Teaching English Abroad Increases in Popularity as UK Economy Continues to Slip

With the UK economy now lagging behind Italy’s, increasing numbers of people are looking to TEFL for a way out of the longest downturn since records began.

[ClickPress, Tue Oct 27 2009] Teaching English abroad is becoming an increasingly popular escape route from the current recession, as the UK suffers its longest downturn since records began.

According to figures announced last Friday, the British economy shrunk by a further 0.4 per cent during the third quarter of 2009. The shock statistics reveal that the UK is suffering its longest recession since records began in the 1950s.

As the British economy continues to contract, increasing numbers of people are realising the benefits of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) in providing an escape route from the current recession.

TEFL specialists i-to-i have reported a leap of 22% in visitors to its website this month compared with the same month last year, reflecting the massive increase in the numbers of people looking to teach English abroad.

Richard Jones, director of recruitment at Reach to Teach, told the Guardian recently that it is not just students and university leavers who are looking to take TEFL courses or teach English abroad.

Due to a number of reasons, those who fit "other profiles" are registering an "increased interest" in pursuing this career path, Mr Jones added.

And who can blame them? Leaving recession-hit Britain behind to take on new challenges abroad is certainly tempting, especially when TEFL jobs are so widely available. Due to the huge demand for English teachers in countries such as China and South Korea, approximately 20,000 teaching jobs abroad are posted on the internet every month.

These jobs aren’t reserved only for those with previous teaching experience or people who speak the language of the country they want to teach in either. Most language schools only ask that potential teachers are fluent English speakers who have completed a recognised TEFL course, such as the ones offered by i-to-i. Their TEFL courses are fast, flexible and start from as little as £219.

Once abroad, teachers find themselves welcomed into the local community and generally enjoy a life filled with fresh opportunities, faces and experiences – something of a contrast to gloomy, recession-hit Britain. Those wanting to get TEFL qualified and start a new life teaching abroad should call i-to-i's TEFL experts on 0800 093 2552 or visit http://www.onlinetefl.com. For media enquiries contact Honor Baldry at honor.baldry@i-to-i.com.