Getting a job after the CELTA
For most people who do the Cambridge CELTA, finding a job after the course is a very high priority– so much so that one of the most common and effective marketing ploys that non-CELTA TEFL course providers use is to promise employment post-course. It’s understandable that someone investing time, energy and money into a training course would want to feel confident about getting a job afterwards. In completing the CELTA with us, here are some reasons to feel that confidence:
- With the Cambridge CELTA on your CV, you’ve already distinguished yourself in the job market. The CELTA is the pre-requisite to a teaching position in a quality language school (and no matter what people try to tell you, there is no ‘equivalent’).
- In doing the course at IH Budapest, you’re in effect plugged into a network of quality language schools, first and foremost through the International House World Organisation, with schools in 54 countries around the world.
- The network of IH Budapest CELTA ‘graduates’ offers connections that will provide the contacts you need to get started. You may be surprised at how far and wide this network reaches, for native and non-native speakers alike.
- In addition to job-related support we provide during the CELTA, we are ‘there’ for you for life, and if even years from now you need support, advice, or direction, you can feel free to get in touch with us.
Answer:
This is a complicated question (or answer rather) and there might be a point or two not covered here, but here’s a summary:
This is a complicated question (or answer rather) and there might be a point or two not covered here, but here’s a summary:
- First, one needs to understand that there are courses that are ’accredited’ and courses that are not. To teach on accredited courses (at a language school or wherever), one must meet certain requirements; to teach on unaccredited courses, the requirements are much less rigorous. Incidentally, a language school is likely to have a mix of accredited and non-accredited courses.
- If you are Hungarian, to teach on accredited courses you need a language degree from a Hungarian university.
- If you are a native English speaker, to teach on accredited courses you need to provide transcripts/other documentation proving that you attended at least 10 years of education in a native speaking context.
- If you are a non-native English speaker and non-Hungarian, you need to have a language degree from a university in your country (or somewhere), and have this officially recognised in Hungary. There’s a process for doing this, i.e. it’s doable.
- In any case, to teach on non-accredited courses, there are no such requirements.
- The Cambridge CELTA is a highly preferred qualification in Hungary (and the rest of the world), in the private language school sector. It’s actually a requirement at some schools (like International House). Some language schools accept a so-called ’equivalent’—another 4-week TEFL course. It’s worth reading up on what differentiates TEFL courses so you don’t find yourself with a qualification that is not recognised in places where you want to go and teach!
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As is the case in most countries in the world, to teach (and get paid) legally in Hungary, you need to be able to provide invoices for your work, which means having some sort of legal status (e.g. legal freelance status, or a small company), an accountant, etc. Nearly all private sector positions teaching English are freelance. Needless to say, literally thousands of English teachers, both Hungarian and non-Hungarian, have set themselves up to teach and invoice, so there’s lots of help/support available
Answer (watch the video or read the summary underneath):
Neil emphasises the fact that there are plenty of TEFL jobs available throughout the world for those who have completed a quality TEFL course such as the CELTA and who want to get out there and teach English. He suggests that two considerations potential CELTA participants might bear in mind when thinking about working in TEFL are: (1) the time of year at which they’ll graduate from their CELTA course (the start date of a lot of TEFL jobs coincide with academic and calendar years – although there is huge demand from employers for summer TEFL jobs too if one is CELTA qualified) and (2) how maintaining a flexible attitude towards where that first TEFL job just might be can also help in gaining employment in TEFL.
This is obviously a broad area– It depends so much on where you might be looking for work, your background, and so on. Candidates on our CELTA courses are provided with full support in terms of information, guidance, contacts, references, and of course continued support for as long as they remain in the profession.
Neil emphasises the fact that there are plenty of TEFL jobs available throughout the world for those who have completed a quality TEFL course such as the CELTA and who want to get out there and teach English. He suggests that two considerations potential CELTA participants might bear in mind when thinking about working in TEFL are: (1) the time of year at which they’ll graduate from their CELTA course (the start date of a lot of TEFL jobs coincide with academic and calendar years – although there is huge demand from employers for summer TEFL jobs too if one is CELTA qualified) and (2) how maintaining a flexible attitude towards where that first TEFL job just might be can also help in gaining employment in TEFL.
This is obviously a broad area– It depends so much on where you might be looking for work, your background, and so on. Candidates on our CELTA courses are provided with full support in terms of information, guidance, contacts, references, and of course continued support for as long as they remain in the profession.
Answer (watch the video or read the summary underneath):
Chris states that ELT in Hungary tends to involve freelance work for most teachers. He notes that there is high demand for qualified TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers, but that upon completion of the CELTA course, graduates need to be prepared to travel to different ELT schools with their CV / Resume in order to find work. He observes that within two months of completing the CELTA course, a CELTA graduate is likely to have a full ELT timetable and sufficient income to live on based on their work for various English language schools across Budapest.
The ELT work landscape in Hungary is shifting all the time, not so much in terms of demand– this has never been a problem– but in terms of regulations. For teaching in an accredited institution, and this includes many or most language schools, there are guidelines that apply to Hungarians teaching English and separate guidelines that apply to non-Hungarians. We’ll be posting more details here as the situation settles, but do feel free to write us and inquire in the meantime.
Chris states that ELT in Hungary tends to involve freelance work for most teachers. He notes that there is high demand for qualified TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers, but that upon completion of the CELTA course, graduates need to be prepared to travel to different ELT schools with their CV / Resume in order to find work. He observes that within two months of completing the CELTA course, a CELTA graduate is likely to have a full ELT timetable and sufficient income to live on based on their work for various English language schools across Budapest.
The ELT work landscape in Hungary is shifting all the time, not so much in terms of demand– this has never been a problem– but in terms of regulations. For teaching in an accredited institution, and this includes many or most language schools, there are guidelines that apply to Hungarians teaching English and separate guidelines that apply to non-Hungarians. We’ll be posting more details here as the situation settles, but do feel free to write us and inquire in the meantime.
Answer (watch the video or read the summary underneath):
The trainer notes that she is a non-native speaker who has successfully obtained TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) work in various countries (Poland, Hungary, China). She observes that being a non-native speaker was not an obstacle in her experience, and states that having the CELTA certificate is the main qualification that ELT (English Language Teaching) employers look for in a potential non-native teacher. She gives concrete advice to non-native teachers looking for ELT work abroad: a) apply for a job even if the application says native speakers are preferred, writing an impressive and clearly proof-read covering letter b) call the DoS (the Director of Studies) of the relevant school so they can ascertain the level of the applicant’s spoken English. She acknowledges that getting the work that is desired can be a little harder for non-native speakers. She also gives examples of non-native CELTA trainees at IH Budapest who have gone on to work successfully in ELT in many different countries (including for instance the UK, Costa Rica, Spain, Japan).
The trainer notes that she is a non-native speaker who has successfully obtained TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) work in various countries (Poland, Hungary, China). She observes that being a non-native speaker was not an obstacle in her experience, and states that having the CELTA certificate is the main qualification that ELT (English Language Teaching) employers look for in a potential non-native teacher. She gives concrete advice to non-native teachers looking for ELT work abroad: a) apply for a job even if the application says native speakers are preferred, writing an impressive and clearly proof-read covering letter b) call the DoS (the Director of Studies) of the relevant school so they can ascertain the level of the applicant’s spoken English. She acknowledges that getting the work that is desired can be a little harder for non-native speakers. She also gives examples of non-native CELTA trainees at IH Budapest who have gone on to work successfully in ELT in many different countries (including for instance the UK, Costa Rica, Spain, Japan).