Amber Forsyth - TEFL Traveller

1. Age when you taught: 23
2. Nationality: Australia
3. Where did you teach?: Tokyo, Japan
4. Time spent teaching per week
   18 - 24 hrs contact
5. How long did you teach for?
   1 yr
6. What was your pay?
   270,000 per month.
7. What is the biggest lesson you learned from your teaching English experience?
   Focus on your students not your boss.
8. What is the most common misconception about teaching English?
   That its easy and fun (it can be, but not all the time).
9. Did you get certified?: yes
   Why or why not?
   It was a requirement for the job and my company paid for it.
10. If you were certified, what was your certification and how did you acquire it? Also, did your certification help you when trying to find a job? How?
    SIT - TESOL, administered through the ICTE University of Queesland (Brisbane, Australia). It's becoming increasingly difficult to get a decent job without one, but its still possible.
11. If you did not get certified, was it harder to find a job? Why?
    n/a
12. When looking for a certification program, what are the things to look for?
    Is there a practical teaching component? The quality and experience of the teacher trainers. Post-course job support.
13. What are some common 'traps' that teachers fall into while teaching English abroad?
    Overwork, long hours and not enough prep time, ensure this is all stipulated clearly in your contract. Not learning the local langauge. Treating the job like a extended student holiday instead of a profession.
14. What do you wish you would have done differently?
    Gotten rid of my debts at home first, so I could travel before starting my contract, and tried a little harder to learn some of the language.
15. What are the best things about teaching English abroad?
    You can travel, truly experience another culture, save and develope your career all at the same time. Teaching, when you get it right, is also really rewarding
16. Did you travel before or after your program? If so, where?
    Before -no, but if you have the money and the time, do it!
    After - Yes I plan too, within Japan, but also to central and south east asia - flights are real cheap from here compared to Australia!
17. What would be your advice to people thinking about teaching English abroad?
    Do your research, check the quality of your school/company, and the reality of teaching via forums etc. Be careful with your contract in regard to teaching hours etc. (anymore than 20-25 contact hrs a week is too much). Before forking out the cold hard dosh for your certificate do some research and see if you can find a company who will cover the cost of the course for you!

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