5 Reasons To Become A TEFL Teacher

If you have a comfortable job and you live a satisfactory life, the idea of becoming a TEFL teacher may never cross your mind. Becoming TEFL certified is not something many people do so maybe you’ve never thought about it seriously. Which is a shame. There are more reasons to become a TEFL teacher than there are bao buns in Beijing!

Ok, so maybe that’s a bit over the top but you get what we mean.

Let’s get into it: 5 reasons to become a TEFL teacher.

Why do I want to be a TEFL teacher?

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a life-changing experience. More and more people are deciding to leave the humdrum of their 9-to-5 and embark on their own TEFL adventure. 

Understandably, the decision to uproot your life and move to the other side of the world is not one to be taken lightly. So here are our 5 favourite reasons to become a TEFL teacher:

Travel the world as a TEFL teacher

There are few other careers that offer travel as such an integral part of the job as TEFL.

Becoming a TEFL teacher gives you the opportunity to discover the world, either through your own travels to teach abroad or by getting to know other countries through your students.

The number of countries in the world where English teaching is in demand is vast. 

These are some of the most interesting places imaginable. Think Vietnam, Brazil and Morocco – and the list goes on. Some people do a TEFL qualification for a working holiday, summer camps, or bouncing from continent to continent. 

The good news is that, wherever you are, it’s not likely that you’ll be the only TEFL teacher. You are guaranteed to meet lots of really interesting people along the way – just like you! 

Challenge yourself as a TEFL teacher

The job of a TEFL teacher is varied. You could teach in a range of different situations: 

• teaching English to children, 
• teaching on a summer camp, 
• volunteer teaching,
• teaching in a language centre,
• teaching online,
• teaching adults, or
• teaching private students – just to name a few.

 What this means is that you are not likely to get into a rut in your job because every week, or even every day, is different. As soon as you feel comfortable in what you are doing, chances are you will need to do something else – teach exam classes, teach Business English, teach a last-minute cover lesson – so you’ll be constantly challenged.

TEFL teachers generally fall into one of two camps.

Some are seeking to teach for a certain period of time, like on a gap year. When returning to their hometown, they use the skills and experience from TEFL to follow a different career path.

Others are people looking for something new in life. People for whom the possibility of TEFL becoming their new full-time career for the rest of their days is a very real possibility.

Regardless of what camp you fall into, the challenges you will face in the TEFL classroom will shape you as a person.

Make a difference as a TEFL teacher

In the TEFL world, there are many opportunities to give back to communities.

It’s not difficult to find TEFL volunteering opportunities abroad. If you’re able to take a break from a paycheque for a while, volunteer teaching is an amazing way to broaden your skillset and contribute to the local community as well.

There is a saying that goes: “Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” In many parts of the world, giving the gift of the English language helps people towards a better life.

We are all searching for meaning in life. Modern jobs can leave many people feeling that they have an absence of purpose in their week. Teaching English to people that may be in a disadvantaged situation is up there with some of the most purposeful work one can do. TEFL could be your ticket to a life of meaning and purpose.

Make money as a TEFL teacher

Probably one of the biggest reasons people decide to become TEFL teachers is to make money. It’s a job, after all. 

There are places with outrageously high salaries, but if you choose wisely there are many different countries where you can earn big bucks while having the time of your life. 

Choosing a job contract depends on your needs and wants. If you’d rather chill and work only in the evenings, find a job on an island in Thailand. If you need to pay back a student loan, head for Saudi Arabia and plump up your bank account. If you don’t really want to leave home, teach online!

Whatever you want from teaching, TEFL can give it to you.

Read more: Teaching In-Class Or Online: Which Pays More?

Have an adventure as a TEFL teacher

Last, but most certainly not least: the adventure. 

Being away from the safety of your home town and your family and friends forces you to learn to fend for yourself. Living abroad means even going to the grocery store is an adventure! 

Being able to immerse yourself in different cultures and communities is a guaranteed way to grow as a person and develop your independence and individuality. Not to mention tick those things off your bucket list!

How to become a TEFL teacher

A TEFL qualification is your route to a lucrative or meaningful year. Or it could be the first day of the rest of your life – a life of adventure and flexibility. Whatever path you choose to follow, your life will be enriched by your experience. 

So, there you have it: 5 reasons to become a TEFL teacher: travel, challenge, philanthropy, money, adventure – what more could you want?

Now all that’s left to do is sign up for one of our (well-respected, internationally recognised and accredited) TEFL courses and get teaching!