Why Complete a TEFL Course The drivers for any person from any

The drivers for any person from any country around the world to complete a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course are wide and varied. In this article I will impart my personal reasons for undertaking the TEFL course and present some reasons others that I have discovered through my research and interviews. I will also demonstrate the reasons for choosing TEFL from the number of available English Teaching certifications on the market. Finally I will conclude with a summary of my perceived benefits and challenges experienced whilst studying for TEFL Certification.

Personally I was driven to TEFL with the aim of becoming an English Teacher in Japan. I hold a strong desire to live and work in a foreign country and teaching English has proved to be a popular and effective way to fulfill the dream of meeting new people in new and exciting parts of the world. After becoming fed up with the corporate working world of Sydney Australia I wanted forge a new career in a new country. I sought a career that would allow me to interact on a daily basis with native people of my new home country. After speaking with a number of other people that are already English Teachers or seeking to become one I have found that many people use English Teaching as tool to travel the globe. They spend their working days in a desired location and use their weekends to explore their home country as a local. Some express a desire to live and work as part of the community as it gives them a more enriched and detailed travel experience than just visiting the country as a short term tourist.

So why TEFL' After reviewing the various TEFL websites and English Teaching Forums I have discovered that TEFL is not only a widely recognised and respected certification and looks favourable on your CV but is also a means to developing a network of like minded people that can help with job placement and local information. To be completely honest, personally I assessed each English Teaching course and selected TEFL based on a variety of factors; price, convenience of study medium (online) and recognition of hours studied. TEFL offered me an opportunity to gain certification at a reasonable price and in the comfort of my own home. The flexibility of study by correspondence was essential as whilst I was completing my TEFL course I was still running my business and working full time in my preparation for moving to Japan.

There were, however, a number of challenges that I faced when studying for my TEFL certification. Personally, growing up in the State School system of NSW Australia I have never studied English Grammar and found those particular units of great difficulty. It was a shock to me to feel as if I did not understand the grammar structure of my own native language. Although TEFl has now provided me with the information I need to better understand English grammar so as I can impart this knowledge on my students.

In conclusion, the benefits of completing a TEFL course for anyone interested in living and working in a foreign country are strong and numerous. TEFL courses can provide lifelong support and advice to their successful students. It can aid with job placements and local information on various countries or cultures. TEFL can not only qualify the successful student as an International TEFL English Teacher and deliver invaluable life skills.

REFERENCES

1.http//www.teflcourse.net

2.http//www.canterburytefl.com/testimonials.html

3.http//www.tesol-course.org

4.http://exchanges.state.gov/forum/

5.http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/default.htm