CELTA/ certTESOL/ Teaching English as a Foreign Language

I'm seriously thinking about doing this myself. I'm 25 and currently quite disillusioned with life - I do a job I don't particularly enjoy (I work in HR for a bank and have had my current job for just over a year), though it is decently paid, and all my friends have moved to different places for various reasons. I feel like I'm just working to work, and that I should start using my lack of ties to my advantage rather than suffering the detriment.

In addition, I've always been passionate about languages and always did well in school with them (A* French GCSE, A at A-level; A* English Lit GCSE, A in English Language GCSE). In hindsight I regret not doing French at degree-level (I did Law). I seem to have a natural interest in languages and everything associated with them like dialects and accents.

So I'm looking at doing the CELTA course. There is one that runs in my city in July which I could probably get the time off work for. I just wondered if it would be more beneficial to do it in the country I want to teach in. But then I'm not entirely sure which country this would be - ideally I'd like to do it in Western Europe, e.g. Lisbon, Barcelona, Milan, but would also happily go to Eastern Europe. I'm not particularly well travelled so not sure how I'd adjust to the culture shock of going to the Far East. In terms of salary I'm not that bothered, as long as I have enough to be reasonably comfortable (the equivalent of around £20k on UK terms would be plenty). I could always move into higher paid positions having gained experience.

I just feel that my life is stagnating and here is something that I would be good at, would enjoy, and would also be a lot more fun than I'm having at the moment. If anyone has any hints/tips based on what I've said then feel free to share! I think at the moment I'm just confused about process - what to do and in what order...

Does anyone here ever use dave's ESL cafe? I've had it bookmarked for over a year and randomly browse it from time to time but I wonder how legit some of the ads are..

Hi S_a!

How was the CELTA in Krakow? Im going in August and im very nervous and excited.

Also do you have any recommendations for somewhere to stay for the month?

Thanks, Sun!

Are you doing it at the British Council? I didn't do it there but all the trainers are the same so I imagine the course is very similar and it's fabulous! I had one of the best times of my life and met some awesome people.

The International House where I did it offered shared accommodation and I stayed with two other people on the course about 10 minutes walk from the market square, the bedrooms were the biggest I've ever seen and it was in an amazing location (Stefana Batorego Street), another four people shared another house but that was a tram ride away. I've popped some photos of our place under the spoilers. Def ask them about accommodation! If they don't offer anything, which I'd be suprised if they didn't, maybe e-mail a couple of hostels and see if you can get a monthly rate. I stayed at Greg and Toms hostel both times I've been to Krakow and loved it!!

Krakow is a beautiful city so if you haven't been before I'd really reccommend going a few days before the course starts to explore, you won't get much time once it does, although we somehow still managed to go out 4/5 nights a week! The nightlife in Krakow is the best!

I can see I'm completey rambling now so if you have any more questions about Krakow, the course, any help preparing or anything just PM me!

Yeah its with the British Council, im very excited. Im staying the weekend either side of the course for exploration and the city looks amazing.

Its good to know you had fun . Did you mix with people who were living elsewhere well?
The reason I ask is because I have found a single bedroom apartment less than 5 minutes from the main square for not much more than a shared apartment a 20 minute walk away. This aparment looks lovely and is in an old building.
The problem is obviously I wouldn’t want to be lonely for the four week course. What would you recommend?

Its right at the far end of Dluga Street, near a mini shopping centre/ market place.

Hi

Im going to graduate this year and im very intrested in doing a CELTA/ or maybe an i-to-i or similar online and weekend course. Then to teach English abroad.

What would you recommend? The mainly online course is much cheaper, though I have heared that CELTA is far better. Though the £1200 fees are high.

I have no ESL teaching experience though do have some experience of working with children. Would this be bad?

Also would anyone have general advice on TEFL, especially in Asia.

Thanks

To be honest, that's really not that far away! It's completely up to you but personally I would stay with people and live an extra 15 minutes out! Unless you get in touch with someone else on the CELTA before and get them to split rent on your place closer to the centre maybe? It totally depends on you though!

A lot of adverts for jobs that I've seen require x years of teaching experience. Is anyone else finding this a bit of a problem? Seems to make it difficult to graduate and go straight to a CELTA and then to a job in September...

A lot of adverts for jobs that I've seen require x years of teaching experience. Is anyone else finding this a bit of a problem? Seems to make it difficult to graduate and go straight to a CELTA and then to a job in September...

I've found this as well especially in European countries like Germany or Spain where I imagine there is more competition. Is there anywhere specifically you want to teach?

Well the dream was Argentina but that's looking very unlikely as a first place. It seems Asia is much more lenient in terms of experience though.

Anyone been/known anyone who has been to teach in Indonesia?

Meeeee. What do you want to know?

Ah nice! Sorry to be so vague, but could you possibly sum up what you did and what you thought of the whole experience? Whereabouts in Indonesia were you?