Home / No Degree & TEFL: What are your options?
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It’s no secret that many TEFL positions require a degree; they list this in their adverts. Mainly, this varies from country to country and the type of position offered. A significant roadblock for teachers without a degree is getting visas in certain countries to teach English. These countries include China and South Korea, where a degree is a visa requirement. Unfortunately, there is no way around this, so if you don’t have a degree, these countries might not be an option.
That’s the worst news over with! This doesn’t mean that TEFL is impossible for you if you don’t have a degree. You can take many routes, leading to an equally adventurous and fulfilling TEFL career. Once you get enough experience and knowledge, the degree won’t matter as much to many employers as they will value your teaching skills more. You might then choose to develop your qualifications in TEFL even further. If you don’t have a degree, there are many options still available to you:

Research where you can apply to.

As previously mentioned, unfortunately, some countries require a degree for visa purposes, so the options are limited. These countries are primarily based in Asia. Anyone who offers you a paid job here without a degree is probably showing it to you based on an illegal visa. Some agents might try to have you working on a tourist visa, which isn’t the most excellent idea! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is, and you should question this with the employer.

Instead, focus on where you can teach without a degree. South America is an excellent option for native speakers with little teaching experience or degree. Your English language skills will get you hired here; the rest can be history! Employers in this market value native-level English even more than a degree. Add that to arriving with more qualifications in specialist areas, and this will get you even more noticed, and you’ll have your choice of jobs in this part of the world.

Europe also has many opportunities for teachers without a degree. Countries like Spain, Italy, Romania and Greece will accept TEFL teachers regardless of degree, which can be a beautiful experience. Each country has its own culture, language and adventures wiring for you! Working in Europe might require a work permit, so factor this in if you’re not from this continent. EU nationals can find work efficiently within the EU. Non-EU citizens might have to jump through some more hurdles, but it’s not impossible to find work in countries such as Spain or Romania.

If you’re sad about missing out on heading further afield and teaching in Asia, why not head to Africa? Many places accept teachers with no degree, such Morocco Egypt and South Africa. You could even head to an exotic island such as La Reunion or Mauritius for a TEFL adventure! So many different cultures are waiting for you to explore them – a TEFL qualification will open up these doors for you.

As you can see, you shouldn’t let your lack of degree limit you, as the TEFL world doesn’t. Many countries will accept teachers with no higher education; it’s just up to you to investigate and explore your options! Being flexible is essential; don’t count anything out until you’ve done your research!

Work on your TEFL qualifications.

Suppose you don’t have a degree in a related field or any degree; you need a higher-level TEFL qualification. A 180-hour TEFL course will give you a much better standing and more confidence. Employers will expect to see a TEFL course of this depth if you don’t have an academic background on your CV. It’s also an excellent way to relate to your students studying if you have undertaken a more demanding course.

It wouldn’t hurt to do other specialist courses such as online teaching, Business English or young learners courses. Continue your professional development to compensate for not having a degree and fill your CV with lots of TEFL-related qualifications. Show that your skills and qualifications make you a must-hire teacher! Employers will value your knowledge in these areas even if they don’t require a degree. These courses will push your CV to the top of the pile and give you the confidence to explore other TEFL areas.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a way that new TEFL teachers can get experience and build up their teaching hours. It gives you confidence starting, lets you put your knowledge into practice and not to mention, it looks great on your CV for potential employers! Many volunteering programmes will happily take teachers with a TEFL qualification or working towards one, even if they don’t have a degree. Volunteering programmes value English language skills and commitment more than anything. If you have TEFL knowledge, then even better!

If you are keen on teaching in South Korea, Thailand, or another country that generally requires a degree, you could look up volunteering roles here. These are not limited by applicants not having degrees, so this can be a way for you to experience working and living in the country of your choice. Ensure that the position is legit volunteering, not a full-time job you are offering to do for free!

You can also consider joining internships in these countries to get around the degree requirement. In any country, internships are an excellent way to sample the TEFL lifestyle and work well for those nervous about moving to a new country. You receive full support and guidance with all aspects: visas, accommodation, placements, etc. Internships can range from 3 to 12 months, so you can pick one that suits you. You might decide that you want to stay even longer than you planned!

Teaching online

Teaching online can be an excellent way to get into TEFL and gain experience. Some companies require a degree, but others do not have this in their requirements for teaching online. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant demand for teaching online, so it’s an excellent time to tap into this market and get some hours online.

You’ll need a stable internet connection, a good laptop or computer, a good webcam and a headset for teaching online. You’ll also need a quiet, professional background. Make sure these things are already set up before you do any interviews. You don’t want to create a wrong impression of your technology in the discussion!

The companies that hire non-degree-holding teachers include:

Palfish– This is a mobile app for learners to connect with teachers. There are opportunities for both native and non-native English speakers. This can be a more relaxed way of teaching and doesn’t involve a lot of planning.

Cambly– You need to be a native speaker to join Cambly, and it’s a little different to traditional teaching companies. The goal is for the learner to be able to practise their conversion skills with a native speaker, not take a course. It’s very flexible and easy-going for both teacher and student. You’ll get to talk to many students from different backgrounds and be paid for it!

Preply– Gain the right following of students; this can be a real money maker for teachers of all backgrounds. Teachers set their hours and pay rates, so you have complete control. If you specialise in a more niche area of TEFL, you can charge higher rates and find a lot of students. You don’t need a degree to advertise on Preply; you must build your profile.

Verbling– One of the higher paying platforms, it is essential to have experience before teaching for this company. However, you don’t need a degree but TEFL qualifications. You can do well on this platform if you have established yourself as a capable teacher and have the TEFL CV to prove it. You might want to start on one of the others to get some hours on the clock, then apply to teach here for a pay rise!

ITalki– Another platform where teachers can set their hourly rates and timetables. There are lots of students who use this platform, as well as many teachers. Again, it’s a platform that can work well if you have developed your teaching in a niche area or specialised more in a specific area of TEFL. The lessons are not limited to TEFL so if you can teach another subject or language, you can advertise this too.

This list is not definite, and many more companies hire teachers with no degree. If you don’t have much experience, you might need to start at a lower pay rate, but it will soon work your way up. Many companies offer incentives depending on your work hours and reviews. The way to be successful financially is by developing your rates of pay, which reflect your experience and qualifications. Expanding into other areas of TEFL besides General English will allow you to charge more.

When you see job adverts requiring a degree, you might feel that the TEFL world is shutting its doors on you. However, you can see many options for you and good ones too! Don’t let one requirement hold you back; look for alternatives and show them that you are just as hirable and valuable as a teacher with a degree through your qualifications, attitude and hard work! Getting the experience is the biggest hurdle; once your classroom hours are up, you can have your pick of jobs worldwide!

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