Why do some contries require a degeree to teach English
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Written by: Chris Soames
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Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 |
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For those of us who want to teach English, TEFL courses are available in varying shapes and sizes, and are helping more and more people to get the qualifications they need. Whether or not you need a degree does very much depend on where you want to go and how long you want to go for. If you're volunteering for a few weeks by teaching in Latin America, a good TEFL course is generally all that's required, but if you're planning to earn money on a permanent placement in Taiwan then you'll need a degree. A longer placement will require either more experience or more qualifications, just as it would any other subject, but there are a few other considerations too...
Visas
One of the reasons you'll need a degree is the long arm of the law. In Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong a work visa for teaching English requires a degree. It's illegal to work and earn money on a tourist visa, so unfortunately no matter how great your passion for teaching is, you probably don't want to risk working without the right visa.
Individual countries have individual needs and often legal requirements are the only way of making sure they achieve what's best for the country. If they're already over populated, or just popular with English teachers, being a little stricter with their specifications may be the only way of limiting the number of applicants.
Higher paid jobs in countries like Japan and South Korea will receive a huge amount of interest and often the only way that schools can ensure they choose the right candidate, is to insist on a degree. Fewer applications means more time to consider each application, so their choice of candidate may have nothing to do with their degree but they will be the right person for the job!
Level of English
Teachers around the globe will tell you that it's a rewarding profession, but it's no easy option. TEFL courses can have a steep learning curve if your grammar and group learning are rusty. It's surprising how much you can learn in a short period of time, but a career teaching abroad will require a whole host of skills that a degree and a more in-depth teaching course can prepare you for.
It's to this end that some schools will ask for teachers with degrees even if it's not a legal requirement. Different schools will require different standards of English because their students will need to use it in different situations. In a country like China where there are so many successful industries, English can be very important. If the school wants its students to be able to speak business English, then you'll have to teach them how convey business strategy as well as the basics of the language!
Political situation
With so many different opinions, beliefs and cultures some countries have had more than their share of political unrest and are still trying to recover from years of conflict. As such, they'll often be desperate for English teachers so requirements aren't as strict as you'd imagine! Countries such as Honduras are becoming popular travel destinations and their developing travel industries increases the need for English. However, you'll still need passion and, of course, that all-important TEFL qualification!
Overall
A degree in any discipline won't necessarily prepare you for everything. But in the same way that a degree often means a better job at home, many countries take it as an indication that you've taken more time to develop your skills. Knowledge is power, so make sure you know all of the requirements of your chosen country before you put pen to paper.
Links
a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Teaching_English>WikiTravel - teaching English abroad
a href="http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl?read=3337>eslteachersboard.com - Is a Degree Necessary to Teach English Abroad?
About the Author
Chris Soames - I to I Gap Year Travel provide fulfilling and life-changing travel experiences to anyone with a desire to get out there and make a difference for the better.
In the last year alone we have assisted over 5,000 volunteers to have a life-changing travel experience in 24 countries around the world.
If you're looking for a unique travel experience working abroad, look no further! i-to-i's the perfect way to meet new people with our volunteer abroad & gap year travel programs.
Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Chris Soames Marketing & PR Email: chris@i-to-i.com
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