Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Career – Is It a Good Idea?

TEFL has become one of the largest education industries in the world. The growth of the industry means that there is also a growth in opportunities, especially in China. English 1 now proudly boasts over 300 schools across 50 cities in China. Your role as a TEFL teacher primarily involves delivering English language lessons to groups; these could be children and/or teens. You are not just simply a teacher; you are someone who opens up the world of English to students, inspiring them and helping them shape their futures. I could write about how amazing a TEFL career is for a long time, but I’ll try to keep it brief.

For some people, a TEFL is the gateway to an adventure of living in another country. For others, it is their first step in their career towards their goals, whatever they may be. Most TEFL jobs offer a one-year contract with the option for renewal, so it can be used as a gap year from studies and offers you the opportunity to be partially flexible with your career. Some people will complete a year and realise that they love it so much that they end up renewing their contracts for several more years. Others will ‘call it quits’ after a year but will generally have a better understanding of themselves and their career pathway. My cousin went abroad to teach English for a year; fast forward ten to fifteen years, and now he's living in Vietnam, having taught all over the world and even opened his own school.

It is as fun as it looks in the pictures you see on the internet. If you want your sessions to be fun and energetic, then make them fun and energetic! Teachers typically have to follow a curriculum set by the school or centre, but they have the freedom to teach in their own style. Here at English 1, teachers are encouraged to be creative and try new things. Not only do students learn from the teachers, but we teachers also learn from students. We start to think about the students—how they learn, what they like, how we can improve their weaknesses, etc.—but we also learn about what we are capable of doing ourselves. You may find yourself teaching the same lesson to a few different groups, but you will never have two lessons the same!

Embarking on a TEFL career will provide you with many benefits. For starters, it offers the opportunity to live and work in another country, with added opportunities for travel within the country or to nearby destinations. It is also not necessary to have previous work experience, which can be difficult to obtain, and it provides an excellent chance to gain experience. English 1 warmly welcomes first-time teachers, alongside many experienced educators, and provides all the training and resources needed to support you every step of the way and help you start strong. There are also opportunities for progression and development; being a teacher isn't the only role available in the TEFL industry—you could be involved in management, content creation, marketing, and so on. If you're someone who is driven by money, you'll be pleased to know that TEFL jobs offer a competitive wage and usually come with additional benefits such as insurance and accommodation/flight allowances. In addition to all these benefits, you also get the opportunity to meet many like-minded individuals and make friends for life.