Interview with Luba from myTEFL

If you have spent much time here on the site, you should be able to tell easily that I am an English Teacher in South Korea. Being an English Teacher is my primary form of income and what has allowed me to travel as much as I do. This is something that I enjoy and will be doing for much longer.

I also endorse a great site that you can Earn your own TEFL certificate called myTEFL. I have managed to ask a few questions to Luba over at myTEFL who also has some great travel experience and has been an English Teacher herself.

Luba pic affiliate interviewFirst, can you briefly introduce yourself, what do you do at myTEFL, what is your travel experience, have you ever been a TEFL teacher etc….

"Hi! My name is Luba, and I’m a Placement Coordinator at myTEFL. I travelled around Asia, but never had time to get to know it inside out due to work commitments. I’ve been teaching English for 13 years (5 of them in China), and I’ve done quite a few TEFL related jobs, ESL manager and teacher trainer being some of them."

Can you briefly describe what the myTEFL’s120 hour course consists of, and how long it typically takes someone to complete it and why should they choose the 120 hour course over the other shorter ones?

"The 120-hour course includes everything that a new teacher needs to know before entering the classroom. It covers teaching the 4 speech aspects (speaking, listening, writing and reading), an overview of English teaching methods, and advice on how to teach grammar, vocabulary, phonology and functions. There are modules on curriculum development and testing – something that distinguishes the 120-hour course from our shorter courses.

Trainees have 90 days to complete the course, and it’s never a race against time. Most trainees get certified within 1-1,5 months. Your course completion time depends largely on your schedule and work or family commitments.

The ESL industry is competitive nowadays. As an ESL manager, I understand why most companies prefer to hire applicants who have completed 100 hours + of training. Companies are looking for qualified candidates, who can prove they are being serious about the job and who invested time in professional development. Moreover, only 100 hours of training or above make applicants eligible for visa support in some countries."

When taking this course does it matter if someone has a teaching background?

"If you are new to teaching, a TEFL course is exactly what you need. Trainees don’t have to have prior teaching experience. Such courses cover teaching from A to Z and include both theory and practical examples. The material is introduced gradually, there’s no information overload. A teaching background can help trainees to finish the course in a few weeks, but it’s not required. Experience is important, but it’s a willingness to learn that makes all the difference in the end."

Why should someone choose myTEFL over the many other certification courses out there?

"The reasons that make trainees choose myTEFL are:

Job Placement Service: We have a high placement success rate. Our partner schools are reliable, which matters a lot to those who go on their first teaching adventure. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to check the information in job ads. It’s important that the first teaching job doesn’t become a disappointment. We work with schools that fully support their teachers before and after arrival.

Customer Service: Going abroad to teach for the first time is exciting, but it may also be intimidating. Applicants have lots of questions, and attending to their questions, addressing their concerns and giving them advice is the most important part of our job. Once you become our customer, you stay our customer for good."

How long does the Job Placement process typically take and what sets myTEFL’s job placement apart from many others?

"It depends on the destination. Thailand and Taiwan won’t take long due to a less complicated visa application process. In Korea, where we partner with a government programme for public school teachers, the application process is more time-consuming. On average the process may require around 3 months."

Which countries would you say are best for ESL teachers?

"Everyone has different priorities. Some become teachers to travel the world; for others teaching is a promising career. South East Asia is currently the most interesting destination. Korea and Taiwan are our grads’ top choices due to the decent packages.

High salaries make Japan attractive, but the cost of living is also high. Many grads choose China, fascinated by its culture and savings potential."

Why would you recommend teaching abroad in general?  

"This is such an enriching experience! This lifestyle can be addicting, too. Many countries in South East Asia have big, established expat communities. People have been living there for decades. Teaching abroad gives you an opportunity to learn a new language, meet interesting people and change your life."

How much money can you actually earn?

"It depends on where you decide to teach. Those who are interested in high savings potential choose between South Korea and Taiwan, where they are offered $2000-2500 per month. Those who value new experience may take a job in Colombia which pays $500 per month."

For more information about my English Teaching check out my post that I was thinking about turning into an ebook and my brief overview of Teaching English.

myTEFL – is a great company and if you use my unique code you can get an additional 35% off BROOM35

>>> My Other Posts About Teaching Abroad <<<

Cheers!