i-to-i staff are there to support you 100% of the way! The course material is detailed and very well written! The staff at i-to-i answers their phones and are very helpful with quick email response time. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and feel ready and raring to start teaching. I know they will continue to hold my hand in support and guidance as I look for a job. Adios Amigos!”

Top Review for our TEFL Jobs Support Service

We’re firm believers in continuing to support your TEFL journey after you complete our TEFL course. We totally love that so many of our graduates find TEFL positions through our LoveTEFL Jobs site and use our Resource Packs to help develop their teaching – and have been particularly excited by your response to our newly launched TEFL Jobs Support Service. Our brilliant reward has been hearing the amazing stories from TEFL graduates who are now finding work, after receiving the free, personal assistance for finding a job, such as this review from Leann:

“I obtained my TEFL Qualification and I had been facing a bit of difficulty with finding a job online. When I reached out to i-to-i, the response was just amazing. Jordan has literally handheld me through the process, constantly reassuring me and giving me proper guidelines and great advice to achieve my dream. I am so grateful to Jordan for his amazing support, immense patience to answer my tirade of questions and keen individualised attention. Thank you so much once again.”

Top Review of i-to-i’s TEFL Team

We think our hard-working team members are amazing, so we’re incredibly happy when they get a mention in your reviews. Whether you’re reflecting on a TEFL expert matching you to the TEFL course that’s best for you or supporting you throughout your training, or helping you to find the TEFL job of your dreams words like ‘Wow!’, ‘Amazing,’ ‘Friendly,’ ‘Wonderful,’ and ‘Incredibly helpful,’ crop up time and again. Thank you for shouting out about all that our fabulous staff do. We think Bhavna sums it up so well (and good luck with your TEFL jobs!):

“i-to-i has been very supportive from the moment my husband and I enquired about the 180 hour TEFL course to feedback on our assignments to their prompt delivery of the certificates. Everyone we have communicated with has been extremely helpful and professional. Gemma James has been so patient with all my questions and has always replied to me with lengths of information. I am happy to announce that through their job support websites, my husband and I have confirmed jobs in China! THANK YOU!!!!!!!”

Top Review of i-to-i

We’re so passionate about helping you become amazing TEFL teachers that we can get a bit emotional reading how much it means to you too. We couldn’t resist slipping in one last review that really did make us go ‘Awww’ Thank you, Pam for warming our hearts:

“Exceptional service. And backed up by knowledgeable and helpful customer service. The course itself is brilliant, and the information and skills development, I can only recommend. It is rare today to actually have zero complaints and only accolades for all administrators, teachers, in fact anyone that I have dealt with at i-to-i. Thank you.”

After reading these wonderful TEFL reviews, we’re feeling all gooey inside. If you’ve not started your TEFL adventure yet, check out our TEFL courses online or request a call back from one of our fabulous TEFL experts. We can’t wait to help you experience the complete amazingness of teaching and travelling online and around the world.

Most of all though, we want to send a huge i-to-i TEFL thank you to everyone who takes time to leave us a review. You all rate five stars in our book!

i-to-i TEFL courses get stamp of approval from US accreditation body

Posted on June 23, 2021June 25, 2021 by Fay Arnison

Here at i-to-i we’re thrilled to announce that both our TEFL certificates and TEFL diplomas have got an official stamp of approval from the highly regarded US accreditation body, DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission).

DEAC is formally recognised by both the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as an authority on quality assessment of distance education – so they definitely know their stuff when it comes to evaluating online courses! This means we’re particularly proud that i-to-i is one of a very select group of course providers across the world to achieve the status of DEAC approved AQC (Approved Quality Curriculum) provider. Hurrah to us!

Why are quality marks important for TEFL courses?

Gaining a quality mark like DEAC approved AQC provider status isn’t simply about a lovely new logo for our website – although we do love seeing DEAC on our accreditation page.

i-to-i is a strong believer in pushing forward the professionalism and high quality of TEFL courses. In our view, it’s super-important for TEFL teachers to have excellent training that gives them the skills and knowledge they need to teach effective English lessons and leads to a qualification respected by TEFL employers around the world. Recognised quality marks are a key part of this approach. They provide an objective, external evaluation of how we’re doing, plus give us a brilliant opportunity to review our own delivery in a really structured way.

In other words, achieving a stamp of approval from an organisation such as DEAC means that both you and TEFL employers can be confident you’re training with a TEFL provider that puts quality at the heart of everything they do. Pretty important, eh?

How did you achieve DEAC AQC status?

To achieve our DEAC AQC provider status, i-to-i had to go through a rigorous, nine-month process, where everything from our policies to our support for students to our courses themselves were submitted for scrutiny. This included two separate rounds of providing evidence, a thorough evaluation against in-depth quality standards by an appointed assessor and two stages of committee meetings reviewing our courses. This was definitely not a tick-box exercise!

All of this made it even more exciting to read our approval letter from DEAC’s executive director confirming that: “DEAC expressed its confidence that the courses meet the academic quality standards the Accrediting Commission has established for distance education.”

And we must admit we were particularly delighted that we passed each stage of the process at our first attempt!

Why does DEAC AQC matter on top of Ofqual?

From our very early days, i-to-i has been accredited the UK’s Open and Distance Learning Quality Council, undergoing a regular review of our processes to make absolute sure we’re doing our very best to deliver quality to our students.

In 2016, we took this a step further and became the very first TEFL course provider to have our TEFL qualifications regulated by Ofqual (the UK government’s body responsible for regulating qualifications in England). This means that our assessment processes and standards are thoroughly reviewed on a continuous basis and the TEFL qualification you receive is officially recognised by everyone from UCAS to TEFL employers across the globe.

We are super happy to have both these official stamps of approval – but we’re never one to rest on our laurels. With our ever-growing number of TEFL students in the US, we felt it was important for a recognised US accreditation body to also thoroughly evaluate the quality of our courses. Plus, we knew that going through a new, rigorous review process would be another fabulous opportunity to check we’re continuing to deliver to high standards across the board.

DEAC specialises in accrediting distance learning, from primary school to doctoral degree level. Their expertise, alongside their official recognition as a national accreditation body by the US Department of Education, made them a perfect fit to assess the quality of i-to-i’s flexible TEFL certification and diploma courses. So, we were super-proud when the DEAC’s Academic Review Committee formally recommended our courses for AQC (Approved Quality Curriculum) status. Yippee!

We told you we believe in high standards! Now, what’s next?

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10 Things to Know About TEFL

Posted on June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 by Fay Arnison

Imagine leaving the grey skies behind and zooming off for a sensation-drenched TEFL adventure across the globe. Or perhaps you’d prefer to picture yourself with a super-flexible career teaching English online from anywhere you fancy – whether that’s a sun-baked beach or your own living room.

With TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), this really can be your life. And to start you on your TEFL journey, we’ve pulled together 10 things to know about TEFL. We’re good like that!

Once you’ve read our blog post, why not head straight to our TEFL courses and start your training today? Or if you want to find out even more about TEFL, download our TEFL brochure or request a call back from one of our TEFL experts. We always love chatting about all things TEFL!

i-to-i TEFL Job Testimonials

Posted on May 12, 2021May 12, 2021 by Fay Arnison

We’re delighted to announce the success of our brand-new TEFL Jobs Support Team! Over the past few months, Jordan and the team have been working incredibly hard to help graduates just like you land top TEFL Jobs. Whether it’s online or abroad, we’re here to give you the support, help, and guidance you need to bag that all-important teaching role. You may have completed your TEFL certificate with us, but the work doesn’t stop there! We’re on hand to help you every step of the way in your TEFL journey. Through CV/resume consultations and interview prep, you’ll be oozing with confidence in no time and ready to take on the world of teaching! Find out what our graduates have to say about us in our TEFL job testimonials…

“The service provided by the Job Support Team, specifically from Jordan, has been a tremendous help and I am so thankful”

“My experience with i-to-i has been terrific, to say the least. The material is well thought out and prepares one for the market as an ESL teacher. The service provided by the Job Support Team, specifically from Jordan, has been a tremendous help and I am so thankful as he not only patiently answered all my questions but went above and beyond to ensure that my TEFL dream will come true. I have thus far obtained interviews with my first choice destinations to teach English and am over the moon with joy and excitement. This would not have been as smooth a ride without the assistance offered by the job support team and Jordan Williams, my deepest thanks”.

– Schalk Boltman (South Africa)

” I recently landed an unbelievable job opportunity in Hong Kong, which I found through the i-to-i jobs board, LoveTEFL.com”

“I am a science graduate from South Africa who has always been drawn towards the great travel and working prospects surrounding TEFL. When COVID hit, I decided to take the plunge and buy a 320-hour TEFL course from i-to-i to keep myself busy during lockdown. I absolutely loved how thorough, interesting and well-organised the online course was, and it confirmed my belief that I would love teaching English and I would particularly love the great opportunities that TEFL can give you! I also recently completed the 20-hour practical teaching weekend and it was incredibly helpful and loads of fun. The instructor was amazingly knowledgeable, professional and supportive! I felt far more prepared and confident to tackle classroom teaching after the practical course, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! All in all, i-to-i has been unmatched in its professionalism and in the vast amount of support, care, and resources it provided to ensure its customers are fully prepared for any TEFL experience we could possibly want! I also recently landed an unbelievable job opportunity in Hong Kong, which I found through the i-to-i jobs board, LoveTEFL.com. I will be jetting off to live my dream in Hong Kong in May and I couldn’t be more excited! Thanks so much for the access to the resources, I will definitely be making use of them when I start!”.

– Suzie ( South Africa)

” I landed my first teaching position within a week”

“I’m from Australia and have been living in Europe for some time. I worked as a therapist for many years before deciding to combine my love of languages with a new job. I decided to complete a TEFL certificate and look to teach English online as the flexible nature of the job would cater to my lifestyle. I decided to complete the course with i-to-i because the program was well organised and included all the topics I was interested in. Additionally, the support from the staff right from the beginning has been fantastic. I never had to wait for any questions to be answered and my queries were always resolved. I also liked that there were many resources available and add-on training you could pursue if you wanted to focus on a certain skill more intensively. I chose to work with the jobs support team when I finished the course as I was so overwhelmed with navigating the online teaching world and really needed to be steered in the right direction. I worked with Jordan who was very responsive and put me in contact with his colleague at Palfish. Everything happened very fast and I landed my first teaching position within a week. Even now that I have a job, the support from the Jobs team is ongoing if I need it, and I’m very thankful to the i-to-i team for giving me a great experience”.

– Monica (Australia)

“I am super excited and cannot wait to start my journey and this is all thanks to i-to-i TEFL”

“I have completed my 180h course through i-to-i-TEFL, the agency has prepared me to teach English as a foreign language. This has been a fantastic journey whilst working with the best crew on board. The support team have been very patient, enthusiastic and most definitely helpful in all aspects. I have now found a job in South Korea (Incheon) to teach English to students ages 8-12, I am super excited and can not wait to start my journey and this is all thanks to I-to-i-TEFL”,

– Izabela (South Africa)

“Upon completion, I have had so much help finding a job and have been put in contact with various job opportunities”

“After speaking to various people in the teaching field, I decided that TEFL may be the right choice for me. I began to research about all the different courses available and the outlets providing them. I was impressed with the reviews, support and resources that i-to-i promised to give, and decided to book the Level 5 course with them. Within a year, I had completed my course. It was very easy, straightforward and amazing to follow along to while working part-time. Help was always an email away, response rates were fast and my tutor was always readily available. I’ve loved my journey with i-to-i and recommend it to anyone wanting to get their TEFL certification. Upon completion, I have had so much help finding a job and have been put in contact with various job opportunities. I am so impressed with the support from the recruitment team and have already got three applications being approved (within a day of receiving my certificate). Thank you so much to everyone at i-to-i. You’ve helped me achieve my goals and literally opened up my world of opportunities.”

– Aishani Pindoria (UK)

“From the day I registered and up to completing my TEFL certificate with i-to-i, I have been consistently impressed with the service they provide, especially the job-seekers support”

“From the day I registered and up to completing my TEFL certificate with i-to-i, I have been consistently impressed with the service they provide, especially the job-seekers support. The job-seekers support took the time to understand where I wanted to be placed and what I was looking for in my first placement. Jordan Williams from i-to- liaised with one of the recruiters and I was offered 4 amazing teaching positions in China. The job seekers support truly bridges the gap between being certified and looking for your first teaching position. Jordan Williams from i-to-i was always on hand to take my calls, respond to emails and genuinely work towards making my overseas teaching dream a reality. I would recommend i-to-i to absolutely anyone looking to complete their TEFL certificate, with the assurance that once you have completed the course the job seekers support team will be on hand to assist you in securing your first overseas teaching position”.

– Alex Young (South Africa)

“The staff are really nice and were extremely helpful in finding me a job in South Korea and Hong Kong”

“I completed a 120-hour level 3 TEFL course with i-to-i. I really enjoyed the course and it was not challenging, so don’t be afraid. I also have to say that everything from ordering the course to completing it went very smoothly. My assignments were marked in less than 3 days after submission and I received my certificate the very next day. What I love also about i-to-i is that they have job consultant staff that help you find a suitable job even after your course ends! The staff are all really nice and were extremely helpful in finding me a job in South Korea and Hong Kong. I would definitely recommend this company.”

– Sidney (South Africa)

“I have now been successful having been accepted by ANYTUTOR37.COM to work on their teaching platforms”

“I qualified with the Level 5, i-to-i courses last year. Studying with the company has been a positive experience. Every interaction with the staff has been professional, helpful and timeous. However finding a job has been less positive, until I made a comment “Qualified, but without work!” in answer to one of the i-to-i emails promoting the online teaching course. This email was obviously forwarded to Jordan, i-to-i job support, who responded by return mail offering to help. He gave great advice and was so affirming and supportive, guiding me to improve the appearance of my CV and cover letter. I have now been successful-having been accepted by ANYTUTOR37.COM, to work on their teaching platforms. I am looking forward to teaching my first student. Jordan has continued to offer to support and advice- a wonderful lifeline. Thank you, Jordan and all the team at i-to-i!”.

– Phyllis (South Africa)

Need help landing your dream TEFL job? Get in touch with the TEFL Jobs Team at [email protected] and our friendly experts will be in touch!

Good luck and happy TEFLing!

How to be a good TEFL teacher

Posted on April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 by Fay Arnison

You’ve completed your TEFL course and have your shiny TEFL certificate in hand, but now the doubts are starting to form. How can I be a good TEFL teacher? Am I capable enough? Can I actually do this? These are some of the top worries we hear from our graduates. Starting your new career as a TEFL teacher, whether that’s teaching English online or travelling around the world to teach English abroad, can seem quite daunting, but trust us, it doesn’t need to be!

You’ll be starting out on a brand new journey that’s likely to be unlike anything you’ve experienced before. You’ll use skills you’ll have picked up throughout your life, and you’ll carry them forward with you into your future education and professional endeavours. We’ve put together some of the top skills you’ll need to make you a fantastic TEFL teacher. Check them out!