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:: Cactus TEFL Press

The Daily Express

'Let English Become Your Passport'
May 10th 2005

As an activity for gap year students and recent graduates, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is as popular as ever. Mature students too are recognising the travel and career opportunities that a TEFL qualification can bring.

Courses range from full-time intensive study programmes leading to the Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) qualification and the Trinity College TESOL Certificate, both recognised internationally, to flexible distance learning and online courses.
In between is a range of programmes requiring up to 140 hours of study, as well as a range of shorter courses, often held over a weekend.

Suzanne Furstner, head of Cactus TEFL, the advice and admissions service for internationally recognised TEFL qualifications, said: "This a perfect way for gap year students to gain experience overseas, explore new cultures and broaden their horizons. For older people, a TEFL qualification allows them to explore a fresh career, either on a temporary or a full-time basis."

Popular destinations for TEFL teachers include Spain, France and Italy, while those looking further afield can choose places like China, Japan, Thailand and South Korea. Ms Furstner said: "The demand overseas is so great that it is unlikely that someone with the right qualifications will have difficulty finding work."

While the Trinity and Cambridge TEFL qualifications are the most widely recognised, students on some of the shorter courses will also find a demand for their stalls.
Darlington-based ITC (Intensive TEFL Courses) runs 20-hour intensive weekend courses at training centres across the country. Managing director Sue Reed said: "We have had successful students in their fifties and even sixties who have bought property overseas in countries like Hungary. They are finding there is a huge demand from local people for lessons in conversational English. There are also opportunities to teach closer to home." Ms Reed added: "The amount of non-English speaking immigrants coming into the UK has created a demand for teachers."

Online TEFL courses are useful for those who cannot take time off work to attend classroom-based training. While they cannot be compared directly with four weeks of intensive study, they do provide a good insight into TEFL. In countries where the minimum qualification requirements for teaching English are lower, they can easily become a passport to overseas travel and a new career.

INFORMATION:
Cactus TEFL: 0845 130 47751 www.cactustefl.com

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