Moving to a new country is always a fun and adventurous experience for anyone. You can’t wait to sort out your accommodation and then rush out of your new front door to explore this fantastic new land. However, things are not always so easy and you may suddenly find yourself grinding to a halt in the face of culture shock.

Cultural Differences
There are many considerations to take in when moving to another country. The day-to-day dress code may be more conservative than in Britain. If you are a woman in the Middle East then you cannot show too much flesh. You may have to cover your shoulders and wear a long skirt instead of trousers.

Also consider that you may look different from the locals. If you are somewhere in the Far East like China or Japan, remember that you may be one of a handful of white people in your city. You will probably be stared at; especially if you are quite tall. Don’t be too worried or upset if the staring unnerves you; it is nothing more than simple curiosity. Just smile politely and you will be fine!

Food
Meals can also differ largely from what we are used to in our native countries, whether it is by time or by food. In Spain, the evening meal is much later than in the UK. It can be at about 9 or 10PM, when some people in Britain are thinking of going to bed! The food can be very strange and unusual to us. Eating rice and fish for breakfast instead of toast or cereal seems odd but it can be completely normal. Don’t stretch yourself beyond your gastronomic limits; if you can’t manage a spicy curry from your local Indian takeaway, what makes you think you can manage one in Mumbai? Nothing spoils your new experiences of a country like an upset stomach, so be adventurous but careful!

The Local Language
Whilst you do not need a second language to become a TEFL teacher, learning the local lingo can be nothing but helpful to you; especially if you intend to live in the country for an extended period of time. A second language is even more helpful if you are going to a country with a different alphabet than the one we use in English.

Making an effort to learn the country’s language will improve your communication with the locals and will make your life so much easier and smoother. Just walking down the street and identifying a letter here and a word there will get you moving towards your goals.

Look at course options to get TEFL-qualified, or visit the TEFL Job Centre to start towards a new life in a fantastic country on the other side of the world!

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

So you have decided that you want to teach English to non-native speakers? Great! Whether it is for a gap year, something to keep you busy in retirement or simply a brand new job and lifestyle, you have made a fantastic decision that will give you lifelong memories and a whole set of transferable skills that will help you if you go onto different employment. But upon looking at ways of becoming qualified, you may hit a wall. Different acronyms for different courses will present themselves to you; TEFL, CELTA, DELTA, TESOL; and you can quickly become confused.

These courses are similar in that they will all make you qualified to teach English in other countries but the teaching methodologies vary greatly, as do the ways you complete the course.

TEFL

TEFL courses (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are what we at TEFL Wales provide. TEFL certificates can be used anywhere in the world to teach English to non-English speakers. The great thing about TEFL is that all you need to get qualified is a native-level ability to speak English! The course provider will be able to help you with teacher skills and classroom tips. TEFL also has many different levels. People who have never taught before will be able to enrol in a longer course to give themselves a solid foundation but people who are already qualified as teachers can take shorter courses. Many courses are also available online, allowing for flexibility around other commitments. TEFL is used all around the world to bring English to people looking to learn the language either for work or leisure purposes.

TESOL

TESOL courses (Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages) are very similar to TEFL courses and the acronyms are sometimes used to mean the same thing. TEFL is the acronym mainly used in the UK while TESOL is often used as an acronym in Australia or the USA. It can also be used as a way of teaching immigrants or refugees who come to a native English country. Their needs are very different from a TEFL learner; a TEFL learner will only hear English in their classroom whilst a TESOL learner will hear English all around them as they learn to live in their new country.

TESL

This is Teaching English as a Second Language. TESL teachers predominantly work teaching English to either immigrants, like TESOL teachers, or teaching to people living in a country where many languages are used and English is one of the main ones. It can also be referred to sometimes as Teaching English as an Additional Language (TEAL).

CELTA

CELTA stands for Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults. They are provided by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) and are highly regarded by employers to the point where some employers in Asia will only hire CELTA graduates. The courses run for four to five weeks if you choose to undertake it fulltime but are available part-time if you need. They are very intensive and also fairly expensive compared to others but do produce well-equipped teachers ready to go out into the teaching world.  To apply for one, you need some form of formal English qualification; unlike TEFL where all you need is a native-level ability to speak English.

DELTA

DELTA is a Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults and is an advanced TEFL qualification. It can be taken when you are a qualified English teacher with a few years teaching experience as a way of advancing your qualifications. It is similar to the CELTA qualification in that it is completed as part of an intensive course undertook with a number of weeks. It is also granted by the UCLES, like CELTA.

Which one should I take?

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It depends on what you want to do and what you require for your course. Do you want an intensive course that will take only a few weeks? Consider a CELTA course. If you want more flexibility around a job or other aspects of your life, consider a TEFL or TESOL course. All courses will give you the high qualifications and training needed to be a good English teacher and a highly accredited course like the ones provided by TEFL Wales or the world-acknowledged ones provided by UCLES will put you in good standing with potential employers.

For more information on CELTA courses, go here. Or if you would rather take a TEFL course,look at course options to become TEFL-qualified!

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a great opportunity to travel the world and broaden your horizons. All you need to complete a TEFL course is the ability to speak English at a native level! Anyone can do it!

The next step is to decide where you want to go to teach with your certificate. This is where it can get difficult; some countries want you to have a Bachelor’s degree in addition to the TEFL certificate and it can leave you feeling a bit restricted.  Don’t worry; there are many countries around the world still open to you! Head straight over to the TEFL Job Centre to get started on your job-search or read on for some idea of countries hiring teachers without degrees.

China
Usually you will need a degree to work in China but often a job will crop up that doesn’t need one. The demand there for English teachers is very high so they will always want more. Sometimes employers are willing to give a job to a teacher if they don’t have a degree but do have a lot of classroom experience. Search around and you will eventually find a job to suit you!

Mexico
This wonderful South-American country is desperate for English teachers. The people are always friendly and ready to work. Most children have the access to some form of English in a classroom but have little opportunity to practice with a native speaker, especially after reaching adulthood.

Spain
Spain is always on the lookout for TEFL teachers. Whether it is in a kindergarten or a language school for adults, you will always be able to find a decent job with a class that suits you. Jobs in Spain can vary in location as well. Whether you want to be by the beach, in the middle of a city or in a tiny town in the middle of no-where, you will be able to find a job to suit you.

Volunteer!
Volunteering is a great way to TEFL. You may even receive a small stipend in your position. Voluntary positions are available all over the world and it shouldn’t take long to find one you like the look of. They are a fantastic way to travel and help people who otherwise might not have access to the English language. And of course, by volunteering, you are building classroom experience which will be beneficiary in any future TEFL jobs you apply for!

What are you waiting for? Get TEFL-qualified today!

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

Thailand is a fantastic country to go to with your TEFL certificate. It’s a beautiful country filled with a new culture and way of life to explore, making it a favourite. Thailand also has a great demand for English teachers.

To work in Thailand, you require a 120 hour TEFL certificate and at least a Bachelor’s degree. These are often the minimum requirements needed for a job here and the Thai government won’t let foreign nationals work in Thailand without a degree. In addition to these, you also require various permits and a visa to work here. You will need -

• A non-immigrant B-Visa
• A Work Permit
• A teacher’s licence

A common occurrence is for you to apply for the Visa and your employer will handle the necessary paperwork for the work permit and teacher’s licence and inform you of any documentation you need to provide. Occasionally you can even find a job placement where the employer will offer to pay the fees for any visas or permits you need!

To get the non-immigrant B-Visa, you need a confirmed job offer from an employer. This will make the whole process of applying for a Visa much easier. The Visa application form can be downloaded from the Thai Embassy website. You will also need a valid passport that will not expire in the next six months plus a copy of it and two recent passport-style photographs. They should have been taken in the last six months and should measure 2 x 2 inches. You may also need your TEFL certificate and your degree or proof of any qualifications you have plus copies in case you are required to produce them.

Sometimes you are also required to provide a Criminal Record Clearance certificate. This can be applied for through your local police force and it basically confirms that you have no criminal record and it is safe for you to work with children. You will also need a letter of invitation from your employer in Thailand and information about your term of employment, such as where you intend to work and the length of your employment.

Once these documents have been gathered, you need to submit them to the Embassy or to one of the various Consulates around the country. You will also need to pay a Visa fee in cash, cheques and credit or debit cards aren’t accepted, and the price of the visa can be found on the Embassy website. If successful in your application, the Visa will be issued in a few days.

Now that you have the Visa you can travel to Thailand. When you have arrived, you need to procure a teacher’s licence from either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of University Affairs in addition to a work permit from the Ministry of Labour. With both of these and your employment certificate and contract, you can apply at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok for a Visa extension.

Please note that you cannot work in Thailand on a tourist visa, no matter what an employer may tell you, and any applications will need to be made in person. A fine will also need to be paid if you stay longer than your Visa allows.

For more information on Thai Visas then go to the embassy website here and to search for a job in Thailand, visit the TEFL Job Centre. Or you can look at course options to get started towards a great new life in Thailand!

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

In recent months we have been contacted by hundreds of people who have enrolled on budget TEFL courses through group-buying sites like Amazon Local, Living Social and Groupon for next to nothing. As a result of enrolling on these courses many people from all over the UK have been left with a certificate not even worth the paper it’s written on – if they even receive a certificate, that is. Once payment has been made they have been left to completely fend for themselves; no support, no guidance, no tutor and low-quality, unaccredited course content.

They have come to us distraught and disappointed, having to enrol on another TEFL course to obtain a recognised qualification offering extensive support. As the most highly accredited TEFL provider in the UK we are fully aware of what makes a good TEFL course and good TEFL course provider, but many customers are not. We therefore aim to inform those looking to the TEFL industry of the danger of such courses. These low-cost, budget options are well and truly costing people their TEFL experience. £9 for a course may seem like a low-cost investment but hidden charges and unclear fees can mean that this budget course soon becomes an on-going hassle and a continuing drain on your finances.

It doesn’t have to be like that though; this is something we feel very passionately about so we are fully urging people to be aware of what they are buying. Our priority is to provide people with the same amazing, exciting and life-changing experiences that many of us here at TEFL Wales headquarters have had. Some providers claim accreditation from ‘accrediting bodies’ such as WTEFLAC – an organisation that has no contact telephone number on their website and no information or company numbers for the providers they are apparently affiliated with.

The perils of group buying are often overlooked and TEFL is a prime example of a sector being significantly influenced by the offer of ‘bargain’ buys. If you have been considering budget courses or are looking to enrol, please ensure that you contact the provider to discuss exactly what their course involves in terms of support, guidance and accreditation/quality control. Either that or contact us and we can advise you about how best to research TEFL providers and what to look for when enrolling on a course.

Call 0800 9 888 200 or email info@TEFLwales.co.uk

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

Okay so you have managed to pass the initial application stage and they have invited you to attend a Skype interview, what now?

First things first, congratulations! You are one step further to gaining your ideal TEFL job.
Here are some things to consider when having a Skype interview:

• If you aren’t already Skype user, join now! It’s free to sign up and you can use it to contact friends and family when you are abroad teaching
  Fill in all relevant information and include your headshot as your profile picture
• When choosing a username bear in mind that prospective employers will see this so try to keep it professional e.g. john.smith not jsmithyx0x0_69x
• Confirm the date and time of the interview with the employer. Is your interview at 14:00 GMT or CET?
• As with any interview, dress appropriately. You only see your top half on screen but you might need to get up during the interview so wear smart trousers (not pyjama bottoms)
• Be aware of your surroundings - have a clean and tidy up before your interview
• The whole reason for a Skype interview is for the employer to see you so make sure you are in a well lit room and when answering questions look at the webcam and not the screen
• Have a trial run - ask a friend or family member call you on Skype to make sure your microphone and speakers work and also practice a few interview questions
• Always plan ahead - sometimes you will encounter technical problems so make sure you have the employer’s contact details and a telephone handy

Have you got any further tips or advice for the perfect Skype interview?

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

Wanting to work in Japan with your TEFL certificate but slightly daunted by the qualification requirements or lacking a degree? Don’t worry, there is a great scheme available called the Working Holiday Visa! If you want to work in Japan and are aged between 18 and 30, consider applying! It is a great way to see and visit another country.

To apply for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa you will need;

• A passport
• A Visa Application form
• A passport-sized photograph
• A CV, resume or personal history
• An itinerary for your time in Japan
• A written reason for applying for the Working Holiday Visa
• Either £2500 in cleared funds
• Or  £1500 and a return ticket

The passport must of course be valid and it is worth making sure that it will not expire while you are in Japan. You can renew a passport overseas but the process is rather time-consuming and difficult. It is much easier if you avoid travelling with a passport that will expire when you are away.

Visa Application forms can be downloaded online from the Embassy website. They are pretty easy to fill out. You simply fill in your personal details and declare any convictions you may or may not have. The passport-sized photo must be fairly recent; a photo taken within the last six months is acceptable. The exact dimensions required can be found on the form.

A CV details your qualifications and employment history. Everything from your school to any work experience should be stated on it. It should be clear and easy to read and really no longer than a couple of sides of A4. 

The itinerary carries details of what you intend to do in Japan and also has details of any pre-arranged employment you may have found. It’s very important that the Japanese authorities know where you are in case of an emergency or in case they need to contact you. Try to put in as much detail as you can. With not enough to do you may only be granted a Holiday Visa, which you can’t find work with, and with too much employment you may be granted a Working Visa. The Working Holiday is primarily about holidaying and it is important to remember that and not to work flat out while you are in Japan.

The written reason is your own personal statement on why you want to work in Japan with this scheme. Think very clearly on what you are going to write. Saying that you love manga and sushi will not be what the Consulate will be looking for in a Working Visa Applicant! Explaining that you want to immerse yourself in different forms of Japanese culture might be a better way to phrase it.

The money is extremely important. The Consulate want to give a Visa to applicants with a means to both support themselves in Japan and those who intend to leave Japan at the end of their Visa and have a way of getting home. Traveller’s cheques, credit cards and overdrafts are not accepted. You must have the money available in your account and it is wise to have your last three bank statements to prove it. If parents are helping to contribute towards this fund, make sure you have a record of the transfer from their account to yours to prove where the money is coming from. If you have the return plane ticket, make sure you have the receipt.

There are a few other requirements for applying for the Visa. You cannot have children accompanying you and any spouses or partners wishing to accompany you must also have a Working Holiday Visa or a similar Visa and the amount needed for funds will be higher. Some jobs that are considered to be damaging to public morals are strictly prohibited for anyone coming to Japan to work on a Working Holiday Visa. These jobs can include working in a bar or nightclub. Don’t take these jobs and be wary of people who insist that you can have these jobs on this type of Visa. Failure to comply with the terms of your Visa can lead to detainment by the Japanese authorities followed by deportation and even a ban on re-entering Japan for a certain period of time.

To apply for the Visa, take all the necessary documentation to either the Japanese Embassy in Piccadilly, London, or if you live in Scotland or the North of England (Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria, Tyne & Wear and Cleveland) you will need to apply to the Japanese Consulate-General in Edinburgh. You will also need cash to pay for the Visa fee. It isn’t a vast amount of money, about £23, but it must be paid in cash. Cards and cheques are not accepted. You must also apply in person, someone may not apply on your behalf as with some other Visas, and you may have to be interviewed before your visa is granted.

Finally, upon entering Japan, you must register with the British embassy in Tokyo or the British consulate-general in Osaka so they are aware of your intentions and movements in japan. Once again, this is in case you are needed to be contacted in the event of an emergency. You must also apply for an alien registration card, or Gajin card, with your local government. This card overrides the use of a passport as a form of identification while you are in Japan, making it extremely useful to you. For example, you will need this card if you wish to open a Japanese bank account. You have 90 days upon entering Japan for this registration!

The Working Holiday Visa is a really good option for anyone wanting to visit Japan and work there for a short amount of time. For more information you can visit the embassy website here. To get started towards finding employment in Japan, search for a course. Or, start looking for work in the TEFL Job Centre so you can apply for the Visa with some employment prospects.

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

Japan is a fantastic country to work in with a TEFL certificate. Teaching positions are usually as a teacher of children and occasionally adults. Jobs often need a Bachelor’s or other four year degree on top of the TEFL certificate and teaching experience is always readily accepted.

UK citizens visiting Japan for a period of up to 90 days can travel without a Visa but those who intend to work in Japan are required to have a Visa. You should apply for an Instructor Work Visa which allows you to come to Japan to teach, whether it is for elementary schools or adults!

For your Visa, you will require

• A passport
• A Visa Application Form
• A photograph
• A Certificate of Eligibility

The passport must of course be valid. It is recommended to visit Japan on a passport that will not expire during your time there as the process for applying for a new one while abroad can be quite time-consuming and tedious. You will also need a few spare pages for the Visa seals.

A Visa Application Form can be downloaded online from the Embassy website. It asks you for details about you and your passport and requires you to declare any convictions you may have.  Your photograph needs to be attached to the Visa Application Form. It should be a standard passport-style photo; the form should have a box with the exact measurements on it. It must also be fairly recent; within 6 months is usually accepted.

Before you apply for your Visa, you are required to get a Certificate of Eligibility. This is a document which confirms that you are able to come to Japan and it can make getting a Visa easier for you. Your employer should get the certificate for you from their local immigration office and it is valid for 3 months. In some occasions, a photocopy is required.

When you have gathered all the necessary documents, you must take them to the Japanese Embassy in Piccadilly, London to be processed. Applicants in Scotland and Northern England (Cleveland, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear) have to take their applications to the Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh. There is a Visa fee of about £23 which must be paid for in cash. Cards and cheques are not accepted as a form of payment. However, no appointment is necessary when taking your documents to be processed!

It should take three working days to issue a Visa if you are successful in your application. It is very important to apply for the correct Visa and ensure that you fill out all sections honestly. Temporary Visas or Traveller’s Visas cannot be used for employment, even if an employer insists that they can. If discovered to be working with an invalid Visa, you may be detained and then deported and sometimes banned from entering Japan for a length of time. Nobody wants this to happen, so please ensure everything is correct and valid before setting off for Japan.

To search for a job in Japan, visit the TEFL Job Centre. Or look at course options to get TEFL qualified! 

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

China is a great destination for anyone with a TEFL certificate who wants to explore a completely new country and culture. There is a great demand for English teachers in China to teach both children and adults.

To teach English in China you obviously need a TEFL certificate and a Work Visa. Often a degree and sometimes teaching experience will be included in the list of requirements for a job in China but employers can be flexible about whether you have a degree depending on your level of teaching experience and other similar factors.

The requirements for the Visas can seem confusing and complicated but if you fill out each part correctly and truthfully then you will hopefully be successful in your Visa application.

As a teacher you will be applying for a Work Visa, also known as a Z Visa. This will allow you to work within the country and any accompanying family members will also have to fill out the Z Visa to gain entry.

• To receive a Z Visa you need:
•  A passport
• Completed Visa Application Form
• An Invitation Letter of Duly Authorised Unit or Confirmation Letter of Invitation
• A permit for Foreign Experts working in the People’s Republic of China

However, each of these requires a little more explanation.

The passport must have more than six months until the expiry date upon the date you make the Visa application and it must have sufficient blank Visa pages for at least 18 months or more if you intend to stay longer. Copies of the passport information pages (the back page with your personal details) may be asked for as well at some stage so have some ready in case one is required.

The Visa Application forms can be downloaded online. When applying for a Z Visa, you need to fill out the Visa Application form which is for your personal details, emergency contacts and other details. You will also need to fill out the Supplementary Visa Application Form which gives details about your education and qualifications. A recent passport-sized photo also needs to be affixed to the Visa Application form. A photo taken within the last six months is good.

The Invitation Letter of Duly Authorised Unit or the Confirmation Letter of Invitation is a document your employer should get for you from a Chinese government agency. You may need to give your passport details or a passport photocopy to them so they can obtain this document for you. Examples can be found online if you are unsure of what to expect or what to ask for.

A permit for Foreign Experts working in the People’s Republic of China is a document confirming that you are healthy and have no criminal convictions and you are willing to abide by Chinese laws when you are living and working there. You will need to provide a CV and a copy of the documentation of your highest qualifications. Applications can be found online.

You must then make an appointment with the Chinese Embassy or Consulate of your country to go to hand in your Visa Applications. In the UK, the Chinese Embassy and the Consular section are close to Regent’s Park in London. Visas can also be applied for in Manchester and Edinburgh.

To find a job in China, visit the TEFL Job Centre to get one step closer to a new life in China. Or, search for a course to get qualified to teach English in China.

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website

I had always wanted to travel but after finishing university I got stuck in a series of boring office jobs, there came a day when I realised that if I didn’t do something fast I’d be doing that for the rest of my life. TEFL seemed an obvious answer; getting paid to travel would be perfect! My friend and I booked onto the weekend course in Birmingham and completed the online and grammar courses.

After finishing my course I began looking for a job - there were hundreds! I had no idea what I was looking for so mainly stuck to the jobs on the TEFL England website. One in particular caught my eye, in Kazakhstan, a place that like many people, I had never heard of. I kept coming back to it and eventually asked for more info. An interview in London was arranged, where I was offered the job teaching English in a Kindergarten. It was agreed I would leave in August, 5 months away. I had no idea what to expect, but living in Kazakhstan has been a brilliant experience. I teach to a mixed class of local and expatriate children, hours are long but the pay is good and the holiday's are amazing! Kazakhstan is a really interesting place, in summer it gets incredibly hot, but winter is freezing, I never thought I could survive -25!

While I’ve been here I’ve seen as much of the country as time allows, (train journeys are never less than 12 hours because the country is so big), visited neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, learnt (basic!) Russian, begun snowboarding and made some great friends.

My time here is nearly over, and while it’s been great, I’m looking forward to the next adventure.

This feed was drawn from the TEFL Wales website