Teaching English as a Foreign Language

[Slow Ride]

I'm thinking more and more about doing the TEFL course and teaching English abroad. Can this ever pay well? Can it ever be a permanent job, a pathway to a new life abroad? Grateful for any information, especially if you have done TEFL. Cheers.

[Hermia]

A friend of mine did this in Japan for a few years after graduating. He now lives and works there (he works for a bank now) and is married to a Japanese lady so it definitely led to a new life for him!

[Slow Ride]

Hermia - Thanks for your answer. I was thinking about Japan. Do you happen to know whether your friend worked for one of the big schools, like NOVA and GEOS?

[Hermia]

I don't know how he got his foot in the door. From what I can remember he got his first job via an agency/organisation here. Once he got over there he was able to get further positions quite easily because he was so good at the job. I haven't spoken to him for a while 'cause he's travelling around at the moment, but he thoroughly recommended teaching English in Japan. He loved the country from the moment he got there.

How is your Japanese BTW? Once he realised he wanted to stay over there he has had to work incredibly hard to get his Japanese fluent.

[bexbex78]

My brother in law teaches english as a foreign language in Japan for Nova. It is hard work, but he has been out there for 3 years now and has also married a Japanese lady and now has a child...so his life has completey changed. Japanese culture is amazing, I have been out there and have met many Japanese people and it is certainly a place you should try to work...if only for one year, just bear in mind that you will be working very hard, but it will be well worth it.

[Vijz]

There is an organisation called "JET", run by the Japanese Government - they take about 600 TEFL teachers a year to work as language assistants all over Japan. You don't need a TEFL qualification to go, but you'll do better if you do get one. If you are happy to work outside the main cities, it isn't too badly paid, but in Tokyo for example it can get a bit expensive