Careers: TEFL/TESL - Destination or Detour?

Let's face it, not all college graduates know what they want to do when they "grow up." (I didn't for the next two decades!).

Those with a little spunk and curiosity, however, may wish to check into teaching English abroad (TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language). TEFL's a great way to finance one's world travels and meet friends, as well as being an invaluble communication asset to have in one's own skills portfolio.

It's true that the teach-English-abroad buzz has been going strong for several decades now; it's also true that TEFL/TESL programs have popped out of the academic woodpile like inlaws at a probate court. Good reason, though - English is the lingua franca (now there's an oxymoron!) of the business, legal and technical world, long having replaced French and German in the latter two. It's estimated by the International TEFL Corporation that as many as 300 million world citizens are actively studying English at present - in other words, the equivalent population of the U.S.

It used to be good enough if one was a native speaker - you could stand in front of a class and jabber all day (well, sort of.). Those days are largely gone with the wind. Contemporary programs require anywhere from 120-150 hours of classroom prep along with student teaching in order to become certified, and certification is more or less expected now at established programs around the world.

I dipped my toe into these pedantic waters a few years back when living in Santiago, Chile. My classmates were a collection of Americans and Canadians, ranging from 21 years old up to.. well, me.. Upon certification, opportunities abounded - on staff at the institute, at other language schools, even through free-lancing by just hanging one's own shingle at coffee shops and other social venues. The patrons ranged from individual citizens to corporations or government offices.

Here's my informed take, both as an insider and one who's talked with many veterans of the TEFL experience:

-- If you're willing to work unorthodox hours for modest pay (though often high by local standards); if you're willing to walk/train/bus commute to a variety of venues; and if you're flexible enough to drum up clients on your own to supplement your base hours; and if you're willing to continue the "communal" college life (shared apartments, cheap beer, meal deals, etc.) - you can more than break even and genuinely subsidize your stay in that country.

My wife and I, to be honest, weren't... we were on extended leave from the North American rat-race, were chilling after three months bouncing around Africa, and frankly were too interested in the scenery and thrills of Chile and Argentina to get too locked down into a routine. But that was just us...

I've met people of all ages who've worked their way around the world teaching English: three months in Budapest; six months in Bogota', three months in Bangkok, etc. It's not for everyone, but it can surely add some eyebrow-raising punch lines to one's resume during the free and unsettled years - or as an extended leave for the disaffected (yours truly.) It also can lead, for the dedicated, to a career path as directors of language institutes.

Good bets for getting work quickly? Latin America and Asia. Eastern Europe somewhat; Western Europe very difficult due to popularity and EU favoritism, which gives priority to teachers from member countries. (most TEFL in Africa seems to be done through missionary or other NGO services).

For those who want to want to really see the world without going broke or being "irresponsible," I can't think of a better way to spend a year or two... or perhaps, a decade?