TEFL to Internatiol Teacher Career Route - Looking for Advice
Hi everyone,
I’m a 22-year-old Scotsman living in Canada, and I’m currently one term away from finishing my BA (Honours) in Criminology. Right now I work full-time as an enforcement officer, and outside of work I’m also heavily involved in youth football coaching, which is where I discovered that I genuinely enjoy mentoring and helping younger people develop.
Lately I’ve been seriously considering teaching abroad as a potential long-term path, but before committing to a Bachelor of Education in Canada, I want to actually test the waters first and see if classroom teaching is something I truly enjoy day-to-day.
My current plan is:
● Finish my degree
● Obtain a TEFL certification
● Spend a year teaching abroad somewhere like Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia
● Use that experience to decide whether I want to return to Canada and pursue a B.Ed
●Potentially work toward international schools later on if I end up loving teaching
A few reasons this path appeals to me:
●I’d like to experience a completely different culture while I’m still young
●I enjoy leadership/coaching roles and working with youth
● I don’t want to invest time and money into a B.Ed without first experiencing teaching in a real classroom setting
● I think living abroad for a year would help me grow personally as well
For people who have taught abroad:
●Does this sound like a realistic/sensible approach?
Are Vietnam/Thailand/Cambodia good starting countries?
● Any TEFL companies or programs you’d recommend (or avoid)?
Is there anything you wish you knew before going abroad for the first time?
●How difficult is it to transition from TEFL into international schools later on?
Appreciate any advice or honest feedback. Cheers!