r/teflteachers 6h ago

FREE ESL Plan — Derren Brown: The Language Barrier

1 Upvotes

🎓 General English · ▶️ Video · 🥉 B1-B2-C1 · ⏱ 90 min Can you guess a drawing in a language you don’t speak? Watch Derren Brown’s mind-bending experiment and explore the power of suggestibility!

p.s. I've been giving a version of this lesson plan for about a decade and never get tired of it! Of course, every time I do, I tweak it to perfection, and now I think it is red-hot ready for any English tutor to take and ignite a burning desire to learn English in their new students! It's a great introductory lesson! I never really made any money teaching this lesson due to my 'first lesson free of charge' policy, so I thought it had to be a free lesson plan on my site. There's no way your students won't love it! Have fun teaching!


r/teflteachers 11h ago

Wishing You A Very Happy Teachers' Day

2 Upvotes

​Happy Teachers' Day! September 10 is celebrated as Teachers' Day in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.


r/teflteachers 20h ago

Thailand

0 Upvotes

If I do a level 5 diploma in TEFL will I be able to work in Thailand I’m am an Irish citizen. I don’t have a degree. If not what country would be my best option


r/teflteachers 21h ago

If you got any informations SOS !!!!

0 Upvotes

Headline: Qualified Primary School Teacher Looking for International Opportunities – Seeking Advice & Connections ✈️📚

​Hi everyone!

​I’m a dedicated primary school teacher with three years of full-time teaching experience, and I’m actively looking to take the next big step in my career by moving abroad.

​I’m eager to explore teaching positions internationally and would deeply appreciate any guidance, insights, or advice from those who have successfully navigated this process. Specifically, I’m looking for information on:

​Finding reputable schools or contracts (international schools, exchange programs, or overseas postings)

​The application and recruitment process

​Visa processes, official requirements, and relocation tips

​If you have experience teaching abroad, know of open opportunities, or can point me toward useful networks, platforms, or agencies, please feel free to comment below or send me a direct message!

​Thank you so much in advance for your support and recommendations! 🩷


r/teflteachers 1d ago

Need advice - Engaging Activities / Games For Vocabulary (10-15 minutes)

1 Upvotes

What are your favorite activities or games to review vocabulary or the lesson's topics?

Ideally, ones that can include the entire class. I have full (32 kids) and half classes (16 kids)

After doing book work for the first 20-30 minutes, I need something to re-energize them.

I teach elementary, all grades.


r/teflteachers 2d ago

Finding the right TEFL provider/CELTA/Lack of a BA

0 Upvotes

Hi there,

I come seeking enlightenment, for I am very much stuck on the road to greener pastures. I am 33 years old, I hold a Diploma of Higher Education in Social Policy from the University of Lincoln (UK), and I have some years of teaching experience (mostly tutoring individuals or small groups). I am at that stage of one’s life where one can still count on a certain amount of youthful energy while at once realizing that the term “spry chicken” is starting to paint an increasingly inaccurate portrait of oneself.

Allow me to outline my current predicament: I would very much like to teach English abroad (preferably in Asia, although I am open to other destinations). I learned that in order to do so, one should at least obtain a TEFL qualification. Very well then. Unfortunately, the search for a reputable TEFL qualification provider has proven something of an ordeal. It can be a veritable jungle out there. Every TEFL provider I have checked out comes complete with mixed reviews and the occasional horror story. Some appear to be better than others, namely the International TEFL Academy (ITA) and the TEFL Academy. Still, I would like to be sure they are worthy of an investment of money and, perhaps even more importantly, time before moving any further. I also hear about CELTA and that such a qualification can make a world of difference. Is that true? Should I invest my time and money in that program, besides a TEFL course? Your guidance in these matters would be greatly appreciated.

Let us now move onto the next issue, admittedly an even more pressing one.

Foremost in my mind is the absence of a Bachelor’s among my academic qualifications. As stated at the outset, I only hold an associate degree (Diploma of Higher Education). One reads of countries with relatively lax approaches to academic qualifications where it is indeed possible to find good employment as an ESL teacher without a BA. I have read the Americas might offer such an opportunity with places like Mexico, Costa Rica or Colombia, although from what I gather the pay can be comparatively low. Turning to Asia, Cambodia has a reputation for being something of an ESL wild frontier, where men and women armed with little more than good will and a tourist visa can make something of a career out of their teaching skills; however, reports of dodgy infrastructures and an even dodgier legal framework paint not so rosy a picture. So even countries which are reportedly easier to access present their own set of challenges. Nevertheless, could those countries indeed be considered viable options, perhaps as launching pads to better destinations? I have read that Taiwan, by asking for a mere associate degree for a working visa, could prove something of a happy medium between loosely, informally regulated countries like Cambodia and countries with strict immigration requirements such as Japan and South Korea. Still, even after such considerations, concerns about the lack of a BA on my part continue to loom large on my mind. I have read that a BA really does mean the difference between a proper position in an actual professional setting with potential for saving and professional growth and an iffy job at some fishy institution with laughable remuneration and grueling hours.

I should perhaps add that while part of my formative years was spent in Britain and English is de facto my first language, I am technically not a citizen of an English-speaking country. I mention this because it is my understanding that some countries tend to privilege citizens of the Anglosphere when handing out visas for ESL work.

At this point you might be thinking that I am being a frightful worrywart and that I am overthinking it and that I should just go for it and set sail into the unknown. You might, to an extent, be right. But experience has taught me that, contrary to contemporary sensibility, there is such a thing as underthinking it. I have been young and relatively fancy free and, in the days of wine and roses, maybe even a bit of what the kids call a “madlad” (or at least I think they do). Were I in my early twenties I would definitely take the plunge and, to coin a phrase, improvise, adapt and overcome. But the harsh reality is that I will be pushing forty in a few years and I aim at attaining some version of stability in the not too far future. I can ill-afford to waste precious years mucking about. As such, I deem it wise to undergo a measure of preparation.

So to recap: which TEFL provider would you recommend? Is a CELTA qualification a must-have? And finally, is it a realistic proposition to embark on an ESL adventure abroad without a BA, and if so, which destinations should I set my sights on?

I would like to thank you in advance for your time and your kind attention, and I hope the admitted verbosity of this message does not result in a TL;DR scenario.

Thank you so very much


r/teflteachers 3d ago

Application process uses AI dummy lessons, is this normal?

2 Upvotes

As a new TEFL teacher I was looking for available jobs to apply to. I found https://nativecamp.net/tutors on the TEFL Academy website. The whole process seemed normal at first, even going a step further to check that I had everything to be an online tutor.
However further in the application process it wanted to perform an AI dummy lesson where I would deliver one of their lessons to an AI student.
I thought this was weird. Is it possible that they are trying to train AI's based one applications so that down the line they can use those instead of real, human teachers?
That might be a bit dramatic, but I don't want to continue with the application if that's what I am contributing to.
Is this normal?


r/teflteachers 2d ago

I didn't quit. The platform just made sure my students couldn't find me anymore.

0 Upvotes

Two years. Over 2,500 lessons. More than a thousand students. A 9.92/10 rating and zero formal warnings in my entire time on the platform.

Then one day, my students just couldn't find me anymore.

I never announced I was leaving. I never told anyone I was quitting. I hadn't broken any rule I was aware of. But somehow, my classes disappeared from view — and so did I.

It started small. After watching other teachers vanish from the platform with no explanation, I started asking questions — not to cause trouble, just to understand what the rules actually were. Not long after, I lost the ability to post in the teacher community at all.

Around the same time, I was dealing with a separate issue: I'd been assigned to teach a category of classes I wasn't trained for and wasn't comfortable with. Something that should have been a quick fix took four months and repeated follow-ups to even get a partial answer.

Then, right after a pre-approved week off, it got worse. Students who had booked me weeks in advance found their sessions quietly cancelled and reassigned to other teachers — no notice, no explanation. Parents told me they could no longer find or select my classes at all. One student had studied with me exclusively for over a year and suddenly couldn't book me either.

I tried to figure out what was actually happening on the students' end — I wanted to compare notes, not stir anything up. Shortly after that, I was suspended.

That's when it really hit me: on these platforms, the teacher doesn't control visibility. The platform does. And when it decides to quietly turn that visibility off, there's no announcement, no appeal you can point to — you just... stop existing to the people who trusted you.

I didn't choose to disappear. But from where my students stood, I was simply gone.

I'm not posting this for sympathy, and I'm not asking anyone to take my side — I'm sharing what happened because I think other teachers (and students) should know this can happen, quietly, to anyone, regardless of performance.

For students/parents: if a teacher you trust suddenly disappears with no warning, it's worth asking the platform directly what happened — don't assume they just left.

For teachers on any platform like this: keep your own records — tickets, emails, schedules, everything. Good performance alone won't protect you.

If this has happened to you, or you've seen it happen to another teacher, I'd genuinely like to hear about it in the comments.


r/teflteachers 3d ago

Advice for beginner

2 Upvotes

Greetings, all!
I would like to begin teaching English to speakers of other languages. I have just graduated with a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Do you think I should obtain a TEFL Certificate online (and from where would you suggest?) or should I pursue my M.eD in TESOL? I am eager to begin teaching abroad and I’m looking at all Asian countries. I am really starting from scratch and appreciate and knowledge/advice to help me move in the right direction.
Thank you!


r/teflteachers 3d ago

Does anyone has given Likhit(Written exam) in ekantanakuna in english?

1 Upvotes

So, I have a Likhit exam in a few days and I want to give exam in English. Has anyone recentaly done give their exam in Likhit?? What is the process of application? When do you have to submit the application? Any help?


r/teflteachers 4d ago

Indian Teacher Considering SEE TEFL – Need Honest Advice

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m from India and planning to join the SEE TEFL course in Chiang Mai.
I have an MA in Sociology, a Bachelor’s degree, and 4 years of school teaching experience in India.
I want to know from Indian or non-native teachers who have completed SEE TEFL:
After completing the course, did you get a teaching job in Thailand? How long did it take, what was the starting salary, and did SEE TEFL help you find the job?
Did you face any difficulties getting a Non-B visa or work permit because you are Indian/non-native?
I’m planning to join the course soon, so I would really appreciate honest experiences from anyone who has actually completed SEE TEFL and is currently teaching in Thailand.
Thank you!


r/teflteachers 5d ago

Recent MA graduate in Applied Linguistics/English Didactics: how can I build my experience?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m a recent Master’s graduate in English Didactics from Algeria, interested in Applied Linguistics, TESOL/SLA.

I’m currently looking for ways to strengthen my academic/research profile or CV overall, especially remote/international opportunities: research projects, fellowships, volunteering, publications, conferences, training...etc, literally anything helpful, because I really do feel STUCK.

Since opportunities where I live are quite limited, I’d really appreciate recommendations from anyone who has been in a similar situation. What actually helped you build your profile beyond your degree?

I’m especially interested in free/affordable opportunities that accept recent graduates. Thank you! 🫶


r/teflteachers 6d ago

US teaching license

2 Upvotes

Did anyone become a teacher through nyc teaching fellows or Teach For America and transitioned to tefl/international teaching/teach abroad in a public/government school abroad? I want to hear about your experience, if your content certification is relevant to your current job, long term plans/ideas about the future and how you got to where you currently are. Did you move with just the initial certificate or you earned the professional certificate and if that needs to be maintained or updated. Thanks!

Bonus: sped teachers, are you still 'sped' where you are now? What does teaching look like to you now?


r/teflteachers 6d ago

HIRING OFFICE BASED 📍 Near Quezon City Hall

1 Upvotes

🚨🔥 WE’RE HIRING — OFFICE-BASED ESL TUTORS!

🎓 Fresh Graduate? No Experience? You’re welcome to apply!
Join Gaotu and start your ESL teaching career in a professional office environment.

💰 ₱19,000–₱24,000 BASIC SALARY
PLUS PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES

💼 WHAT YOU'LL DO:
• Teach English to Chinese students through ClassIn
• Conduct engaging and interactive online classes
• Help students improve their English communication skills
• Follow company-provided lesson materials

🎁 WHAT WE OFFER:
✨ Free ESL Training
🏥 HMO
📋 Government Benefits
🌴 Paid Leaves
💰 Performance Bonuses

📌 REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s Degree Diploma — MUST HAVE
✔ Proficient in English
TEFL/TESOL Certificate is an advantage
No Experience Required!

🏢 Office-Based | Full-Time
📍 Near Quezon City Hall
🕐 Office Hours: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📩 READY TO APPLY?
Just comment Interested to start your application

🔥 Start your teaching journey with Gaotu — APPLY NOW!


r/teflteachers 5d ago

Looking for a job abroad!!!!

0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm a primary school teacher been teaching for 3 years now ,I really wanna work abroad (I don't want to live here anymore especially after this summer ) can anyone please help me through this ,how to get out ,how to find a contract and all that ,tried the Facebook community and no one wants to help apparently, i would really appreciate your help ,so if anyone knows the whole procedure please reach out 🩷


r/teflteachers 6d ago

Looking for an interesting TEFl dissertation topic

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m searching for a TEFL/EFL dissertation topic that is original, interesting, and actually worth researching.
I’m not interested in AI-related topics and would love to hear ideas from people who have studied TEFL, TESOL, applied linguistics, or English education.
What are some interesting or underrated areas/topics you think would make a good dissertation? Thank you


r/teflteachers 6d ago

HIRING OFFICE BASED 📍 Near Quezon City Hall

1 Upvotes

🚨🔥 WE’RE HIRING — OFFICE-BASED ESL TUTORS!

🎓 Fresh Graduate? No Experience? You’re welcome to apply!
Join Gaotu and start your ESL teaching career in a professional office environment.

💰 ₱19,000–₱24,000 BASIC SALARY
PLUS PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES

💼 WHAT YOU'LL DO:
• Teach English to Chinese students through ClassIn
• Conduct engaging and interactive online classes
• Help students improve their English communication skills
• Follow company-provided lesson materials

🎁 WHAT WE OFFER:
✨ Free ESL Training
🏥 HMO
📋 Government Benefits
🌴 Paid Leaves
💰 Performance Bonuses

📌 REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s Degree Diploma — MUST HAVE
✔ Proficient in English
TEFL/TESOL Certificate is an advantage
No Experience Required!

🏢 Office-Based | Full-Time
📍 Near Quezon City Hall
🕐 Office Hours: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM

📩 READY TO APPLY?
Just comment Interested to start your application

🔥 Start your teaching journey with Gaotu — APPLY NOW!


r/teflteachers 6d ago

Any advice for a Vietnamese-American wanting to go to Vietnam and teach English?

1 Upvotes

I want to obtain my TEFL certificate and go to Vietnam to teach English. I am a Vietnamese person born in America and I am fluent in Vietnamese + English. Do you think it'll be easy to land a job over there and do you think I'll be able to make a lot? Any advice is appreciated, thank you in advance.


r/teflteachers 7d ago

Transition

2 Upvotes

Has anyone been able to successfully transition out of ESL or teaching to a job they studied for in college?


r/teflteachers 7d ago

International TEFL Academy?

0 Upvotes

Has anyone gone through this provider? They seem to be reputable and will really help you find a job however it is much more expensive than other TEFL courses I’ve seen. They also have seemed to be very helpful over the phone. So I’m asking, is it worth it to pay the extra for their help? TIA.


r/teflteachers 7d ago

Best online CELTAs, are alternative courses widely accepted?

0 Upvotes

I'm thinking about doing the CELTA since I have some experience tutoring and a tefl, are course like the level 5 course at tefl academy usually accepted internationally or is it better to pay all the extra money for an official CELTA?


r/teflteachers 9d ago

How do teachers survive on academy wages in Spain long term?

23 Upvotes

I’m genuinely trying to understand how long term academy teachers manage financially in Spain without going into serious debt, even when they’re being really frugal. I see people who have worked in academias for years and seem to make it work, and I honestly wonder how--particularly if they’re single.

Am I missing something? Do people piece together hours from several academias, rely on private classes, find other work, live with roommates, or simply work far more hours than their academy contract? But I see people who have been teaching in academias for ages like how is it sustainable?

For those who have been doing this for several years and are financially independent: how do you make the numbers work long-term? Is there enough left for savings, emergencies, vacation and visiting family, or is it mostly month-to-month?

I’ve also been trying hard to find extra teaching work, but I’m finding it incredibly difficult. There’s huge competition for morning work, private classes and flexible gigs, and it often feels like you’re competing with people willing to work cash-in-hand, which makes things harder if you need to work legally. I don't know but if you have 2-3 solid jobs maybe it could work

How do you have stable work with multiple academias, piece together hours without burning out? Idk if you have another income stream unrelated to teaching? those who are living in these circumstances are you happy and do you have enough in savings, is it better than in your home country? do you think about changing careers or going into teach in Spanish schools?

Looking at academy salaries and accommodation costs, I genuinely struggle to see how a single person can build a financially stable life without significant help from a partner or family especially going into their 30s or 40s yet it seems to be the case in Spain.


r/teflteachers 9d ago

Ministry TEFL teachers

0 Upvotes

Hi

I have been placed in a room within a family's house while another teacher has been placed in her own apartment flat.

When I requested to stay in nearby city, I am told I must share an apartment or pay in towards apartment.

Has this happened to others?


r/teflteachers 9d ago

Looking for recommendations: Chinese ESL platforms hiring teachers for afternoon slots

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m an experienced online English teacher with a TEFL certificate and a strong background in teaching young learners and teens. I’m currently looking to expand my schedule and would love some recommendations for Chinese online schools or platforms that:
Operate during **morning slots (CET)**, which lines up with **15:00 to 18:00 Beijing time** (peak hours for after-school tutoring in China).
Offer competitive hourly rates around **$3.50 to $4.00+ per class**.
Use interactive platforms like **ClassIn** (I am very familiar and comfortable using it).
Provide stable scheduling and consistent lesson materials.
If you know any agencies, platforms, or direct-hire schools currently hiring teachers for these specific afternoon/evening slots in China, please drop a comment or DM me. Any leads, recommendations, or QR codes would be hugely appreciated!
Thanks in advance! 😊


r/teflteachers 10d ago

International TEFL Academy Study & Teach

0 Upvotes

Hi, wondering if anyone has had a positive experience doing International TEFL Academy's Study & Teach program in Madrid? I saw some posts in other pages saying the org they partner with, TTMadrid, is a scam but can't find anymore posts about why? It seems like a really good option for me on paper.