7 Reasons NOT to Do an i-to-i TEFL Course

Here at i-to-i, we seem to spend all our time trying to convince people how much fun teaching English abroad is and explaining the benefits of a properly run TEFL course. So today we’re going to have a break from it and explain seven reasons why you shouldn’t bother doing a TEFL course at all. 

Number one: Mmm, sweaty

You’re really looking forward to that ‘sweaty under the armpits, good God what am I doing?’ feeling when you go into a foreign classroom completely unprepared. The nerves, stress and disappointed looks of your students’ faces are what will make it all so much fun.

Number two: Know it all?

You already know everything you need to know about Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Your knowledge of grammar is pretty much perfect. You can spot a subordinate clause from a mile away and can safely say you never make speling mistakes.

Number three: Fearless

Huge classes full of riotous kids hold no fear for you. You reckon you’ve got the skills, charm and knowledge you need to work out fun lessons that’ll keep your kids interested and well behaved. You had great teachers at all your schools and they always managed to make everyone in the class behave impeccably pretty much all the time. So you’ll just do what they used to do. What could go wrong?

Think you could handle all of these, all at once? You're braver than me! (photo: Rozel09)

Number four: Cash to burn?

You’d rather do a CELTA course. You’ve got 4 weeks of your life and £1000 of your hard earned savings you don’t really need. And those six extra hours of observed teaching practice you get on a CELTA seem well worth all that extra cash! You couldn’t possibly find a cheaper TEFL course and then organize some voluntary English teaching work and a reference all by yourself.

Number five: The sofa’s much preferable

You don’t really fancy teaching abroad. Sounds a bit overrated. Seriously, who needs a pretty much guaranteed way to earn money anywhere on the planet? It’s much better to stay at home, have a nice cup of tea and eat toast on the sofa.

Number six: They don’t need to learn English

How good do their English skills need to be? You’re going away to make a quick buck and have a good time, in fact they’ll be lucky if you’re not hungover every morning. You’re really not remotely bothered about being able to do a good job. So what if your students work their asses off to afford the lessons?

Number seven: ¿Habla Español?

The world would be a better place if everyone spoke Spanish. Don’t you think? Even their word for toilet is nice – servicio. (Go on say it aloud with your best Spanish accent). I rest my case.

What do you think? Should you do a TEFL course before heading overseas to teach?

• TEFL course
• teach English abroad
• TEFL
• TESOL
• i-to-i