Classroom setting in Barcelona, Spain.
Courtesy of Katherine DeVall

Graduating from college can open the doors for a multitude of opportunities. If you are debating where your future lies after graduation but want to see the world, then Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) may be an option worth considering. 

A number of TEFL programs are offered throughout the world. One of the first things someone should do is make sure they choose a program that is meant for them. 

“I chose to participate because the only thing I’m currently 100 percent positive about is my want to live internationally for a little while, and a TEFL certification is a great gateway to do that,” said senior English major Ivy Pierson. “I could’ve obtained the certification over the internet, but I wanted to go to Prague because why not? I’m able to, and I’d regret not taking the chance to travel. Pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone is exciting, and I’ve never been to Continental Europe.”

Though Pierson is going to Prague, other options are available such as the TEFL Iberia run by Richard Davie. Over the last five years, the TEFL Iberia program has been training students and graduates from around the world.

“You come to Barcelona to train as an English teacher,” said Davie. “The course involves one month of full-time training in Barcelona, where you study all the methodology, grammar, skills and techniques necessary to be a teacher. The course is very practical, you carry out ten plus hours of teaching practice with real students, receive feedback and get the chance to observe lots of other teachers.”

According to Davie, it is a good idea to experience time abroad before settling in a career.

“Just go for it,” said Davie. “Take a couple of years to enjoy your time abroad and don’t worry about the career ladder. You’ve got all your life to work and it’s great to do these things in your twenties. If you go with an open mind and good attitude, all sorts of opportunities will come your way and it can be very hard to predict what you’ll end up doing. More practically, I would recommend doing a course in the city you want to work in. If you want to work in Barcelona, do a course there.” 

Though study abroad programs are offered to undergraduate and graduate students at the university, sometimes living for an extended time in another country can open the eyes about other cultures in ways that studying abroad for a short time cannot. 

“The first time I went to Spain was with the Southeastern Language and Communications’ study abroad program in 2012,” said graduate student with a Bachelor’s in mass communication and a minor in creative writing Katherine DeVall. “We stayed in Valencia for a month and enjoyed the city while learning Spanish. I loved my experience there so much I knew I wanted to go back. It wasn’t until I actually lived in Barcelona that I realized I hadn’t gotten the ‘full’ experience.”

One factor that contributes to a hesitation in traveling abroad is that a person may have to break out of their comfort zone.

“I was/am an over-protected only child,” said DeVall. “If I can do it, you can. Honestly, when you go out into the unknown, you don’t know what to expect, but that’s the beauty of it. I started planning for this trip after I graduated from SELU. It took about two years of planning, research and saving, but it was well worth it. The first time I actually flew in a plane was in 2012 on my study abroad trip, but this was my first time flying on a plane by myself and leaving the country by myself. You don’t realize how strong you are until you do things on your own and have to rely on yourself.”

According to Pierson, the long-term benefits of living abroad outweigh the suffer of savings. 

“If you want to do it even a little bit and there’s nothing holding you back, do it,” said Pierson. “I will never regret my decision to take my first big trip, and I don’t see myself regretting any other trip to come in my future. Though I can’t speak for my bank account, I understand being nervous, but it’s such an exciting experience. It can also be a humbling experience because it can lead you to see how others perceive you once you begin to gain awareness of the cultural differences. I just think it’s something that everyone needs to do at least once.”

When choosing a TEFL, it is important to search for a legitimate program. 

“Be careful choosing your program,” said Pierson. “Do plenty of research, contact people who you know have done something similar, make sure it’s fully accredited. Then, once you’ve found a good one, sign up and buy a plane ticket. I’m really excited about it, the certification covers so many countries, so I have tons of opportunities as far as jobs go. The program itself should be beneficial in providing connections and good references for the professional world.”

Some programs such as the TEFL Iberia may provide information you need once in the country as well as provide information for a future career.

“There is a large focus on the course in helping you find a job in Barcelona,” said Davie. “We have a career’s advisor come to the school and give a workshop on how to find a job, what to expect, where to look, how to improve your CV, job interview preparation and we also give you access to a very large database of employer contact details. To prepare for the course, we send all the students lots of pre-course reading and a pre-course task, in order to start learning various grammatical terms and concepts. It helps to read up on this as much as possible before the course. Apart from the course itself, the school offers an accommodation service and can house you with other students in the course during your time in Barcelona. We can also help you with practical things such as getting set up with a phone number, bank account, Spanish social security number, et cetera.”

Another fear that may occur while traveling abroad are mishaps in culture differences, as well as language barriers. 

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve gotten lost, had a lot of miscommunications and some cultural difference mishaps, but I think the best things to do in these situations are to be open minded, patient, smile and don’t take it personally,” said DeVall. “I also recommend making a vision board and putting it in a place where you can see it every day. It will inspire you when you feel like your dreams are impossible. There were times when I didn’t think being in Barcelona would be possible and then there were naysayers in my life. No matter what you do in life there will always be naysayers. Be above the naysayers. Sometimes when I’m walking home from school I stop, close my eyes, take a deep breath and thank God for allowing me to be here. I came here with no friends and now I have friends from all over the world. I even went to London with one of them. These are the people who are serious about traveling and they will be willing go on adventures with you.”

A number of TEFL opportunities are available and TEFL Iberia may be a good spot to start for some. 

“There’s such a large demand for English speaking abilities,” said Davie. “It is a great opportunity for English speakers. There is a large demand for a wide variety of English classes in Barcelona. Past graduates have done a range of jobs including: teaching adults, teaching kids and teens, business English, exam preparation classes and private classes. Teachers will typically work twenty hours per week, Monday to Thursday, from 4 to 10 p.m. doing classes in academies. Fridays are normally quieter days with some teachers only working a few hours or even taking the day off. The rate of pay varies from twelve to thirty euros per hour, depending on class type and level of experience. As a new teacher, you can expect to earn one thousand to thirteen hundred euros per month after tax, depending on how hard you work.”

If you would like to know more about TEFL Iberia, a modern teacher training school in Barcelona or Spain, visit tefl-iberia.com or if you are interested in applying, complete an application at tefl-iberia.com/apply/. 

 “If you have the chance to travel, I say do it,” said DeVall. “When you are in the nursing home, at least your room will be full of pictures you took while you were out having adventures.”