Articles for Teachers
someone entering TEFL abroad next year
By:mt
If you can, try to secure a position at an English university, meaning a university where the majority of courses are taught in English; they're most common in countries with a large U.S. military presence (Germany, Japan, etc.) The pay is better and you will actually be putting your degrees to use. If that fails, look for a position as an English teacher at a native language university. Some of them require a higher level English degree, but many don't. As someone who has taught English in Japan and Korea, I can tell you from experience that teaching ESL at any level below the college level is a waste of your education and skills; you will be little more than a glorified babysitter. Students studying English at the university level are genuinely interested in furthering their English skills, and will provide a professional challenge for you. Universities also provide more job security; you will generally sign a contract that is legally binding, meaning they cannot terminate you for any arbitrary reasons, as is often the case at ESL institutions for elementary and high school students.