THERE HAS been a surge in demand for courses offering English-language teaching qualifications, with record numbers of people leaving Ireland to seek jobs in education abroad.
Waterford-based “voluntourism” specialist i-to-i said the demand for TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses had increased 30 per cent as a result of excessive demand for college places and a lack of jobs.
Ian O’Sullivan, manager of i-to-i Ireland said the company had seen a surge of people undertaking TEFL courses in the last year, adding: “We can’t keep up with demand”.
He said a growing number of graduates were looking overseas for work, discouraged by a tight job market as unemployment rates continue to soar, adding that even long-time workers who have recently been made redundant are opting for teaching jobs abroad, 20,000 of which are advertised each month.
“We’re getting people of all ages coming to us for internships, paid jobs abroad and volunteering work. Previously we dealt with students, now it’s everyone.”
Tullamore architect Warren Maher is among the growing number of people from a professional background, deciding to take a different direction during the economic squeeze, and teach English.
Like many in the construction industry, he was made redundant last year as an architectural technician in Dublin, and decided to try his hand at teaching after visiting friends working as teachers in Seoul.
Tara Doherty also opted for a teaching job in South Korea so she could put her teaching degree to use despite the lack of teaching jobs in Ireland.
The Ballina native, who has a degree in music, religion and education, and a master’s degree in religious education from the Mater Dei Institute of Education said: “I wanted to gain teaching experience instead of looking for a job all year resulting in no experience.”
Thailand, South Korea and China are the most popular destinations for Irish people seeking teaching work as the schools there love the Irish sense of humour, Mr O’Sullivan said.