TEFL / TESOL Blog


I'm A Licensed Teacher: Do I Need A TEFL Certification To Teach English Abroad?


31st May 2024

When you observe the standard work criteria of schools and consider English teaching employment overseas or English teaching online, you may be thinking, ‘But I'm already a teacher,’. Do I also require TEFL certification? In many ways, having a Master of Arts in Education with TESOL along with K-12 teaching certification and experience puts you ahead of the game when it comes to succeeding in the ESL classroom. That being said, there are still clear benefits to certification for teachers, including gaining new skills, landing better jobs, and staying up to date on the most recent teaching techniques.

Do I Really Need A TEFL Certificate?

It's quite probable that you have come across the necessity of a TEFL certificate on online job boards for teachers if you have been looking through job vacancies. it is a basic requirement to secure a job teaching English to non-native speakers. Given your credentials and background, it's possible that you overlooked this specific need.

You may have imagined that, as a qualified educator, you may get teaching positions abroad without really needing a TEFL certificate. Surely there isn't much of a difference between teaching abroad and at home? There is a common misconception that those without any teaching experience or educational background are ineligible for a TEFL certificate. If you truly go overseas, you could be in for a little reality check if you truly believe that.

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How A TEFL Certificate Can Help You?

Here are a few ways how a TEFL certification can help you and why earning one is worth it:

1. You Will Be Ready To Teach Abroad

While it certainly helps, enrolling in a TEFL course isn't only about increasing your employability as a foreign teacher. Obtaining TEFL certification will improve your teaching abilities and effectiveness. You are depriving your pupils of something by forgoing TEFL certification. They should have access to the greatest learning environment possible, as well as a teacher who has the training and resources necessary to address their particular needs.

Regardless of the topic they will be teaching, every foreign teacher is essentially a language teacher in some sense. There will be a wide range of pupils in your class, from native English speakers to those who are just starting to learn the language. Some pupils may not even be able to comprehend the words you speak.

2. You Will Qualify For Higher Salaries

You are the ideal teaching candidate for any school, having earned your TEFL certification! You will be considered for many of the best teaching positions abroad due to your teaching qualifications. Very little is in the way of you.

In addition to your teaching credentials, a TEFL degree will make you more marketable for higher-paying positions in superior international schools. It would be a great shame if your TEFL-sized gap in your CV disqualifies you from consideration for your ideal teaching position. If you're in a time or budgetary pinch and are considering forgoing TEFL certification, you should think about taking online TEFL classes.
 


3. You Stand Out Of The Competition

Hiring institutions will want to delve deeply into your teaching methodology during the interview stage of hiring for teaching positions abroad. Even though you are an expert in all things related to lesson plans and classroom management, you will not have honed these abilities in the context of a foreign language classroom, which is ultimately what matters to schools abroad.

You must enroll in an internationally accredited TEFL course that will guide you through important vocabulary and techniques. The recruiting school would undoubtedly probe you in your foreign teaching interview about how you would modify your lessons for English language learners. The worst part is that when it comes to these crucial interview questions, other applicants who are probably less competent than you but who still went through the required process of becoming TEFL certified will surpass you.

4. You Will Gain Professional Development

It's likely that if you've been teaching for a while, the techniques you employ in the classroom are from a few years ago. To stay current with the finest evidence-based practices for 21st-century classrooms and to ensure that your skills and approaches remain relevant, professional development is essential for ESL instructors.

For this same reason, some ESL teachers obtain TEFL/TESOL certification to stay up to date on the newest approaches and develop specialized knowledge with particular age groups.

Select The Best For Yourself

Your present teaching credentials will undoubtedly be useful in your EFL/ESL classroom, but investing in a specialist Master of Arts in Education with TESOL certification will provide you with focused training that will elevate both your resume and your teaching abilities. If you are an experienced teacher looking to qualify for more ESL jobs, this certification will help you.

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Written By : Sanjana Chowdhury    Share



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