TEFL. Degree or no degree?
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 3:43 am
Hello everyone,
I am sure you get these naive questions all the time, but any advice would be extremely advantageous to me.
I am a 27-year-old, white male from England. I am currently studying a level 5 combined TEFL course (150 hours online and 20 in class). I expect to finish this course in August of this year and have been planning to fly to Phnom Penh and look on the ground for a job as an English teacher.
I have finished 1 out of 3 years of a geography degree, and plan to get some teaching experience under my belt prior to finishing off the last two years. The last two years of the degree I hopefully plan to finish while in Cambodia through the open university.
Up until 2018, I was extremely directionless. I had gone from job to job since pulling out of University. The last two years I have sorted my self out completely and have been employed in the same job since.
I have always had an aspiration to teach. I think it is a profession which suits my skill sets; I am naturally gregarious, well-spoken, patient, altruistic and I believe I have a good command of the English language. ( I am very modest as well). I truly have a passion to teach. I am not seeing this as some sort of piss up and fuck brasses experience. I can do that here if I so wanted.
The question I put to you is - Does this seem like a good idea? I have about 6k in savings and nothing much to lose. My current profession is pretty soul-destroying and I want to venture out.
Or, would it be better to stay here for 2 years while I finish my degree? Would not possessing a degree really, and I mean really inhibit my ability to find a job in a reputable school? I could also volunteer as a teaching assistant while studying in England.
My previous experience with teaching is as follows:
- I have worked as an assistant manager/coach for a local football team.
-I have done some voluntary work in a local primary school, but 10 years ago.
As you can see, slim pickings. I doubt that I could get a reference for either of these and I do know the dangers of embellishment.
Sorry if this seems a bit confused, maybe it mirrors my mind at the moment.
Thank you for your time.
Cliff.
I am sure you get these naive questions all the time, but any advice would be extremely advantageous to me.
I am a 27-year-old, white male from England. I am currently studying a level 5 combined TEFL course (150 hours online and 20 in class). I expect to finish this course in August of this year and have been planning to fly to Phnom Penh and look on the ground for a job as an English teacher.
I have finished 1 out of 3 years of a geography degree, and plan to get some teaching experience under my belt prior to finishing off the last two years. The last two years of the degree I hopefully plan to finish while in Cambodia through the open university.
Up until 2018, I was extremely directionless. I had gone from job to job since pulling out of University. The last two years I have sorted my self out completely and have been employed in the same job since.
I have always had an aspiration to teach. I think it is a profession which suits my skill sets; I am naturally gregarious, well-spoken, patient, altruistic and I believe I have a good command of the English language. ( I am very modest as well). I truly have a passion to teach. I am not seeing this as some sort of piss up and fuck brasses experience. I can do that here if I so wanted.
The question I put to you is - Does this seem like a good idea? I have about 6k in savings and nothing much to lose. My current profession is pretty soul-destroying and I want to venture out.
Or, would it be better to stay here for 2 years while I finish my degree? Would not possessing a degree really, and I mean really inhibit my ability to find a job in a reputable school? I could also volunteer as a teaching assistant while studying in England.
My previous experience with teaching is as follows:
- I have worked as an assistant manager/coach for a local football team.
-I have done some voluntary work in a local primary school, but 10 years ago.
As you can see, slim pickings. I doubt that I could get a reference for either of these and I do know the dangers of embellishment.
Sorry if this seems a bit confused, maybe it mirrors my mind at the moment.
Thank you for your time.
Cliff.