Graduates Escape the Doom and Gloom of the UK Job Market by Heading Abroad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 7, 2011 -- For most 2011 graduates, career prospects after university are grim, to say the least. According to the Office for National Statistics: 20% of new graduates were out of work between July and September last year – meaning the proportion of unemployed graduates has almost doubled, since 2008 when the recession began. With those figures only considering new graduates, not unemployed cohorts from previous years! So it’s no wonder that more and more graduates are turning to Teaching English as a Foreign Language with a TEFL qualification.

Graduates are perfect candidates to become TEFL teachers and teach abroad, as they; have no major commitments, are on a stringent budget, want to experience different cultures, and can afford to spend a few months/years abroad. There’s no need to speak another language or have any previous teaching experience, all you need is to be able to speak English fluently.

Sian Cole, an i-to-i TEFL graduate who is planning on moving overseas after graduation, said: “I decided to do a TEFL course because I’d like to move abroad. I figure that having a TEFL qualification will give me scope to get a job. Personally, I don’t’ think there are a lot of opportunities for graduates in the UK because of a lack of jobs and high competition. Most people aren’t putting their degrees to good use!”

Bryony Parker, a 2008 Coventry graduate and i-to-i customer said: “I decided to get a TEFL qualification after I returned from travelling in Asia. Finding a job in the UK is becoming increasingly competitive and a massive struggle for most graduates that I know. Given the situation; I wanted a way to travel again but also to be able to earn money whilst I was out there – I was recommended the TEFL qualification by some friends and it sounded ideal!”

TEFL courses are designed for people who are looking to spend a number of years or months teaching English in a country where English is not the first language. TEFL courses start at just £139 and enable people to teach all over the world, gaining valuable work experience along the way.

Siobhan Torrens, who graduated from Bournemouth University in 2008, said: ”After doing my student placement in a web design company, I decided that a career in IT wasn’t for me. I wanted to see what teaching was like, so in my final year at university, I decided to take a TEFL course as it was within my price range. This was the best option for me as I didn’t have a lot of money and I didn’t want to spend a year doing a PGCE, without at least trying teaching first.”

“After completing my TEFL course, I headed out to teach in Yuncheng City, China, and have been working here for two academic years. Overall I’ve found the experience to be really rewarding and it’s really boosted my confidence. It’s also given me the chance to find a job where others couldn’t – there are loads of opportunities for graduates in Asia at the moment, especially China.”

TEFL courses can be taken both online or in a classroom, or a combination of both; meaning people can take courses whenever and wherever is convenient to them. They can complete anywhere from 20 hours to 140 hours of study, giving them all the skills and confidence needed to get out there and experience teaching in exciting new cultures. The accessibility and value of TEFL courses play a huge part in their popularity with graduates –
As they open up (literally) a world of opportunities!

For more information on TEFL graduates and a free graduate guide to teaching abroad, visit: http://www.onlinetefl.com/graduates.html – Or call 0113 205 4610.

For interviews, images or comments please contact:

Andrew Precious
Marketing & PR
Email: andrew.precious@i-to-i.com
Phone: 0113 205 4623
www.onlinetefl.com

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