Teach English Abroad: Break your Geographical Barriers with ITTT and TEFL UK

With Summer holiday starting this week, I thought it would be a great time to share a couple of my favorite providers of TEFL/TESOL certificates and teach English abroad opportunities. There really is no better way to explore the world than to earn while you travel and services like ITTT and TEFL UK are real pros at what they do. Although there are literally hundreds of providers out there online, only a few really get you the skills and tools to do the job and feel confident you're doing it right. I've personally used some and researched others and have narrowed my list of recommendations down to just two. The're both reliable and supportive and really little seperates them. Hopefully, any readers of this blog will avoid some of the dissapointments I've experienced dealing with some of the shadier providers lurking around the internet...

First Impressions

When searching for a provider with good intentions, the best advice I can give is to trust your gut feeling from the first time you interact with a company rep. If the main gist of their pitch is how to get you certified without actually taking a course (yes, I have actually experienced this 🙄) you know they're just in it for the money. When it comes time to assist you in getting started in a new country, they'll be bound to cut corners there, too. So, be careful. And it might even be a good idea to test the waters with one or two others, then try my picks and see for yourself the difference in the entire approach from their web and online presence to their style of communication in correspondence with you.

My Test

What I like to do when dealing with a potential new provider is open with a line of questioning that serves two purposes: 1) you will quickly realize their level of professionalism if it takes them 3 days to answer a query and 2) you will be able to gauge their level of integrity based on the steps they say you need to take to get certified. You might just try to chat with them on their site to figure this out, but in my experience I've found that the shady ones really reveal their true colors in email communication. As an affiliate to both ITTT and TEFL UK, I've experienced lengthy communication and expert advice right from the start all the way through to signing a contract.

The journey from TEFL certification to job placement should never be easy. The old adage "if it seems to good to be true..." especially applies here. ITTT has a number of infographics available on request to determine everything from individual requirements of a given country to salaries and cost of living ratios. Applicants can get lots of information before actually paying for the service, which is really a key factor for me when deciding who to parnter with.

Things to decide before planning your course of action

Get out your checklist and be sure to cover everything from course options to degree requirements. Different countries (and employers) require different qualifications and you should have a good idea of some other deciding factors at the ready before you choose to start a certification course. I'm sure some of you may have had your own nightmare experiences already (I know I've had a few) and choosing the right partner to get certified can be a very frustrating process. But there are also several other things to consider before you decide to pick up and move to a new country:

1. Flight and accommodation costs

2. Climate (will it be too hot/cold for me?)

3. Dietary needs (will I be able to find foods I know and like/need?)

4. Language (learning a few basics goes a long way in acclimating. Everyone in the world does NOT speak English!)

5. Culture (again, do some research to ease culture shock)

Some of the above may seem basic, but you'd be surprised how many people go all-in without digging a little deeper into their country of choice.

The Final Score

Educational Consulting

Book Now

Having travelled to over thirty countries and having lived in a foreign country myself for nearly two decades, I am always glad to share my experience with anyone interested. Just comment below or feel free to contact me directly at rob@breakmybarriers.com to take advantage of our 15% discounts at both ITTT and TEFL UK.

If you feel what I've shared here is enough to get you started on your journey, then go ahead and get the ball rolling - carefully and dilligently!🙏 And I highly suggest using partners I've tested myself and taking advantage of all the lessons I've learned. Book courses today at one of our valued partners: https://www.teflcourse.net/apply/?cu=CXEUR2022G or https://tefluk.com/online-tefl-courses/120hr-professional-tefl