If you’re reading this article, you’re probably in the process of deciding if becoming a TEFL teacher is worth it. Maybe you’ve heard about it online, or heard great things from a friend. But you’re not sure if it’s within your abilities, and if it’s the right path for you to take.
There’s a lot to consider with TEFL teaching. More than just the aspects of the job, but the experience of moving to a new country with a different language and unfamiliar culture. How do you know if you’ll succeed?
This article is here to help you make that choice.
However, it’s not as simple as saying “TEFL teaching is hard” or “it’s the easiest job in the world”. It depends.
It depends on your expectations, your personality, where you decide to go, and how much money you hope to make. Oh, and throw in a bit of random luck, too.
Instead, I’m going to lay out the different aspects of TEFL teaching, from the first steps of getting a TEFL qualification, through to managing your class and planning lessons, right up to making a career in the field.
Then you can make your own decision.
For the record, I’m a big proponent of TEFL teaching. I’ve done it since 2015, working in language academies, public schools, and right now as a full-time private tutor in Spain.
If you’re thinking of becoming a TEFL teacher, I really recommend you take a look at my article Big Guide to Starting Out in TEFL: All you need to know. It takes you step-by-step through the whole process, from deciding if it’s right for you, all the way to getting your first job.
Is getting qualified for TEFL hard?
The short answer to this is, no.
TEFL courses, which are recognised around the world, are relatively easy to pass, and most providers allow you to repeat the course if you fail. Courses are mostly online, but you can do them in person in the country you hope to teach.
Most courses include:
- Grammar training
- Basics of teaching and classroom management
- Guidance on how to find employment
- Exams to test what you’ve learned
- Written assignments
Some also provide several hours of teaching practice to get your feet wet.
Online courses range from 60 to 180 hours, with 120-hour courses being the best option for most people. In person, they usually take a few weeks.
For most, as long as you pay attention and complete all the assigned work, it’s pretty easy to pass.
The tough part is choosing which course to go with. TEFL isn’t a regulated industry, so anyone can spring up and offer a certificate, but not all of them have quality instruction or recognition around the world.
My advice would be to stick with the big, established brands and go for a 120-hour course. The 60-hour courses just aren’t deep enough. Since most employers require 120 hours, anything less is a waste of time and money.
If you’re looking for great value TEFL certificates, I recommend International TEFL and TESOL Training. Click the link for 15% off all courses (I receive compensation, so you’re supporting me, too). Not convinced? Read why I’d choose ITTT over other TEFL course providers.
A TEFL certificate is good to start you off. However, the best employers require more – if you’re hoping to work for the British Council, or other highly-rated companies, you might need a CELTA certificate. These take more time, cost more, and are more difficult.
If you’re still unsure about TEFL certification, read my article Is TEFL Legit? Guide to trustworthy certificates and jobs.
Is finding a TEFL job hard?
It isn’t hard to find a TEFL job. Things get difficult when you’re looking for a good TEFL job.
The factors which determine how hard it is to find a job are: the country you want to work in, and the type of job you’re seeking.
Countries have different requirements
Each country has its unique set of requirements, benefits and drawbacks. Generally, they fit into one of four categories, based on demand for English teachers and requirements for employment.
Low demand, high requirement countries
In some parts of the world, it’s nearly impossible to find a TEFL job without significant qualifications and experience. As I found in my article How Much Money Do TEFL Teachers Make in Scandinavia? Sweden, Denmark and Norway have very little TEFL industry, and those who get employment have degree/masters level qualifications.
Northern European countries (Scandinavia, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, etc.) don’t need many TEFL teachers, especially not new ones. Cross them off your list, because it’s not going to happen. Even if you do get a job there, you’ll struggle to earn enough to survive their high cost of living.
High demand, average requirement countries
Stepping down a level, you’ve got the relatively wealthy nations which are pushing to get their population educated in English. These include: Spain, Italy, Japan, China, and South Korea.
In these countries, pay is good, and there are plenty of opportunities. As a new TEFL teacher, it isn’t too hard to find a suitable job, but there is quite a lot of competition to begin with. A TEFL certificate can get you a low-paid position, but you’ll need experience and better qualifications for the best roles.
Check out my article on How Much Money Do TEFL Teachers Make in Spain? to learn more about the country where I live and work as a TEFL teacher.
High demand, low requirement countries
This category includes less wealthy countries, like Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Thailand.
They’re popular destinations for TEFL teachers because it’s easy to find employment, especially if you’re a native English speaker, and the lifestyle is cheap, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy yourself.
However, be warned – the pay is low. This post on How Much Money do TEFL Teachers Make in Indonesia? shows that monthly earnings can be as low as $500.
ESL countries
The last group is one you may not have thought about. These are countries where English is the primary language, so we’re talking about the USA, UK, Australia, etc.
In these countries, you wouldn’t be an EFL teacher, but an ESL teacher – the difference being ESL is for people who are learning English while living in an English-speaking country.
You’d be teaching people who have recently moved there – immigrants and students. The benefit is, you might be able to work where you already live, although for many, going abroad is the whole point of TEFL teaching!
Searching for the perfect TEFL destination with the best earnings? Compare countries around the world with my free resource: How Much Do TEFL & TESL Teachers Make? Countries compared.
Type of job
There are 4 main TEFL jobs:
- Language academies
- Government-sponsored programs
- Private Classes
- Private/International Schools
Language academies
Language academies are the most common source of employment. They’re relatively easy to find. The issue with them is you don’t know exactly what you’re getting into. Companies like Berlitz and EF have branches all around the world, but with mixed reviews.
Rates of pay, hours, and working conditions vary wildly.
There are plenty of dodgy academies out there who will make you work 30-40 teaching hours a week (that doesn’t include planning/preparation time) with difficult and ever-changing schedules. On the other hand, some employers won’t give you enough hours to make ends meet.
The good thing is, these companies help to get work permits and give you a good stepping stone into the country.
There’s an element of luck at play. You never know exactly what you’re getting into, but be assured that most jobs are fine, and contracts aren’t usually too long. You can always move on if things turn sour.
Government programs
Government-sponsored programs are great. You get placed in a public school working as a language assistant (supporting the main teacher), often with generous pay and a light schedule. I was on the Auxiliares de Conversación program in Madrid for 3 years and absolutely loved it. 1,000 euros a month for 16 enjoyable hours a week.
Spain (Auxiliares de Conversación), France (TAPIF), Japan (JET) and South Korea (EPIK) are the main options for this category. Elsewhere, Colombia has the TEC program and Chile has English Open Doors. All you need to apply is a bachelor’s degree.
However, most countries don’t have such a program. If you’re set on South East Asia or European countries other than France or Spain, you’re out of luck.
Private Classes
Private classes are often lucrative, with hourly rates higher than most other TEFL jobs. You can set your own timetable and choose what classes you teach (business, exam prep, young kids, etc.).
The downsides are: instability of work hours, freelancers often can’t get work permits, and you have to find and organise your own classes as well as deal with tax, social security, health insurance, etc on your own.
It’s quite easy to find private students. The challenge is finding enough to make a living. But if you supplement your fixed employment with a few private classes, they’re a very easy way to make good money.
For more on how to get started as a private EFL/ESL teacher, read my article on the topic: How to Get Started as an EFL/ESL Private Tutor: Full guide.
Private/International schools
For new and inexperienced TEFL teachers, private and international schools are mostly out of reach as they require better qualifications than a TEFL certificate, and multiple years of experience.
Saying that, in some countries, there might be a teacher shortage, in which case you can fill a void.
Pay is good, and you have stability for the length of the contract.
International schools, especially, pay a good wage and treat their teachers well. Private schools vary – there are good ones and bad ones and if you’re not careful, you can end up working long hours for not much more money than a language academy.
If you’re just starting out, I wouldn’t bother with these. Once you’ve got a few years under your belt, they might become a viable option, but for now, don’t waste your time applying as you won’t meet the requirements.
If you want a more detailed look at the different types of job you can get and what kind of students you’d be working with, read my guide: What Type of TEFL Teaching is For You? Jobs explained.
Is moving to a new country with a TEFL job hard?
Leaving home and arriving fresh-faced in a brand new country with strange customs and a confusing language can bring a sense of excitement and anticipation. Or it can fill you with dread and anxiety.
The feeling you have will, on the whole, inform you whether moving to a new country will be easy or hard for you.
That’s not to say being nervous means you’ll have a terrible time. It’s normal to worry and fret about the details. Questions like: Will I make friends? How will I manage shopping for food? What if I can’t get all my paperwork organised in time – will they deport me? These are natural things to ask yourself.
But if the prospect of overcoming these obstacles terrifies you, or gives you a high level of stress, adapting to a new country might be challenging. Then again, it can be liberating. It can free you from the worry-vortex in your mind and teach you to deal with stressful problems.
Then there are the practicalities. If you’re young, with no dependents or significant property at home, upping sticks and crashing down on the other side of the world is pretty easy. Those with a family, pets, or a house to look after might find the transition more painful.
The main things that make moving to a new country hard are:
- The language – if you can’t speak it, you’ll struggle to begin with, but by winging it you can get by.
- Bureaucracy – dealing with visas, work permits, and rental contracts can be messy. This varies from country to country.
- Food and mealtimes – foreign cultures eat differently and at different times – this can be tricky to adjust to at first, and you might not find many home comforts in the local grocery store.
- Social life – the language and cultural barrier often means TEFL teachers struggle to socialise with the locals. At first, your social circle will probably be with other TEFL teachers.
There are hundreds of other small things that you’ll find are different in a new country. The fun of living abroad is seeing them all.
Although it’s tough to begin with, you’ll come out the other side a stronger, more well-rounded person, with hundreds of memories and adventures behind you.
Is the English language hard to teach?
In short, yes, but you can manage it.
English is a weird language, full of quirks and inconsistencies. Here are the main things which make English hard to teach, and by extension, hard to learn.
Pronunciation
In English, the relationship between the letters of a written word and the way it’s pronounced is… complicated. Take the words: through, tough, though and thought. Four completely different pronunciations, while the letters hardly change. And why is “read” pronounced like “reed” in the present and like “red” in the past?
If you’re a native English speaker, or have a very high proficiency, you already know how to pronounce English words. But try explaining the rules of pronunciation for the examples above and you’ll see my point.
Grammar
In English-speaking countries, we don’t really learn grammar at school. Maybe a little, but not to the extent you’re expected to teach your EFL students.
In fact, when I first started, many of my students knew English grammar better than I did.
If you’re unfamiliar with the terms “present perfect”, “modal verbs” or “third conditional”, then you’d best get studying, because you’ll be expected to teach these to intermediate and advanced learners.
Fortunately, since you already use these structures every day, it doesn’t take too long to pick it up. And the internet is full of helpful resources.
Disconnect between textbook English and real English
As I learned the rules of English grammar to teach my students, I realised how a lot of the time we don’t actually follow them.
One obvious example of this is the use of the “will” future and the “going to” future. Do you know when to use each one?
In the textbook, it’ll tell you “I am going to play tennis” is something that’s already arranged/planned. Meanwhile, “I will play tennis” is a prediction or a promise made in the moment.
Really? Before I started teaching, I never considered there to be a difference. You just use what sounds best, right?
Well, yes. The reality is, native English speakers rarely stick to the textbook rule, yet EFL students learn it and get tested on it.
It can be a challenge to adapt to this. I find myself in plenty of situations when students have learned a specific rule and I have to tell them it’s not really valid.
The example of the two future forms highlights the difference between how native English speakers and EFL students learn the language. The former is natural, and through exposure to what sounds “right”, while the latter is more regimented and academic.
This lack of logical explanations and clearly defined rules make English hard to teach, but if you’re up for the challenge, you can rise above your peers and become an expert pretty quickly.
Is it hard to deal with students in TEFL classes?
Teaching is a social activity. It involves developing relationships and adapting to the needs of students to give them the best opportunities for learning.
Most of the problems which TEFL teachers experience in class are down to the difficulties dealing with certain personalities and behaviours. This is the most important factor for a teacher’s success.
The joy of TEFL teaching is meeting a diverse range of students with unique backgrounds and interests. Most of the time, students are brilliant. They’re motivated, pay attention, and you can watch them grow in confidence from one lesson to the next.
Others are not so easy. From hyperactive kids to shy teens and arrogant adults, every TEFL teacher vividly remembers those students who made their life difficult.
Couple this with the fact most TEFL teachers have very limited training and experience, and it can end in disaster. But with a little know-how and trial and error, you can avoid the worst problems. Here are some quick tips:
- For energetic kids: Harness their energy and direct it towards English learning as best you can. Set clear rules and stick to them. Don’t expect them to focus on low energy tasks like writing and worksheets for long periods of time.
- For kids/teens who don’t want to be there: Give them a reason to look forward to your class. Find their interests and design your lessons around them. Give them agency, so they choose what to do. For more on how to deal with reluctant students, I’ve got an in-depth article on the subject: What to Do if Private EFL/ESL Students Won’t Participate
- For rude/arrogant students: Avoid conflict and don’t let it get to you. It’s tempting to hit back and show them their faults, but ultimately, they’re paying you to teach them and you can adapt your class to take advantage of their personality. Saying that, if they’re extremely disrespectful or even abusive, talk to your boss or a colleague to see if they can help.
More than anything, the social skills of teaching have the biggest impact. You can have the best lesson plans and a linguist’s understanding of grammar, but if you can’t find the best dynamic for your students, they won’t learn much at all.
So, to answer the question, is it hard to deal with students in TEFL classes? Yes, sometimes it’s very hard. But it’s the essence of teaching and what makes the job so fun.
Is planning and delivering TEFL lessons hard?
Getting a lesson plan off the internet, printing the worksheets and following the steps given to you is easy.
While I advise against it, in theory, you can plan every lesson in about 5 minutes without having to think about what you’re doing.
In fact, some language academies enforce this. They have a system which they’ve designed and their teachers have to follow it in every class, meaning lesson prep is minimal.
The government-sponsored language assistant programs are also easy.
Depending on the main class teacher, you could be wandering around the classroom, providing the correct pronunciation for words, and answering some students’ questions. Or maybe you’ll go with a small group out of the class for an activity the teacher has prepared. It’s low prep, and low pressure.
If you get yourself some private conversation classes, they’re not hard either. At the basic level, you’re just having a chat with someone in your own language, and correcting their mistakes, or providing some new vocab.
This is all great when you’re inexperienced. But it’s not the best strategy long term as students get bored or frustrated with the limitations of the lesson. As a teacher, it’s hardly fulfilling, either.
The challenge comes when you start to make your own lesson plans and design your own activities. This can seem daunting at first. And it’s likely you’ll have plenty of failures.
However, you’ll learn what works quickly, and while it can seem hard to begin with, once you get the hang of it, it’s a creative and rewarding experience.
Every student and every class has different needs. Working out those needs through social interaction and tailoring your classes to optimise their learning is the art of teaching.
For my best strategy on planning EFL/ESL classes, read my big guide Principles of Designing Amazing Private EFL/ESL Lessons. It’s for private classes, but the ideas apply to all types of lesson.
I have 18 private classes every week. Each one of them is totally unique, with different activities, social dynamics and energy levels. I plan bespoke lessons, suited for their level and interests.
This takes time and effort, and results from years of experience, so you can’t expect to do this as a new TEFL teacher. But it’s certainly achievable for everyone when they’ve done some reps.
In short, planning and delivering decent lessons is easy. Planning and delivering great lessons is a much greater challenge.
Is it hard to have a career in TEFL?
If we’re talking about a long-term, high-earning career which will let you retire at 55, then the answer is a hard yes – it is hard. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but it takes effort and the right circumstances.
For the vast majority of TEFL teachers, it’s a temporary career – a year, two years, even as many as ten, before returning to a “proper” career in the home country or transitioning to a “proper” job in the foreign country they’ve moved to. There’s a reason most TEFL teachers are in their twenties.
TEFL teachers do have opportunities to earn higher incomes – countries in the Middle East like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates offer beefy salaries. Elsewhere, though, the pay is good enough to live off, and at best, save a few thousand bucks a year.
In terms of rising to higher positions in TEFL, options are limited. With a few years of experience and an advanced qualification, you could step up to private/international schools for better pay. Or perhaps go freelance. You could even set up your own language academy.
Still, most teachers won’t get this far. Lack of financial prospects and the constant comments from family and friends at home that “it’s just a phase” and “they’ll get it out of their system eventually” drag most teachers back home.
Nevertheless, many TEFL teachers have no intention of making it a long-term career. It’s a great opportunity to travel the world, learn a language, and meet some amazing people.
To learn more about what kind of career you can have with TEFL, read my article: Can TEFL Be a Long Term Career? 9 ways to make it happen.
Is TEFL teaching hard? You decide your future
I hope by reading this article you have a better idea about TEFL teaching and whether it’s for you.
Each of the points discussed is subjective, and will vary depending on your specific circumstances, and ultimately, you are the only one who can answer the question.
Remember, nothing is easy. If some aspects of TEFL teaching seem overwhelming and unachievable, welcome to the club.
It might be moving to a new country which makes you nervous. Or having to deal with naughty children. That’s normal. If everything you read here sounds like the easiest thing in the world, well, why aren’t you a TEFL teacher already?
Conversely, if the vast majority of this article had you feeling panicky, perhaps TEFL teaching is not your best option.
My recommendation for everyone is to keep doing your research. Trawl the web for other people who have done TEFL teaching and assimilate their experiences into your decision. Then you’ll make the most informed choice.
To learn more about becoming a TEFL teacher, you should definitely read my other articles:
Big Guide to Starting Out in TEFL: All you need to know
Is TEFL Teaching Hard? A guide to whether TEFL is right for you
What Are EFL/ESL Classes Like For Teachers?
Is TEFL Legit? Guide to trustworthy certificates and jobs
Do You Need a Degree to Work as a TEFL Teacher?
How to Pick the Right TEFL Destination: 5 steps to success
What Type of TEFL Teaching is For You? Jobs explained
What is the Best TEFL Certificate? Guide to choosing right
TEFL vs. CELTA: What’s the difference? Which is best?
10 Steps to Passing Your TEFL: Study and assignment tips
Is There an Exam for TEFL Courses? What you need to pass
Which TEFL Course Provider to Choose? Why my pick is ITTT
Is it Hard to Get a TEFL Job? Tips on finding employment
