Jan 31 2012
What you should know about freelance EFL teaching
Most TEFL course providers try their best to make sure that their students find employment with schools that they are affiliated with. Oftentimes, this could mean that you end up being tethered to one location for a couple of years. For the adventurous soul, the option of freelance teaching is always present.
What exactly is freelance EFL teaching? In almost every non-English speaking country, language schools where English is taught can be found. However, not everyone who wishes to learn English is enrolled in a language school. There are countless students who have failed to become enrolled into language schools, unable to cover the expenses or simply live way too far away from one. This means that you will have the ability to take on these students as private students.
The reality of freelance EFL teaching is the fact that you will not have a guaranteed teaching opportunity every single time. It is a bit difficult to find private students on your own. The best way to go would be to ask around and to let the students know that you are able to teach them. Another thing that you should know is that you may not be able to make a lot of money by teaching privately. If you look at it, if you have five students in five different parts of the city, you will have to spend a considerable amount to cover the travelling expenses. However, if you manage to land a considerable number of students, then you just might be able to earn a good living and maybe even put aside some savings.
You don’t have to be a fulltime freelancer if you are worried about the money. In fact, some language schools won’t mind having you as a part-time teacher. This means that you will be able to have some free time to spend as a freelance teacher.
Being qualified is not enough when it comes to freelance teaching. You should always try and market yourself as much as possible if you are to attract students your way. Some business cards, notices and maybe a newspaper advertisement or two could help you find some new students. However you choose to approach freelance EFL teaching, you will definitely be able to make a decent living while enjoying yourself in an exotic location.
For a lot of people, travelling is much more than a chance to relax and to unwind from a tight lifestyle. In reality, there are so many things that you can learn from travelling. For instance, if you are travelling on your own, you will be learning lot of new things throughout your trip. The adjustment to a new culture, the expenses management and the new surroundings are all new lessons for someone who is new to independent living.