You’ve passed your TEFL course: now what?

Your interest was piqued, you found out what TEFL could be for you, started a course, nailed your assignments, and now you’ve passed your TEFL course.

You’re now part of a massive yet elite club of enterprising, curious and intelligent people who can teach English as a foreign language. Where you go and what you do next is up to you!

Whatever your circumstances are, you’ve created a whole host of opportunities for yourself, whether trying to forge a new career path or looking for something to add to your existing working life. You can work freelance, tutoring English learners online. Or, you can work in classrooms across many exciting locations. Or, you want to do both, working as a digital nomad. The options are yours.

So, now what? How do you do these things? Let’s get you started right in your post-certificate life.

Teaching English abroad

Do you want to teach English abroad? No wonder. Teaching English overseas is an exciting opportunity, with limitless possibilities and many brilliant places to move to. The hardest part might be narrowing down your choices.

What do you need to consider now that you’ve got a TEFL certificate and want to teach abroad?

Picking a location

Where are you going to teach English abroad ? Are you considering heading to a massively popular Asian TEFL destination like China , Japan or South Korea ? Maybe you’re seeking the cultural and financial opportunities afforded to TEFL teachers in the Middle East , or you’re keen to explore Latin America by teaching across the continent. It could be that you’ve always wanted to live and work in Africa , where many amazing countries welcome TEFL teachers with open arms. Or is Europe the answer, with a considerable demand for English teachers in cities like Paris , Rome or Barcelona ?

You can teach English anywhere. Our country guides will tell you about the requirements you need to meet , salary information, visa requirements, where the demand is, and loads of other essential bits of info.

Finding jobs 

If you’re looking to make the next step in your career, we have exactly what you need: The TEFL Org Jobs Centre . You can find countless opportunities worldwide: full-time jobs, part-time jobs, training programmes, you name it.

If you have any specific questions about a job that’s being advertised, feel free to get in touch, and we’ll try our best to help. What about job applications, though? Is there help there?

You bet there is. We can help you build your CV , write the perfect cover letter (and avoid writing an absolute stinker! ), ace your interview prep , ask the right questions , and stand out in the TEFL job market.

Things to think about

Not to spoil the magic of travel for you, but there’s a lot to think about when you embark on an overseas adventure. That’s why we’ve gone into significant detail about how to move abroad as a TEFL teacher . In our guide to the big move, we’ve considered safety, the documents you’ll need, packing and lots more.

If that isn’t enough, we have five travel tips for TEFL teachers , which is a must-read for anyone at this precise stage of their teaching career: TEFL certificate in hand, thinking about where to go. Additionally, we’ve got some travel hacks for teachers in case you’ve never been on a big trip before and need some know-how!

Things to avoid

Trust us when we say we hate talking about scam artists. Still, we have to, and for good reason.

Unfortunately, there are scam TEFL employers and plain bad employers who need to be avoided . Just as dodgy TEFL course providers use fake reviews to look legitimate, there are “employers” pretending to offer exciting roles to budding TEFL teachers. 

Scam employers will take advantage of recent TEFL graduates and pretend to offer exciting roles to budding teachers. However, they’ll sometimes ask for “processing fees” or other administrative costs - this is a major red flag, and no real job would do this. Alternatively, you might come across bad employers who do questionable things, like offering teachers jobs they’re massively underqualified for or making assurances about work visas once you’ve moved country. If there’s no job interview, you have limited contact with your “employer”, they have next to no online presence, or it just doesn’t feel right in some way, there’s only one word: avoid!

With our guides, you can avoid these traps. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and either research further or stop contacting the “employer” in question. 

Top destinations 

Ultimately, where you choose to TEFL is… well, your choice. That said, you might be wondering where the “best” TEFL destinations are , and while that is entirely subjective, we have a few suggestions.

Every year, we update our list of top TEFL countries based on salaries, availability, a country's reputation as a teacher landing spot, the quality of its students, and other factors. Check out our list and see whether you agree with our choices!

Teaching English online

A TEFL certificate is also a golden ticket to a different way of life. If you’ve dreamt of working wherever you want, however you want, you’ll love online English teaching . Depending on how you do it, it can be a great way to achieve locational and financial independence.

So, now you’re TEFL certified, what are the options?

Teaching companies vs. platforms

Unless you’re freelance, chances are you’ll teach English online through a company or a platform. In a traditional company setting, you'll be taken on as an employee. You're hired, paid a set hourly rate given a curriculum, and your overall work experience is essentially predetermined for you. 

Online teaching platforms are different. They provide the framework, but you can choose your students, set your rates, and design your teaching materials. 

Networking 

It may be the case that you’re working from home as a TEFL teacher, but you’re certainly not alone, especially if you network to the best of your abilities. 

Many fantastic forums, networking sites, and resources are available online. Hundreds of thousands of TEFL teachers are online, sharing advice, job tips and lesson plans. Knowing how to use social media as an online TEFL teacher is crucial to expand your client base and network.

TEFL/TESOL conferences are also a great idea if you work online. Meeting other online TEFL teachers in person can be an ideal way to forge friendships and meet like-minded people.

How to market yourself as a TEFL teacher online

Marketing yourself as an online TEFL teacher is not just about trying one thing and hoping it works. Don't rely on just one platform; explore various options, including general tutoring sites, international job boards, TEFL platforms, and freelance marketplaces. Thoroughly research each platform before creating a profile to understand its specific requirements, fees, and target audience - that way, you can figure out what works and doesn’t for attracting clients. This targeted approach will help you maximise your reach and connect with the right students.

If you’re writing a TEFL tutor profile , you must make it compelling and professional. Start with a strong headline that highlights your specialisation or unique selling point. Your profile picture should be professional and friendly. Clearly state your qualifications, experience, and teaching style. Showcase your personality and passion for teaching, and mention any specific areas of expertise ( advanced TEFL certificates help!) or student demographics you cater to. 

The reviews you’ve received help a lot. Highlight any positive feedback you've received because prospective clients want to feel reassured!

Teaching English online as a freelancer

Now that you have a TEFL certificate, you might think this is a full-time career. For others, though, TEFL is a great “ side hustle ” alongside other jobs, studies, or other responsibilities.

Picking up extra hours as a TEFL teacher can be a great way to supplement your income. Depending on circumstances and availability, you can do this in person or online.

Setting your rates

When you’re working as an online TEFL teacher, either freelance or through a teaching platform, you’ll likely have the chance to set your rates. When this happens, don’t rush into it. Research the “going rate” for a teacher with equivalent experience and talents. Look at other teachers’ profiles on a platform and see how much they charge for lessons. The trick is not to undervalue yourself or overcharge - without research, this balance is impossible to get right!

Becoming a digital nomad

A third way to teach English is to combine online teaching with worldwide travel. This approach is called digital nomadism , and it’s becoming increasingly popular.

So, what’s involved? The digital nomadic lifestyle is all about flexibility. Specifically, it’s about flexibility in terms of location and working hours. If you have a flexible working schedule, you can work when you like, immersing yourself in different cultures. 

You do need some essential traits, however. Organisational skills and self-discipline are a must. You have to manage your time as effectively as possible since you'll be responsible for finding your own students and dealing with all the administrative requirements as an online English teacher. As you travel, you’ll need reliable internet access, and you'll need to research visa requirements and tax implications for your chosen destinations.

Where should I try being a digital nomad?

The hope is that one day, every country will be amenable and attractive to a nomadic lifestyle. As it is, though, there are particularly fruitful spots for digital nomads , with reliable internet, communities of English teachers and speakers working locally, affordable cost of living and other benefits.

Thailand is known for its low cost of living, friendly locals, gorgeous scenery, and specific Destination visas for digital nomads . Colombia is increasingly popular as a destination for digital nomads, with its improving infrastructure, fantastic weather and low cost of living. The same is true of Mexico - who wouldn’t want to work from Cabo San Lucas , given the chance? 

Then there’s Portugal , an idyllic Iberian destination with a Digital Nomad Visa . Let’s not forget Indonesia , Costa Rica , Vietnam , Malaysia, and Georgia are fantastic nomadic options, too! The list goes on and on and on.

Other career routes

Completing a TEFL certificate demonstrates a few things: your ability to improve yourself, organisational skills, determination, initiative and, of course, intelligence. These traits lend themselves well to other career routes, and a TEFL certificate can help you achieve various goals.

TEFL-related careers include curriculum development, materials writing, teacher training, educational management, directorial roles, academic management, examination, running a language school, working with refugees and asylum seekers, and further study. Many TEFL teachers get into academia once they’ve gained a TEFL certificate, going on to take PGCEs, advanced TEFL certificates, or qualifications like the DELTA .

You’ve passed your TEFL course: now take on the world

To summarise incredibly neatly, you can do a whole range of things now you’ve passed your TEFL course. 

As we’ve illustrated, there's so much you can do if you want to teach online or offline, from home or in a new country, in classrooms or from a home office that you’ve designed. The choices are yours to make. 

Now, get out there and take on the world!

Fancy a longer, more in-depth TEFL course? A Level 5 TEFL Diploma from The TEFL Org will prepare you for an exciting career in English teaching!