Hello people,
well ive just signed up to this site after searching and searching for ones that actually look real and not rip off sites. i am now extremely confused as to what to do??
i am currently working full time but i will be giving everything up to pursue my dream of travelling ready for next year. the best bet i can see for travelling and living would be a TEFL course, but i just dont know where to start.
i seem to be getting stuck and confused as to which course to do??
i have 2 years of college behind me, but no degree. i dont really mind where i work, just the further away from the UK is better for me, like Thailand or China.
visas = me confused!!!
anything that is an all included package would be great, but for now, a little of understanding, help and support will be very welcome!! :o)

Thank you for taking the time to read!!

I was in the same boat, but the more and more you talk to people and learn about it the more exciting it becomes.

where you end up/want to end up depends on what you like, i would suggest having a quick look at previous internships and read through all there comments and questions.

also go have a look on youtube, as ill be going to china, i just typed in 'working in china' and loads of videos come up about the work the lifestyle and all the little ins and outs you might have missed.

I went there for a month a few years ago, so ill try and answer any questions you have?

Thanks, ash.

Hi Ash,

well thank you very much, i will definatly go on youtube to have a look.
did you do it independantly or pay for a package, including visa etc?

also, im trying to put together how much money i will need aswell.

:)

Hi my name is Dakota and I just joined this site as well, looking to do the same thing as alot of people here are doing are have done. i am a little nervous about leaving the U.S., but i hate my job so. I have a degee in social science with education concentrate, and an AA in early childhood development. I saw a company called TESOL that train people to teach overseas and they are located in china, does anyone know anything about them?? I have never taught in a classroom, so i am looking for student teaching that paid and that looked like a good deal. i do not know of any in the U. S. that does that pays to do student teaching. Any advise would be great. Thanks a bunch Dakota.

Hello

Not sure I can be of that much help...but see what you think!...

I have complteed a 120 hour TEFL course on this site. I think its the best online, as it is the most accredited for just TEFL, (not CELTA). Have a look on the TUI travel website, it is mentioned, which is what swayed it for me. Anyway, it is all above board as I did the weekend course as well that was included, as its all fine :)

However, the only problem I found with it is that with it being online there was not much actual teaching practise included (only a little during the weekend course). From a theory point of view, I'd say its got it pretty much all covered though, and would recommend the course.

The internship that i-toi offer might be worth you trying, as I think the one in China doesn't require a degree. Otherwise you may face a problem just doing this course without a degree. This is the situation I found myself in, as a lot of places to prefer you to have a degree. (Although I think this may not be as strict in China etc so you may be ok).

Anyway, in the end I decided to do the CELTA course, which I'm off to do in September. But I'm not doing this because the TEFL was a waste of time, because I dont think I would have even got onto the CELTA course without  the knowledge I had gained from the TEFL. I'm doing it more because I want to stay in Europe, and without a degree, think I'd struggle without it.

Anyway, if you think I can help anymore, let me know :)

Thank you very much, that's alot of great advice for me. 

I am definitely very keen on doing the internship in China for next year. I just hope it's the right decision and I can pass the course. I'm seriously considering waiting until my redundancy money comes through, or try and get funds together now and sign up before the cheap price runs out. 

I've looked on alot of the China 2013 blogs and my confidence is sky high after ready some people's posts!!! 

Nail-biting.... Do I or don't I?? 

Thanks again for your help. :)

Do it :)

Its better than always regretting it!

I'll be starting my third year in China this September. From what I hear, most places here want people to have at least a BA degree. The TEFL is good also, but I don't think it is too critical exactly where it comes from, as long as it comes with a certificate. -- I wouldn't worry about not having classroom experience, the students I met are just happy to have you here, and so you can learn as you go along, because they are welcoming to anything you want to do! They love games! --- I've made a detailed collection of ESL games and you can find the link to it in my journal entries on my home page. VISAS? find a job first and then the people who are employing you will help with the details of the VISA. I was worried about that also, but it ended up being quite smooth. Feel free to write if you have any questions about China.
(Oh - Ps. if you want to teach in China, just go for a job, so they pay you. I don't think the "Internship" is necessary, .... but of course, it can't hurt) -- Jeffrey

I'm kind of in the same situation. I'm currently on a placement year, and finish July next year, and was hoping to do TEFL next summer before I don my final year of uni, so does the fact I have 2 years of uni under my belt mean anything?

So confused!

Susie

Your 2 years of University probably mean something .... but every TEFL advert I've seen asks for a BA degree.
- my advice is to finish your BA, and then do it.
----- but don't take what I say as absolute truth. Browse through the job advertisements you can find on many websites, and see if they ask for a BA or not.