Is a languages PGCE an advantage for jobs teaching tefl in say, Spain?

Hi all,

I did a PGCE in languages last year and am currently doing my NQT year at a secondary school in the UK. Before this I'd done the CELTA and spent a year in France as an English assistant giving conversation classes.

My question is, would the above be an advantage to applying for a TEFL job abroad? I'm thinking of going on a gap year to Spain next year but I know that Tefl teaching is very different I don't really have much true experience other than the CELTA (which I'm guessing a lot of people have), and in France I just did conversation classes, not any grammar teaching.

I've heard the tefl industry is competitive to get a good job in a good teaching English centre. For instance, a friend of mine had an English Literature degree and a Master's in English literature - she was one of three shortlisted for a job in Córdoba and they said they picked her in the end because she had a master's in English (as all three candidates were strong otherwise) - and that was after she'd had 6 month's teaching tefl experience elsewhere in Spain!!
Not to mention that a tefl classroom would be very different to a secondary classroom (especially with regards to discipline?)

Any advice much appreciated.

Reply 1

Carnationlilyrose

18

Original post by Jimmymanc

Hi all,

I did a PGCE in languages last year and am currently doing my NQT year at a secondary school in the UK. Before this I'd done the CELTA and spent a year in France as an English assistant giving conversation classes.

My question is, would the above be an advantage to applying for a TEFL job abroad? I'm thinking of going on a gap year to Spain next year but I know that Tefl teaching is very different I don't really have much true experience other than the CELTA (which I'm guessing a lot of people have), and in France I just did conversation classes, not any grammar teaching.

I've heard the tefl industry is competitive to get a good job in a good teaching English centre. For instance, a friend of mine had an English Literature degree and a Master's in English literature - she was one of three shortlisted for a job in Córdoba and they said they picked her in the end because she had a master's in English (as all three candidates were strong otherwise) - and that was after she'd had 6 month's teaching tefl experience elsewhere in Spain!!
Not to mention that a tefl classroom would be very different to a secondary classroom (especially with regards to discipline?)

Any advice much appreciated.

I can only say that my son has worked in Spain teaching TEFL for five years now and only has a degree and a TEFL qualification. He's never found it difficult to get a job, even the first one when he had no experience, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

Reply 2

Angelil

19

I have a feeling that a PGCE would only be advantageous abroad in the private international schools, rather than specifically in the TEFL sector.

Reply 3

Sportycb

11

Original post by Jimmymanc

Hi all,

I did a PGCE in languages last year and am currently doing my NQT year at a secondary school in the UK. Before this I'd done the CELTA and spent a year in France as an English assistant giving conversation classes.

My question is, would the above be an advantage to applying for a TEFL job abroad? I'm thinking of going on a gap year to Spain next year but I know that Tefl teaching is very different I don't really have much true experience other than the CELTA (which I'm guessing a lot of people have), and in France I just did conversation classes, not any grammar teaching.

I've heard the tefl industry is competitive to get a good job in a good teaching English centre. For instance, a friend of mine had an English Literature degree and a Master's in English literature - she was one of three shortlisted for a job in Córdoba and they said they picked her in the end because she had a master's in English (as all three candidates were strong otherwise) - and that was after she'd had 6 month's teaching tefl experience elsewhere in Spain!!
Not to mention that a tefl classroom would be very different to a secondary classroom (especially with regards to discipline?)

Any advice much appreciated.

There are hundreds of jobs in Spain and I am sure having a PGCE will make absolutely no difference. It will only make a difference if you wanted to teach a subject at an International school. However, for TEFL, a PGCE might look good on your C.V. but it makes very little difference.

I am personally teach in Lisbon, Portugal. I know it isn't Spain but I am sure it is much the same and in fact there are less jobs here available than in Spain. I teach at a Private Language school and although I had done an Educational degree and the QTS part of my degree before dropping it last minute (long story), it clearly was not important. At my school out of the 6 new teachers at my school, only 2 of us had any kind of experience at all of teaching (except for their CELTA) and some had the strangest of degrees: For example one had a degree in Agriculture and another had a dregree in Ceramics.

So in summary, yes of course do a PGCE if you are hoping to teach a normal subject, if you think it will be useful in the future or just to look on your CV. However I personally think it will be a waste of time and money if you are solely doing it for TEFL. It is just not needed.

Is a languages PGCE an advantage for jobs teaching tefl in say, Spain?

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