Hi there, and welcome to the forum,
LordMavis wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 09:44I'm wondering what the best countries to just turn up and teach in without any TEFL qualifications are these days.
I'm afraid the days of being able to show up somewhere and land a job based on your being a native English-speaker are long gone. Quite aside from the fact that a degree and a TEFL certificate are almost prerequisites these days, if you need a visa to enter/work in a country, it wouldn't be advisable or, in some cases, possible, to just rock up and start teaching.
LordMavis wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 09:44Assume instead that I'd be preparing myself to teach English using free resources, informally without any qualification to show for it.
I don't really understand what you're getting at here, but it sounds as though you are planning to give private classes on an
ad hoc basis. The thing is that both schools and private students want continuity, not someone who'll breeze in, give a couple of lessons unrelated to anything, and ride off into the sunset. Furthermore, depending on where in the world you teach, students can be very demanding. European students, for example, would not pay someone who didn't know his present continuous from his present perfect.
Contrary to popular opinion, a normal TEFL lifestyle does not go hand in hand with round-the-world travel. If you want to travel and make money en-route, you might be better off looking into online teaching. There are loads of companies that pay you to teach Chinese children. However, even they require a certain commitment, e.g., X number of hours each day/week for six months.
LordMavis wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 09:44
My first choice, and I suspect the easiest country to do this, would be China. But I'm wondering:
- Where best to do it - i.e. what cities, as well as what countries [doesn't have to be China, just picking that because I'm learning the language anyway]
I've been teaching for over eight years and during that time the TEFL industry has changed dramatically. Once the go-to for those without qualifications, China has been tightening up regulations, and fining and deporting, or even jailing those working illegally. Is it still possible to work on a tourist visa? Probably. Is it a risk I'd take? Hell no!
Work visas, not just in China but in much of Asia, are now dependent on qualifications, experience, nationality, medical history, etc. While there are some exceptions (Cambodia and Laos, I think), wages are subsistence level so if you are trying to fund your travels, you might need a Plan B.
As an EU citizen (for now at least), you have the right to move to any EU country with the aim of looking for work. However, the jobs market is very competitive, especially in the more desirable locations, so I wouldn't recommend it if you're not prepared to invest in a TEFL qualification. Most TEFLers in the region have a first degree and a Celta or Trinity CertTESOL and at least a year or so's experience. Many have a Master's, often related to EFL, and some proficiency in the local language(s). Sadly, an inexperienced newbie with no TEFL certificate stands little to no chance of finding decent work.
LordMavis wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 09:44How easy is it? How do you do it?
How do you find work? Well, if you don't need a work visa, you time your arrival for the peak hiring time, get a local SIM card, and any paperwork required (social security number, etc.) and go round the schools with your CV. If you need a work visa and you don't have one, you'll be limited to online teaching, or finding private students. You should join expat/teaching groups on Facebook and find out how and where people advertise.
LordMavis wrote: ↑23 Mar 2018, 09:44What are the major differences to teaching with a qualification, in terms of pay, conditions, assistance with accommodation, etc. [ideally want thoughts from people who have actually done it]
If you're working illegally and you don't get paid or you're treated badly, there's nothing you can do. You can't call the police or report them to the appropriate Government body because you're the one breaking the law. The powers that be will throw the book at you rather than the school. And employers know this and will happily take advantage of it.
Accommodation assistance is not a service schools/employers typically provide in Western Europe. Some Eastern European schools will provide accommodation for you, and it's commonplace to do so in some Asian countries. That said, if you're not officially employed by a school, they are under no obligation to help you with anything.
If you want to travel, TEFL isn't really the answer. If you want to teach, I'd strongly recommend investing in a TEFL qualification, even if it's just an online TEFL course. And if China is where you want to be, you should familiarise yourself with the visa requirements.
Hope that helps, and if you have any other questions, please ask.
Briona