TEFAL Qualifications

This is not the Tefal, as in pots and pans, but qualifying to Teach English as a Foreign Language.  Has anybody taken any of these courses in the UK and if so, where do you find them?

This is not the Tefal, as in pots and pans, but qualifying to Teach English as a Foreign Language.  Has anybody taken any of these courses in the UK and if so, where do you find them?

hee hee hee...I saw the thread and seriously thought you were talking about Tefal the cookware! Which by the way I could probably use some lessons!

Sorry I cant answer your question.

I know, I tried to run a search using TEFAL and all I got was pots and pans.

Try spelling it out and putting quotes around it "Teaching English as a Foreign Language" Or TESL (teaching english as a second language)

To teach in the UK and overseas you need to get at a minimum the CETLA or what used to be the CETFLA (Certificate of Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults). There are two certificates one is from Cambridge and one is the Trinity.  Don't be fooled by on-line courses, weekend courses or anything else.   These are the two to get you qualified.  Both are intensive theory classed followed by in class teaching and observation. 

I went to International House in Barcelona for my training and followed up by teaching in Poland with them.

http://www.ihworld.com/

You normally are expected to have a university degree in something first.

The other route is to add EFL/ESL qualification to an existing education degree or to persue a Masters in EFL/ESL. 

I currently am working teaching teens and adults both privately and through a UK organisation so I am more than willing to answer any questions you have. You can pm me or post here. 

While I teaching UK English we have lots of fun discussing the differences and most people are happy to have access to an American teacher without having to pay to go to the USA. :-)

Also try TEFLA instead of TEFAL!   

Also see: http://www.eslcafe.com/

Thank you so much for the TEFLA correction, I was sent the former by a lady currently teaching English in Estonia.  I'll check up on the links you sent as well.  I'm an EU citizen and just trying to expand my job options, especially beyond the normal retirement age.

No problems.  You will find that is it a nice way to make some extra money even in the UK provided you live near a place that has foreign students coming in.  In my city we have everything from kids on holiday to Air Force Pilots to Polish immigrants. Our teaching staff runs from ages 24 to near 70.

There are also lots of places in the world to teach once you get your certificate.  We had two "retired" age people working with us in Poland.  Some schools prefer to have someone older as they are usually a bit more stable than the just out of uni want to travel the world types. :-)

What ever you decide to do good luck! I loved every minute of it and sometimes get the urge to just run away and do it all over again.