Where can I find
good advice?
It seems
like every TEFL website has an "agenda" - how can I get
unbiased information?
Most websites have something to sell. Be particularly
careful of recruiters' websites that make TEFL sound
like a one-year party of just chatting with your
students and partying with the local folks. Once you
are placed in your job, they have made their money. Too
bad if you aren't happy.
What TEFL Daddy offers
TEFL is my passion and my way of life since 1992. I am
hoping that I can help you - the same way many other
people helped me. In fact, as a member on
ELT World and
TESALL discussion boards, and particularly the
"Newbie" forums, I have exchanged information with
probably hundreds of people thinking about coming into
the TEFL world. This will be a good place to send them
so I don't have to remember all the details every time I
write something - and so I don't have to keep writing
the same things over and over again.
Where should I go for unbiased information?
Time to grow up - everywhere has biased
information. Even my opinions are biased by my
experiences and preferences. Best example: I think you
should teach in a tropical country because I HATE cold
weather! That's true!
Best Bet?
ELT World and
TESALL discussion forums. It's where I go when I
need information.
Eyes Wide Open
Keep your eyes open when you visit any website. You
would if you were looking for something to buy, right?
What is all the advertising about? What are they trying
to sell you? Dave's forums are probably the best of the
batch though.
Bottom line
Take it all with a grain of salt. There will be people
on the discussion boards who feel that you MUST make the
same decision they did (You know some of these people
already, right? You don't have to go overseas to meet
them!). There are people who want to discourage your
competition in their market, want to steer you away from
their little "secret". There are also angry and unhappy
people on discussion boards. Happy, well-adjusted
people, are out enjoying their lives and don't tend to
post on discussion boards quite as much as the
disenfranchised do.
On
the other Hand
There are more people out there than you can believe,
who are very willing to help you in every possible way.
All you have to do is ask. They've helped me at one
time or another. They will help you too! Really!
Get
a variety of opinions - don't just listen for what you
want to hear. It's better to hear the good and the
bad. Have a friend or spouse argue all the points with
you.
Only you can make the right decision for you.
