Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is still booming and there are many opportunities for bright, energetic graduates. Foyle International, academic director Chris Mac Bruithin explains how business graduate Bronagh Fikri started out in her teaching career
TWO years ago, like thousands of other recent graduates, Bronagh was getting more and more disheartened at the lack of graduate opportunities in Northern Ireland. After years of developing ‘transferable skills’ on her business degree, there weren’t any jobs to transfer them to.
That’s why she took a TEFL course at Foyle International. In just four weeks, she gained an internationally recognised teaching qualification, and quickly found work at a school in Morocco.
Bronagh explains: “The course was fantastic, challenging but really hands-on. Right from day two we were teaching short lesson segments to real language students. And towards the end of the course, the tutors helped us with the job hunt. After a Skype interview with a Moroccan school, I was offered a one-year contract in Marrakech and they e-mailed me my flight ticket.
“It did wonders for my self-esteem, to be in a job where I felt respected and I could use my brain,” she says. “And it was great to be in a sunnier climate and have some money in the bank!”
There is no such thing as a typical day for Bronagh, she could be doing anything from singing Snow Patrol songs with teenagers, to playing Guess Who with 10-year-olds or debating with local businessmen.
But why take the TEFL course in the first place? Surely if you can speak English, you can teach it?
Bronagh laughs, “I thought that too! But you really have to know your subject, English, to describe grammar and the like. And then you need to know how to teach, to plan a lesson with all the different stages and techniques. There’s more to it than just speaking English. In fact, it’s a very professionalised field, and paying students tend to check with the school whether their teacher is qualified.
It’s opened doors to the best schools, with better money and conditions, teaching government ministers and company executives as well as children and teenagers. I’ve been lucky and had my pick of jobs. Colleagues of mine with non-accredited qualifications are finding these days that to keep their jobs they have to re-train.”
But doesn’t she miss the cold rainy days and her old life? “I’ll go home one day. I always keep an eye out for jobs back home. Employers definitely look favourably on experience abroad, and teaching skills, like presentations for instance, are very useful in other careers.”
And there’s something else keeping Bronagh in Marrakech — a Moroccan husband. “That wasn’t the original plan, but there you go! But I refuse to teach him English at home — that wouldn’t be conducive to a happy marriage!”
Any final advice from Bronagh? “It’s a challenging job, but so rewarding. The most essential qualities are energy, enthusiasm and a friendly nature.”
CELTA courses run three times a year at Foyle International. Applicants should be aged 21+ and have a level three qualification or higher. For more information email chris@foyle.eu.