I'd like to know, too. I'm curious for myself and for a pal who works in SF and wants to escape, like me, to Europe. :)

I have many friends who teach English overseas... and
your question about the value of a TEFOL/TESOL/ESL
certificate is valid.

These certificates are not intended as the ONLY credential you should possess.
An undergraduate degree alone with such a certificate is better than nothing, but
even if one has no certificates a market still exists for them to 'teach' spoken English
in other countries.

A chicken with one feather is better than a naked bird... if it has two feathers all the
better. However, a full set of feathers is the best recommendation to a bird seeking
jobs on the fly.

When you consider the risk that goes along with working in another country where YOU
are the visitor... and at a qualified 'disadvantage', doesn't it make sense to be BEST
prepared for the job? Its in your best interests to be 'over qualified' which means more
than minimally qualified. This would also place you in the best position to justify the
BEST pay and work conditions.

Get your Master's degree. Its worth the investment of time and energy when preparing
for work in other countries. You will discover more potential for respect from clients
and officials than you might receive in the United States.

Also, the best research is driven by a right attitude toward your best interest. Sweat now
and you won't have to sweat later.

Good luck.

ya i did my tefl last year, and then volonteered in india teaching. the cource was a super easy and didn't teach me anything about teaching. i wouldn't recomend it. but i havn't tried to get another job since. i feel like having a BA is more valuable and teaching is something you pick up along the way or learn from someone who actually does it, not some online cource.