Posted by Carrie Dunn - 14:00 on 27 January 2012

No degree? No problem - you can still become a brilliant TEFL teacher!

Being a great teacher doesn't depend on passing exams – TEFL England's courses are suitable even if you don't have any prior educational qualifications and can give you all the skills you need to teach English as a foreign language. If you can speak English fluently, our accredited TEFL courses can train you to teach English abroad - we've done that for people from all sorts of backgrounds, from waitresses to engineers. Best of all, having a TEFL qualification will make you incredibly employable - even if you don't have a university degree.

Flora, a student from Ross-shire, had little trouble finding work abroad without a degree. She says: "I had a fantastic time teaching English in Vietnam on my gap year. Even without a degree there were many teaching opportunities available with a TEFL England certificate and I managed to secure paid work in a kindergarten. It was a life-changing experience which I would recommend to anyone."

And if you're concerned about returning to study after a break, there's no need to worry. Our tutors offer you support all the way through your course, whether you're learning in a classroom, online or in a mixture of the two.

Even without a degree, there are plenty of TEFL jobs available to you around the world. If there's a particular country you want to work in, check their visa requirements before booking your flight there. Sometimes countries specify that a degree is required in order to issue a working visa; this is usually the case in Europe and North America as well as Japan and South Korea.

On the other hand, as a general rule, you'll find that most of China, Central America, South America and Indonesia welcome qualified TEFL teachers without a degree - there are so many people eager to learn English that being able to teach is more important than a degree certification. (Sometimes an employer may advertise for a person with a degree, but, with the massive demand for English teachers, they may be willing to compromise if you meet the rest of their requirements!) Do check the terms on which they want to employ you, though; it'll be fraught with legal complications if they're expecting you to work while on a tourist-only visa.

A TEFL course can open doors you thought were closed to you without a degree - so if you want to change your career, get your free information pack to find out more.

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