TEFL Course in Spain

With its year round good weather Spain has long been a popular holiday destination for northern European holiday makers looking for a bit of sun in their lives. And the coasts are generally full of Brits trying to make a little bit of Britain in the sun, taking with them their cups of tea, bangers and mash and Sky TV cards. But there is much more to Spain than the beaches and tourist ghettos. From the Pyrenees in the north to the islands in the sea, the geography in Spain is as varied as its history. It is a history that can be experienced by visiting ancient Roman ruins such as the magnificent aqueduct in Segovia or the ruins of Italica in Seville. Spain’s Islamic history can also be experienced at the Great Mosque of Cordoba, although this is now a Catholic cathedral it is a wonderful example of Moorish architecture in Spain with its awe inspiring prayer hall. Then of course there are the famous Spanish festivals with the running of the bulls in Pamplona perhaps the most famous as well as the tomato throwing festival La Tomatina in Valencia.

So what about teaching English in Spain? Is it a viable option? The simple answer is yes, it is. There are thousands of private language schools throughout the country and opportunities are plentiful n the major cities. Although there are jobs in state schools for language teaching assistants the majority of work is to be found in the private language centres. The best way to go about job hunting is to actually be in Spain rather than applying for jobs from abroad. Preference will always be given to someone who is already in the country and employers do like to meet potential employees face-to-face. Another great way to get into the job market is to take your TEFL course in Spain, this way you’ll benefit from the local knowledge and contacts of your school and trainers and will also be in a better position when it comes to deciding where to teach.

ITTT offers in class TEFL course at four schools in the north and south of Spain. In the north there’s Barcelona, while there are three options in the Andalucía region; Seville, Granada and Malaga. If you decide to take the course in Barcelona, in your time you will be able to steep yourself in the local culture during the day and bustling nightlife after sundown, or refresh yourself with a chilled day a the beach. For those who really appreciate history and the arts the course in Seville will be perfect. This ancient town is more than 2000 years old and is the home of the Flamenco. The course in Granada is ideally located for those interested in the Moorish history of the country and it is the home of the magnificent Alhambra Palace. Granada’s location in the Sierra Nevada mountains means there’s skiing in the winter while the beaches are not too far away. Another one for the art lovers, Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso and its museum hosts the largest collection of his works. Whichever place you choose to do your TEFL course in Spain you will benefit from the advice and experience of qualified professional trainers who will guide you to becoming the best English teacher you can be. Whether you are into culture, sport, food, night life or beach life Spain has a lot to offer the TEFL trainee and newly qualified TEFL teacher.

Check this link for more information: website

Teaching Jobs in Dubai

Home to the Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world and also home to the World, Dubai is an amazing city that will astound you at every corner. Although many people think Dubai and the UAE are the same thing Dubai is in fact one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. But with projects such as the Burj, the Palm Islands and the World, it is understandable that Dubai is the most well known of the seven. A millionaire’s playground it is also understandable why many see visiting Dubai as visiting the future and it is certainly a thriving modern city, but inside the modernity are oases of the past like the Al Bastakiya district where you can soak up the beautiful historic Islamic architecture while looking out at the beautiful modern Islamic architecture of the Burj.  As you can imagine for a city in the desert the climate is pretty hot most of the time with average temperatures in the summer months reaching 40°C, there is some relief in the winter as temperatures drop to a chilly 20°C.

ESL jobs are plentiful in Dubai and are very well paid compared to most other countries in the world but the requirements for teachers are quite stringent. Anyone looking for a job here will need to have a university degree and will probably need to provide academic transcripts. You will also need a TESOL or TEFL certificate and at least two years teaching experience. To work in the UAE you will need a work permit and residence visa the paperwork for which should be handled by your employer. You will also be required to have a medical check up at an approved clinic or hospital involving blood tests and x-rays.  However, this is all worth it as salaries in Dubai are often a lot higher than elsewhere and are also tax-free. Employment packages are also a lot more generous than most for English teachers and include paid return flights, free accommodation, health insurance and end of contract bonuses.

English teaching jobs are to be found in state and private schools, international schools and private business English schools catering for adult professionals as well as universities. Salaries vary but can reach as high as US$5000 per month depending on qualifications and experience some good sites to try for jobs are:

http://www.eslemployment.com/location/esl-jobs-Dubai-United-Arab-Emirates.html
http://www.dubaijobber.com/jobs/education/
http://dubai-bb.com/dubai-classifieds-39.html
http://www.gncareers.com/jobs/teaching-27679670-b
http://www.tesall.com/feedviewer/middle_east

The cost of living is high at around US$1000 to US$2000 per month but with free accommodation and health insurance and tax-free income this is somewhat offset and it is perfectly possible to put away a sizable chunk of your income every month. It is also quite easy to blow through the whole lot every month if you are not careful.

Five Ways a TESOL Course Can Help You to Teach English Abroad

Besides being a requirement for nearly all English teaching jobs, a TESOL course has one major goal, to make you a better teacher.  By completing English teacher training you not only help yourself, but more importantly, your students. Knowing what to teach and when, how to analyze and teach English grammar, the importance of group work in an ESL classroom and how best to arrange your students in a class are just some of the things you learn how to do.  A TESOL course has many advantages and these include:

1.) A TESOL course will improve your understanding of your students’ learning.  One key aspect of teaching languages is knowing how students learn languages and what types of things to teach.

2.) A TESOL course will improve your understanding of the TESOL industry as a whole.  Knowledge of industry specific terminology, major trends in English teaching and an understanding of country specific requirements will give you an edge when securing an English teaching job.

3.) A TESOL course will improve your understanding of English grammar.  Speaking English and knowing how to teach it are very different.  Knowing why we use certain grammatical forms and not just what we use is imperative in English teaching.  Being able to explain to your students the form and function of grammatical usage will dramatically improve your student’s confidence in you as a teacher.

4.) A TESOL course will provide direction and assistance in securing a job.  Most reputable TESOL courses also provide job placement assistance.  It can be an arduous and time-consuming process to narrow down which jobs to apply for and which to pass up.  A TESOL course will provide contacts and resources for English teaching jobs around the world.

5.) A TESOL course will make you a more confident teacher.  If you have never taught before, it can be a rather daunting task to lead a group of students through a full day of teaching.  A TESOL course will provide you with the tools and resources to effectively navigate your students’ learning, how to construct a lesson plan, what to teach and how to teach it.

Interview With a TEFL Graduate

Why did you choose ITTT?

I chose ITTT as I was looking for a course which offered all that I was seeking in an ON-LINE school.  Having had reviewed other programs that were being offered, I believed that ITTT could would offer me the opportunity to complete my certification in a way that would prepare for the world of teaching English….and it did!!

How long did it take you to complete your online course?

I completed the course within 4 months

What were you hoping to gain from the course before you started it?

Having been a novice to teaching (I have a BA in Communications/Journalism – worked in television news before),  I was hoping that the course would prepare me to be the best I could possibly be in teaching english as a foreign language –

What was your first impression of the course once it began?

Having never participated in an on-line course, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  But upon receiving my initial learning supplements, I was quite impressed by how detailed everything was, including the grammar review, exercises, etc.,  I was very impressed as it was evident that this course would provide me with all that I was seeking to accomplish and more.

Was the course difficult for you?

I will be honest in saying that some parts of the course were a “challenge.”  Particularly many of the grammar aspects – which I had studied previous, but not in sometime – it was truly a great way to review and prepare to pass on the knowledge to my future students.

Were you satisfied with the staff/customer service?

Customer service/Staff was ALWAYS available when needed – anytime I had a question, I would receive a prompt reply  -- very professional.

Did you get a job after completing the course?

YES, and I am presently employed.

Where are you teaching now?

I work for Intercountry Management, a company based in France, as an online business English teacher. 

I teach my students via telephone/online. Most of my students are  based in France – but I also have learners located in Denmark, Holland, Italy, Spain, and even Africa.  All of them are professionals working for major companies. 

What role did or will the course play in your teaching career?

The course has been such an asset to me.  Most schools/companies require their teachers to be certified.  I am certified both as a TEFL instructor and a BUSINESS TEFL instructor.  I believe that this played a major role in my acquiring the position which I currently hold.

  

Do you have any plans for further training or professional development?

I really enjoy the work that I do.  I have the opportunity to assist business professionals in improving their English skills – and in addition – I speak with so many wonderful people daily.  Teaching is something that I hope to continue doing in the future.

Would you recommend the course to a friend?

I would definitely recommend ITTT to anyone who is pursuing a career as a TEFLteacher.

It’s a wonderful on-line course – which is very complete, and offers the learner everything and more when it comes to becoming prepared for a career as a TEFL instructor.

Five Ways a TEFL Course Can Help You to Teach English Abroad

It’s no secret that a TEFL course can not only qualify you for teaching positions around the world but also help dramatically improve your teaching and your students’ success in the classroom.  From providing specific teaching methodologies to increasing your awareness of the TEFL industry as a whole, a TEFL course is more than just English grammar.  A TEFL course will help you in the following:

1.) A TEFL course provides an overview of the TEFL industry as a whole.  While this may not seem important in the classroom specifically, it is for securing a job. Employers want to know that you are well versed in the industry and know a thing or two about the English teaching industry.  What terminology to use, school timetables and student demographics.  

2.) A TEFL course provides a specific methodology to teach.  This is paramount to being an effective teacher.  Having knowledge of past and present English teaching methodologies and putting at least one methodology into practice in the classroom is essential to English teaching.

3.) A TEFL course provides lesson planning practice.  This is also paramount to being an effective English teacher.  Knowing how to prepare and execute a lesson plan is one of the most, if not the most important aspects of being an effective ESL teacher.

4.) A TEFL course provides instruction on how to teach English grammar.  Knowing how to speak English and how to teach it are very different things.  For example, if a student asks “How come you can’t say better-er and you have to say much better?”  As a teacher you can’t say “just because.”  You will want to know the rules pertaining to comparative and superlative adjectives and how to use them.

5.) A TEFL course provides job placement assistance.  A TEFL course will help you to navigate the enormous and often confusing work of narrowing down a job search and provide the tools, contacts and resources to effectively secure a job.