TEFL Prague: Friday's Question

This Friday's Question is:

-Q: Is there an age limit in some countries, for TEFL instructors?  I am turning 63 this year, am in good health, and have teaching experience and BA degree.

-A: There is no age limit per se but of course you need to be able to physically and mentally function as a teacher in order to carry out the job. There is definitely a growing trend of maturer students taking the course and this might be because the baby boomers of this generation are now finding themselves approaching retirement age or having retired, and with still a thirst for travel and wanting to make a difference in the lives of other people abroad or at home. Generally speaking maturer teachers tend to gain more respect due to their life experiences and schools favor maturer students on the one hand because they are less likely to suddenly leave the school because they have decided on a whim to travel to another country. However, I think that schools are also aware that it can sometimes be more demanding with maturer students when it comes to needing them to take on board school rules and regulations as we do find that maturer students tend to like to sit more in their ways than younger Clients. I don't think the negatives and positives though are too extreme and by taking the course you should expect the same job opportunities as say someone taking the course in their twenties or thirties.

Hope it helps!

Hezky den!/Lovely day!

Neville :-)
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