Is it common for people to settle down in one place for a month or so and enroll in a TEFL course abroad while traveling? For those that have done so..How was it? Are the visas, paperwork, formalities, etc... more of a headache than one would expect? I would love to hear from those with any previous experience.
Thanks in Advance!
forevercurious
1
winniep
Some people do while others don't. Some people who go into TEFL/TESOL choose a country that they want to teach in (e.g., Czech Republic, Thailand, China... ) and then go there and get certificated.
A lot of the TEFL courses don't provide you with a visa, since they're usually only 4 weeks long. If you want more specific info, tell us what countries you're interested in. Some have different restrictions e.g., you need to get a visa for China.
Check out Dave's ESL Cafe- for more details.
2
jetgirly
The best TEFL courses will fill in advance, and just showing up on the spot will probably mean they won't have room for you. If you're willing to get just any TEFL certicate, then you'll probably be okay in a major urban center. In terms of visas, you would need to enter the country on a tourist visa. Once you found a job, assuming you were legally eligible, you could apply for a work visa. You may need your employer to sponsor you. A lot of this depends on your nationality and which country you want to go to - eslcafe.com is a good resource.
3
tedkarma
Most people take their courses while on a tourist visa, but the better schools will often help you get either an education visa or a visa that is preparatory to seeking employment there. BUT - this varies a lot depending on the specific country and regulations and laws tend to change regularly with out consulting those they affect the most.
4
russ_pearce
Here in Argentina you have to work "under the table" and leave the country every 90 days to renew your visa. No taxes, but no working visa either. Then again, the pay is so low that they would have some nerve to ask for tax!!
My wife and I both took a TEFL course in Buenos Aires in January 2006 and haven't looked back since. It has been an amazing experience and now, with 2 years teaching behind us, we are looking forward to exploring somewhere else in the world in 2008 and beyond.
If you want to know which school, send me a message and I will give you the details. I don't want to be accused of spamming by posting a link!!!!
Personally, I could not teach English the way I do without having done the course. It was absolutely invaluable.
5
pickles6923
In some countries it's a lot harder to turn up, simply down to visa reasons. In many countries you need a uni degree to work, I certianly found that when looking for work in Asia. I found this page useful when looking at the different countries. teaching in Asia. I did an i-to-i course in Melbourne, I thought it was a good introduction to teaching overseas. Hope this helps, and good luck (it's a bit of a minefield! TEFL courses
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