Do You Really Need a TEFL Certificate to Teach English Abroad?

Published by Terry Miller — 08-03-2022 09:08:35 AM

Teaching English abroad is as lucrative as it sounds. With the advent of globalization and English being the universal language, most countries are expanding school education with multiple languages.

This post explores what TEFL is and if it's a necessary qualification.
What is TEFL?
When conducting your research, you must have come across the TEFL online course or TEFL in general.

The full form of TEFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. As the name suggests, the course covers the basics of teaching English as a foreign language, with a focus on how to teach vocabulary and grammar and to keep the kids engaged with games and activities.
A TEFL is a teaching certification that enables aspiring tutors to get an edge in opportunities abroad.
Do You Need TEFL Certification?
Is it essential to fetch you a teaching job abroad? No. But is it advisable? Yes.
The requirement varies from country to country, school to school, and teacher profile.
Most developed countries in Europe and the Middle East take care of their employees in both monetary and non-monetary terms and also expect the same from teachers to have top-notch qualifications.

They are highly picky in comparison to countries in East and Southeast Asia.
Most schools do consider alternative options to TEFL, be it TESOL or CELTA, but the top-tier schools are more selective in terms of educational qualifications. Having either is fine, but having neither will limit your options exponentially.
Benefits of TEFL Certification
TEFL certification (or equivalent) is not just the bare minimum you can do to get you to stand out in thousands of applications but also fetch you more benefits like

You are more likely to end up in a better company with an excellent work culture and high salary if you have a TEFL certification
TEFL-Intern hours help you polish your teaching skills and add work experience to your CV; you can even apply for senior positions with work experience in hand.
TEFL lessons will help you connect better with your students and enable you to deliver better results
Once you enroll in a TEFL course, the institution will provide placement-related assistance.
Wrapping Up
You can apply for teaching abroad without a TEFL certificate, but having the qualification for life gives you the leverage to choose destinations and institutions as per your choice and makes you the best out there. So enroll in a TESOL course today to begin the journey!