One of the great advantages of living in a connected world is that, with the right skills, you can work anywhere on the globe. As the academic year comes to a close, nearly 100,000 matriculants are ready to step into the world and make their mark – but not all of them will head to university or tertiary studies.
In South Africa, gap years have become a growing trend, particularly among students who have completed high school and are considering further education or entering the workforce. According to some studies and surveys, up to 30% of South African students may take a gap year. A gap year is a break, usually taken after high school and before university or work, where individuals may choose to work, volunteer, explore personal interests or travel.
“Travel is a significant motivator for taking a gap year, with students often seeking to explore new cultures or volunteer and work abroad, for example, teaching English in foreign countries or engaging in community development projects,” says Sharon McCall, CELTA trainer and head of teacher training at Good Hope Studies (GHS), one of Cape Town’s top language education and training institutes. “Learning to teach English is a ticket to faraway locations for many South African school leavers and university graduates.
“Anyone can enroll for these kinds of courses and whilst there are hundreds of TEFL courses available, a CELTA qualification is likely to give you the competitive edge and, ultimately, get you much further,” adds McCall.
Administered by Cambridge and recognised globally, a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) provides hands-on teaching experience with actual students. This real-life approach is invaluable, equipping participants with vital knowledge, experience and understanding, so that they themselves can go off and empower learners with the practical communication skills they need to succeed. And, crucially, the certificate can secure you a teaching position, with competitive pay rates, in places like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and more.
Capetonian, Suad Fredericks waited a year after matriculating before enrolling on the CELTA Course. “The opportunity to travel and teach English was appealing to me,” she explains. She learnt to hone her communication skills, especially when interacting with people with varying understanding of English. “I learned how to speak clearly and to the point, so that my message and instructions come across in ways that are easy to understand,” she says.
“CELTA offers young people the opportunity to empower themselves and learn a valuable skill set,” says McCall. “In just one month, participants will have gained the necessary qualifications to seek meaningful work in countries around the world.”
GHS has been running CELTA courses for over two decades and is currently the only centre in Cape Town offering the qualification. The courses are conducted face-to-face, and are facilitated by a team of experienced educators, all of whom hold the highly respected Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DELTA) and are endorsed by Cambridge.
A wealth of skills
Former student, Zaytoon Hanief from Cape Town, recently returned from teaching in Saudi Arabia. “I matriculated in 2004, completed my university degree and then went to teach English in South Korea,” she says. “Wanting to increase my knowledge, skill set and gain career advancement, I decided to do CELTA in 2020.” Here she learnt an abundance of skills which she now uses daily in the classroom, her favourite being how to facilitate instead of spoon-feeding.
Courses are offered several times throughout the year, with the next ones scheduled to run in January and February 2025.
A solid stepping stone
A CELTA qualification could be that initial career step that paves the way for many different successes in the future. “Living abroad broadens your horizons, and if you can make money whilst doing that, then it’s a bonus,” says Alexander Kratochwil, Director at GHS. “The benefits gained from completing a course like this are massive. Not only does one gain priceless life experience, but once you have that foot in the door, it could open up a world of new possibilities.”
So, if you want to learn a new skill, take a gap year, go traveling, make new friends and get your career going, all whilst earning a good salary and gaining valuable life learnings, then consider a CELTA course. It has benefitted loads of other young people.
For more info, see https://www.ghs.co.za/teachertraining/ or contact Good Hope Studies via email on mailbox@ghs.co.za
Soweto Sunrise News
