Gap year TEFL courses
Teaching your native language in a foreign country isn’t easy, but it is hugely rewarding. Becoming part of a native community allows you to get to know the country in a way hopping from hostel to hostel never can. You’ll learn as much from your students as they will from you. But before you grab a dictionary, a tube of sunscreen and a suitcase, hold on… there’s a lot more to this teaching lark than there may seem. Thought it was easy? Just wait ‘til they ask you to explain the difference between present and continuous tense…
Do you need a TEFL certificate?
As you’d expect, teaching English is a wildly popular option for gap year participants. So certificates are now requisite for many positions (but not all positions by any means) – in fact, you might think twice about working in a school where they’re not. Don’t despair: you can obtain a TEFL certificate in a month, so it shouldn’t hold up your plans for too long.
When you start looking for a TEFL course, look out for two of the most recognised qualifications: the Cambridge Celta and the Trinity CertTesol. Both of these will stand you in good stead with potential employers. Both require you to have completed 100 hours of study, including 6 hours of teaching; you can build this up abroad, or at home. There’s a wide choice of TEFL courses listed on Season Workers, from a month’s study in Prague to on-site training and placement in Thailand; you can even gain your qualification long-distance before departure. And don’t see your TEFL certificate solely in terms of gap opportunities – it’s a practical skill that you could return to at any time in the future, so this is a qualification that’s definitely worth taking.