United TEFL Training is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation
We aim to connect people with quality TEFL, CertTESOL & CELTA teacher training certifications and opportunities to teach English in paid and volunteer positions following the course. By showcasing volunteer-driven organizations, which provide English language training, TEFL teachers can learn more about opportunities to help immigrants, asylum-seekers and human trafficking victims around the world.
2019 Spotlight: Hot Bread Kitchen - A Social enterprise bakery supporting low-income, immigrant & minority entrepreneurs through on-the-job training & business development in NYC. The Bakers in Training program is a six-month long program that provides paid training in artisan bread baking along with key skills like English as a second language, bakery math, and science. Bakers in Training work and learn alongside some of the most talented bakers in New York City while producing the breads that they sell. 100% of their graduates who seek employment find full-time, fair wage positions with access to benefits and opportunities for advancement. Just another example of how language learning is vital in the international business community!
Will You Get A Job After The TEFL Course? YES!
Each course offers an active and on-going job guidance service for graduates to help find a paid or volunteer position after receiving a TEFL / TESOL certification. Professional teacher development is an essential aspect of the course, and we want to help you make the best use of your certificate. Job support doesn't end at graduation. Whatever help or advice you need, TEFL Job Guidance is available to help, not only during your course but throughout your TEFL / TESOL career. With our extensive network of graduates teaching around the world, you have unlimited resources and options for finding work in private and nonprofit sectors.
We aim to connect people with quality TEFL, CertTESOL & CELTA teacher training certifications and opportunities to teach English in paid and volunteer positions following the course. By showcasing volunteer-driven organizations, which provide English language training, TEFL teachers can learn more about opportunities to help immigrants, asylum-seekers and human trafficking victims around the world.
2019 Spotlight: Hot Bread Kitchen - A Social enterprise bakery supporting low-income, immigrant & minority entrepreneurs through on-the-job training & business development in NYC. The Bakers in Training program is a six-month long program that provides paid training in artisan bread baking along with key skills like English as a second language, bakery math, and science. Bakers in Training work and learn alongside some of the most talented bakers in New York City while producing the breads that they sell. 100% of their graduates who seek employment find full-time, fair wage positions with access to benefits and opportunities for advancement. Just another example of how language learning is vital in the international business community!
Will You Get A Job After The TEFL Course? YES!
Each course offers an active and on-going job guidance service for graduates to help find a paid or volunteer position after receiving a TEFL / TESOL certification. Professional teacher development is an essential aspect of the course, and we want to help you make the best use of your certificate. Job support doesn't end at graduation. Whatever help or advice you need, TEFL Job Guidance is available to help, not only during your course but throughout your TEFL / TESOL career. With our extensive network of graduates teaching around the world, you have unlimited resources and options for finding work in private and nonprofit sectors.
TEFL Course Job Guidance includes:
Input sessions include writing an effective CV/Resume and interview preparation
Guest speakers from graduates and local/global employers
Advice on global job-hunting including internet job-search and notice boards
Network of TESOL / CELTA / TEFL graduates (see below)
TEFL employer contact information & useful TEFL job websites
One on one meetings to discuss your specific job and travel goals
Guaranteed jobs in Asia
Assistance with Summer TEFL camp work as well as long term jobs
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Good job advice from a TEFL Course Director!
Most EFL teaching jobs fall under the categories of either School/Organization oriented teaching or Private Business/Freelance work, many people tend to do a combination of both. There are many EFL schools we tend to categorize under two major definitions, (1) local based schools and (2) major franchises. The local based schools are usually small organizations that have their own niche of clientele and employ teachers to give home tutoring for kids or office tutoring work with private businesses. On most occasions to work with these schools you should have some knowledge of the local language, since most of these organizations can be managed by people that are unable to speak English themselves!
On the other hand, the big EFL franchise schools have professional English speaking staff and most of them do not require their teachers to have a knowledge of another language since they prefer teachers that do not depend on translation to teach English. This is the same philosophy and methodology we practice at our TEFL centre. These schools would also ask you to have a student visa, a work visa or a European passport to employ you. In Germany, it's quite common to get a visa specifically for teaching English. In France, the French-American Chamber of Commerce offers a programme to assist employers with obtaining a visa for a teacher. In other countries, having a student visa can be helpful for working and local employers will let you know what they can do regarding sponsoring a visa.
Apart from working with these schools, there is a lot of work you can be doing on a freelance basis. Teachers post ads on websites and in employment magazines all the time and it is very easy to get calls for private tutoring. Fortunately for us, France has a very bad reputation for the French English teachers at school, so many parents hire private tutors to help their kids after school hours and on Wednesdays (half days at school). It is also fairly easy to set up a small private business and market yourself to professionals such as doctors, lawyers, restaurant and catering staff, so that you teach them the English necessary for their professions, especially if you already have some working knowledge of these industries.
All of this is covered in more detail during the TEFL certification course. As I tell all of my trainees, it is not enough to go out there and say I can teach English. Today you need to be more specific and find your own niche, your own unique qualities, which will give you a more competitive edge when applying for jobs. You also have to keep in mind that you need to 'live' in a place if you truly want to build a teaching career here. You cannot expect to have everything ready and organized from before you even leave home and a job is waiting for you as soon as you arrive. It is a matter of living here, meeting people, making contacts and building a reputation and a clientele. "Being there" is 90% of getting the job!
With your TEFL certification and some effort, you can be living in one of the most amazing cities in the world!
The job guidance staff at your TEFL course will provide all the help and support you need as you chart your path of living and working abroad.
Good job advice from a TEFL Course Director!
Most EFL teaching jobs fall under the categories of either School/Organization oriented teaching or Private Business/Freelance work, many people tend to do a combination of both. There are many EFL schools we tend to categorize under two major definitions, (1) local based schools and (2) major franchises. The local based schools are usually small organizations that have their own niche of clientele and employ teachers to give home tutoring for kids or office tutoring work with private businesses. On most occasions to work with these schools you should have some knowledge of the local language, since most of these organizations can be managed by people that are unable to speak English themselves!
On the other hand, the big EFL franchise schools have professional English speaking staff and most of them do not require their teachers to have a knowledge of another language since they prefer teachers that do not depend on translation to teach English. This is the same philosophy and methodology we practice at our TEFL centre. These schools would also ask you to have a student visa, a work visa or a European passport to employ you. In Germany, it's quite common to get a visa specifically for teaching English. In France, the French-American Chamber of Commerce offers a programme to assist employers with obtaining a visa for a teacher. In other countries, having a student visa can be helpful for working and local employers will let you know what they can do regarding sponsoring a visa.
Apart from working with these schools, there is a lot of work you can be doing on a freelance basis. Teachers post ads on websites and in employment magazines all the time and it is very easy to get calls for private tutoring. Fortunately for us, France has a very bad reputation for the French English teachers at school, so many parents hire private tutors to help their kids after school hours and on Wednesdays (half days at school). It is also fairly easy to set up a small private business and market yourself to professionals such as doctors, lawyers, restaurant and catering staff, so that you teach them the English necessary for their professions, especially if you already have some working knowledge of these industries.
All of this is covered in more detail during the TEFL certification course. As I tell all of my trainees, it is not enough to go out there and say I can teach English. Today you need to be more specific and find your own niche, your own unique qualities, which will give you a more competitive edge when applying for jobs. You also have to keep in mind that you need to 'live' in a place if you truly want to build a teaching career here. You cannot expect to have everything ready and organized from before you even leave home and a job is waiting for you as soon as you arrive. It is a matter of living here, meeting people, making contacts and building a reputation and a clientele. "Being there" is 90% of getting the job!
With your TEFL certification and some effort, you can be living in one of the most amazing cities in the world!
The job guidance staff at your TEFL course will provide all the help and support you need as you chart your path of living and working abroad.
Read what TEFL grads have to say about their experiences abroad:
Kevin talks about his first teaching job: 
I was in London and I received an email from my TEFL course staff about a summer camp job in southern England. I emailed, had a phone interview and got the job teaching English for 6 weeks. Upon arrival, I learned that we would have groups of Italian, Albanian and French teens. Almost 100 kids, what an experience!
We taught English in the mornings, had lunch together, played games and activities all afternoon. Then dinner and some evening activity like skits and movies. On the weekends I drove the minibus to places like Winchester, Salisbury, London and Brighton. We lived in an old fort, cooked meals and cleaned as a group. It was fun work and very long days, trying to get Italian teens to go to bed was a struggle. There might have been a few moments of panic, but overall an amazing experience. And I got paid! |
Twins Chloe & Elise check in: 
Hi Kevin, Teaching English in Barcelona has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life!
The TEFL course was a great start to my time in Barcelona. I got a lot out of it—new friends, an introduction to the city, and of course, hands-on teaching experience! Teaching actual students throughout the course was one of the top benefits. Since TEFL graduation, I have been working for various agencies that set me up with private students of all ages. I enjoy working in a one-to-one environment, getting to know my students and building great relationships. Barcelona itself is incredible. I constantly have the opportunity to practice and improve my Spanish, and meet new friends from all over the world. At this point in my life, it has been everything I wanted it to be and more. (photo: our first FC Barcelona match at Camp Nou!) |
Pictures from our travels: TEFL Grad Testimonials: Jake - Illinois
We're on week #4 of 4 now, and it's been going really well. I definitely underestimated lesson planning and all that is involved! Florence is incredible, I'm planning on finding a job here and sticking around for a while. I really appreciate all you did to help get me involved in the TEFL course. It's everything I had hoped for. I've found that teaching is pretty natural for me. Morgan - University of Texas - Austin End of week #1 on her course: I would say that my expectations of the people that would be in the group were pretty spot on. The TEFL teachers are very kind and I'm glad that they're experienced and from all over. I expected long days, but I'm totally wiped out. I'm absolutely fine with this though, it just goes with covering so much in a month. I love jumping right into teaching. I wasn't expecting that! It makes everything that we're learning so much more relevant. Abby - University of Washington Just finished my last day of the Florence TEFL course - I'm a certified ESL/EFL teacher now! It's been a great experience, I've met some awesome people and pushed myself in many ways. Now on to the next adventure! Alannah - North Carolina I finished my TEFL certificate here in Costa Rica, thank you so much for your amazing recommendation! This place is amazing and the people are fantastic. I am currently living in Zona de los Santos teaching as a Peace Corps Collaborator on the Costa Rica side! Ryan - Furman University I live in Berlin, Germany and work as a freelance teacher for Inlingua GmbH. The best part of the TEFL experience was getting to know the people throughout the course (our Trainers, English students, and staff), and the second best was getting that first taste of what teaching a foreign language is like and how rewarding it can be. Adam - England I currently have a full schedule (35hrs), teaching business English at Gas Natural in the mornings and Acciona in the afternoons for a school on Diagonal. In the evenings I am working for Anglia Academy teaching children, beginners and Cambridge certificate. I also have about three hours a week private tuition. Hope you are all well, love and thanks again for everything! Yvonne - NYC, New York Buenos Aires is a great city and Argentina an amazing country. The people in the BA TEFL office, Karina and Mali, were really great and helpful through the whole process. I really enjoyed it and I acquired a vast amount of knowledge in such a short time as well as extraordinary new friendships. The course was enjoyable, extremely educational, thorough and concise. We learned the fundamentals of English grammar, how to prepare and deliver well-organized lessons and the essentials of classroom management. Ultimately, I feel that this course provided me with the necessary skills and confidence I needed to become an effective ESL teacher. Now that I've been to Argentina, I am ready to go and teach in Europe! Alice – St. Gallen, Switzerland
When I returned to Switzerland, I worked at the Wall Street Institute where I taught First Certificate exam prep courses, regular English classes and also worked with 10 year old kids in a public school. The best part of my TEFL course experience was the really, really fantastic teachers/mentors and a really comfortable learning environment. Justin - Royal Irish Academy Dublin The best part was the practical experience teaching classes and the feedback afterwards. It helped me shape my teaching skills extremely well. For anyone thinking about doing the TEFL course you need to be open to suggestions. If you can absorb the modern teaching methods of the TEFL certificate then it is possible to create a flexible and enjoyable job for yourself almost anywhere in the world. I now have well paid work with companies and private students. James (UK) - now Director of Studies in Taiwan Thanks to the course at Europe TEFL I walked straight into a job with Merit School (within two days of picking up my certificate!) and taught in-company classes and at the Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya, 18 hours a week. I have just started a new full time job at International House, teaching Juniors (9-13), adults both in groups and one to one (for Cambridge cert. and general use). And even better, in January I can apply for a transfer to any of the affiliated IH schools worldwide. Joe - University of Pennsylvania
After my TEFL course I got a job in Moscow, Russia with Language Link English School. Looking back at the month in Spain, the best part of the course was the people I met on the course and the real world classroom preparation. Erin – Indiana University I'm currently teaching private kids classes and working at Alsace Language School, in a very nice neighborhood in Barcelona. The best part about TEFL was the opportunities it has opened for me across the world. I travel, meet new people, try new foods, learn about foreign cultures as well as my own, all while earning a living teaching English. I have meet so many wonderful people, seen things I never would have seen, learned to budget my money, and I’m learning a new language. Who would have thought Kate, Danny and I would still be here over a year after our course, still having the time of our lives?! Tina - Germany I finally made it to Portugal! I started teaching on October first, Business English for the most part, all in-company classes. It's quite stressful as you're constantly on your feet... but a good way to get to know Lisbon. Take care and give big hugs to all! Jessica (Texas) - Seville I have great news as just yesterday I was offered a job in Tarragona, Spain. It is located 60 miles south of Barcelona in the Catalonian area of Spain where they speak Catalan (a mixture of Spanish and French). It's amazing. I really lucked out! So, as you have noticed, I will not be teaching in Prague. I finish my TESOL training this Friday and I do want to work on my Spanish so that'll be more realistic if I stay in Spain. I am hoping to be able to take a quick trip up to Prague sometime during the school year or over the summer. I'm off to Tarragona on Saturday so I can meet with the director, see the school, and prepare myself for the first week. I will be teaching children (ages 7+) up to business adults. It will be quite the range. Un beso! Sammie (Brighton & Hove) - Teaching in South America I have a Job! I finished the course and sure enough by Wednesday I had a job! It seems like such a struggle at first, but believe me - there are so many people wanting to learn English! |
A note from Bryon: 
My sister completed a TEFL course in Prague several years ago and I loved hearing about her experience. Having always admired the confidence she gained while being abroad, it was easy to accept her encouragement to travel myself. I had just graduated from UCSB and had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. The TEFL course was something my family respected and it gave me a goal to work towards. So, terrified at my lack of English grammar (what’s a preposition again?) and lack of Spanish, I boarded a plane to Barcelona, Spain.
While I had read testimonials, “intensive, rewarding, challenging…etc,” I wasn't sure what to expect from the TEFL course. So here’s what’s up: Mornings are dedicated to learning grammar, teaching techniques, and other teaching-related studies, while afternoons and early evenings are set aside for guided lesson planning and observed teaching practice. While that makes for a long day, the afternoon and evening responsibilities are on a rotating basis with each student only teaching two or three days each week. This meant that I often had two days a week where I was done at noon and had the rest of the day to see the sights of Barcelona with my fellow students. If you are just as worried about your lack of grammar as I was, don’t be. The school will teach you everything you need to know, and they start with the basics. Teaching practice can be intimidating. You really are in front of a group of non-English speaking Spaniards but they are all kind-hearted and incredibly forgiving of new teachers. This course is designed to set you up for success, and the teaching practice provided is invaluable. Is the course hard work? Yes. Will you still have time to see the city? Yes. Can you handle it? Absolutely Barcelona is a great city where the ancient and the modern are crammed together. You will find yourself stumbling across gorgeous buildings and ancient churches without trying, and you are never more than 20 feet away from the nearest bar or cafe. The metro system is affordable, approachable and covers the city so well you won’t need any other means of transportation. The school does a good job of providing help with phones, good places to eat, and advice on living in the city. The Sagrada Familia more than lives up to its hype, live football matches are entertaining, and there are a plethora of museums dedicated to art, history, and culture. Add this to the spontaneity of the city (I stumbled upon a Chinese fair last weekend while walking by the pier) and the impressive nightlife, you won’t run out of activities any time soon. I received my TEFL certificate last week and am currently on the job hunt. Looking back, I feel that I really got my money’s worth. Morning lessons were enjoyable and relevant, teaching practice forced me to jump in and teach (which is the whole point) and in the end, I really had to work for my certificate. I didn’t buy this, or fake my way through an online course. I earned it and that means something. I enjoy living in Barcelona, I've seen some things that just aren’t available stateside, and I feel more confident! - Bryon Jade tells us about her experience in Spain: 
The last thing I ever wanted to do was teach. Why? Had you asked me 4 years ago, I would have said that it was not for me. However, after studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain during college, I really wanted to come back to Spain. I looked at everything!
Finally, one day my Spanish Business class went to attend a workshop and that´s where I met Kevin and heard his story about Europe TEFL. Thanks to his enthusiasm & explanation of what a TEFL teacher does, I was convinced I could do this. I interviewed, got in and suddenly I was on my way to Barcelona. The TEFL course was refreshing and smart! I realized that I´d completely built up teaching to be this impossible thing for me when in reality it was actually made for me at this stage in my life. I needed to travel, meet new people and experience other cultures while also sharing mine. Something that was originally meant to be a year to discover Europe, released my inner gypsy and now I can´t get enough of traveling. My role as an English teacher has grown into a real lifestyle. I teach theatre in English for kids, business English, job guidance for new TEFL students and even help run a teacher´s association for expat teachers where I bring in my true passion of arts & cultural management. I travel every weekend I get the chance, join clubs and classes such as the rollerblading club (where I met my boyfriend), dance classes, theatre groups (I´ve performed in 2 full length shows as well as cabarets) and more! How did this all happen? I opened my mind to things that I didn't see as feasible and if I had to pinpoint one thing this entire experience and Europe TEFL taught me, it was that there is a big world out there and the more you discover it, the more you discover yourself. You´re not only coming here to teach, you´re coming here to learn about yourself. Living in Europe has made me more observant, appreciative, and as cliche as it may sound, truly live life to the fullest. Barcelona is my home now. I know this when I go travel for a while or even return home to the states. I get this annoying itch...it´s time to go home. Next year I´m attending Grad school outside Spain. |
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