English Teaching Abroad – TEFL Certification
In recent years, English teaching abroad has been an increasingly popular career choice for fluent English speakers in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. The teaching opportunities are many and the pay is relatively good especially considering that teachers don’t have to deal with a lot of the hassles of teaching in America, such as standardized testing. If you’re thinking about teaching overseas, there’s a lot to consider before taking the plunge. But if you want to live abroad and teach English at the same time, this article will give you everything you need to know.
The teaching opportunities available overseas range from volunteer programs all over Asia or Africa (with no requirements other than fluency) up to full-time employment with some schools even paying for your relocation costs.
What are the benefits of English teaching abroad?
Teaching English abroad can be a great way to see the world and make some money while you’re at it. Opportunities abound in countries all over the world, from volunteer programs teaching kids in Africa or Asia to teaching adults in Europe or South America.
It’s a great way to make money. In most cases, teaching salaries are much higher than the average salary in the country you’re living in, so with a lower cost of living wherever you’re teaching your money will go much further. You can live reasonably well and save money for the day when you return home.
Teaching English is a great way to improve your own language skills. If you’re teaching adults, this can be a great way to brush up on your teaching skills and gain more teaching experience for future job placements. There is something special about communicating with people who don’t speak your language and teaching them to speak English.
The great thing about teaching English overseas is that there are opportunities for almost everyone, regardless of your teaching experience or qualifications. Most schools simply require that you be a fluent English speaker. It’s fine to have an accent as long as your speech and diction are clear and easy to follow.
However, if you don’t have teaching experience or qualifications, then it would be wise to at least gain some qualifications by attending classes or by online training before you seek work. Teaching English abroad is rewarding which makes it competitive, so give yourself an edge by getting qualified.
As well as the rewards relating to travel and career prospects there are the personal development benefits. If you’re in any doubt as to what they may be, ask a teacher.
How to get started teaching English abroad
So if teaching English abroad is something that interests you, how do you get started? The best way to start is by doing some online research. There are lots of great websites and forums where teachers share their experiences teaching in different countries all over the world. This is a great way to get a feel for what teaching English abroad is really like.
Another great way to get started is by contacting a teaching placement company. These companies can help connect you with teaching opportunities all over the world. They often have a large database of schools looking for teachers, and they will help you with everything from applying for visas to finding housing
TEFL, Teaching English as a Foreign Language
If you’re interested in teaching English as a second language, one of the best things you can do to improve your chances of getting a teaching job is to get a TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, qualification.
There are many TEFL courses available in the United States. A quick online search will yield a variety of options, both in-person and online. TEFL courses are a great way to improve your teaching skills and learn more about teaching English as a second language. They usually last around four weeks, and they’re available both online and in person.
What is the TEFL Institute?
The TEFL Institute is one of the best places to get a TEFL qualification. They offer both online and in-person courses, and they have a large database of teaching opportunities all over the world. They also provide support services to help teachers find jobs and relocate.
What is an ESL Teacher?
ESL, or English as a Second Language, teachers are teaching professionals who specialize in teaching English to non-native speakers. They work with students of all ages, from children in elementary school to adults in business settings.
ESL teaching is a growing field, and there are many opportunities for teaching professionals who want to teach English abroad. ESL teaching can be a rewarding and challenging profession, and it’s a great way to see the world.
If you’re interested in becoming an ESL teacher, there are several ways to get started. The best way to start is by doing some online research. There are many websites and forums where ESL teachers share their experiences teaching in different countries all over the world. This is a great way to get a feel for teaching English as a second language.
Another great way to get started is by contacting an ESL teaching placement agency. These companies can help connect you with teaching opportunities all over the world. They often have a large database of schools looking for teachers, and they will help you with everything from applying for visas to finding housing.
TELF, TESL, TESOL
TEFL teachers teach English to people who don’t know how to speak it yet. It’s a completely foreign language to them.
TESL teachers teach English to people who already know how to speak a little. It’s a second language to them.
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is the term used to denote teaching English to non-native speakers in, for example, the USA i.e. not abroad.
Teaching English in South Korea
If you’re considering teaching English as a second language, South Korea is an excellent place to do it. Not only is the country geographically close to Japan and China, but it’s also a popular destination for students from all over the world. English teaching in South Korea can be a highly rewarding experience, both professionally and culturally.
One of the best things about teaching English in South Korea is the high level of pay that most jobs offer. In addition, many employers provide furnished housing and other benefits such as airfare reimbursement. Teaching in South Korea can be a great way to save money and see the world at the same time.
When it comes to living in South Korea, there are a few things you should know. The culture is very different from Western culture, so you’ll have to adjust. Most teaching jobs require that teachers work on the weekends, which means you won’t have any weekends off! However, teaching hours are short during the week and most teaching jobs come with a generous vacation time every year, which you can use to travel around Asia.
Visa requirements for non-resident English teachers
For teaching English abroad you will probably need a work visa. The process for acquiring a work visa can be lengthy and complicated (depending on the country), so it is important to start the process well in advance of your start date.
To apply for a work visa, you will need some or all of the following documents so make sure you have all them to hand with plenty of time before any of them expire e.g. six months on your passport:
- A valid passport
- A valid teaching license
- A criminal background check
- A health check
- Proof of teaching experience
- A letter of introduction from your employer
Teaching English in Japan
Another one of the most popular teaching countries is Japan. Japanese schools are paying more and more attention to teaching English as a second language, so teaching jobs can be found all over the country.
However, teaching English in Japan isn’t for everyone. If you’re moving to Japan to work as an English teacher, then you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. Just as in South Korea, the teaching hours are very long and the work can be demanding and you may have to work weekends as well as weekdays, which means you won’t have time to explore the country as much as you had hoped.
Salaries for English teachers abroad
Salaries for English teachers vary depending on the country in which they are teaching. In general, however, English teachers can expect to make a good salary. In South Korea, for example, the average salary for an English teacher is around $2,000 per month. In Japan, the average salary is a bit lower, around $1,600 per month
Keep in mind that these are just averages, and teaching salaries can vary greatly depending on the school and the location
If you’re looking to teach English abroad as a way to make money, then be sure to research the salaries for teaching positions in different countries before making a decision. Find out if any living expenses will be covered as these can make a big difference even if the salary is lower than you expected.
What are the drawbacks of living and working abroad alone?
Living and working abroad can be an amazing experience, but it can also be quite stressful. One of the biggest sources of stress for me was feeling isolated and alone. I wasn’t used to living in such a foreign country, and I didn’t know anyone else who was teaching English in my area. I would often spend my weekends alone, just reading or watching TV.
Thankfully, I was eventually able to meet some other teachers who were living in my town. We would get together for coffee or dinner, and that was a great way to relieve some of the stress I was feeling. If you’re feeling lonely or stressed, try to reach out to other people who are teaching English in your area. You’ll be surprised how friendl yand welcoming other teachers can be!
If you find yourself feeling low while working abroad then take the advice of those who have experienced the same feelings. You might want to socialise with other teachers, or if that’s not an option, try some sport or meditation.
Where to find international teaching job vacancies
If you’re looking for teaching jobs abroad, there are a few places you can start your search. One great resource is Dave’s ESL Cafe, which is a website dedicated to helping ESL and TEFL teachers find teaching jobs all over the world. In addition, many teaching job boards list jobs in different countries, so be sure to check out job boards like Indeed, Craigslist, and TeachAway.
Another great way to find teaching jobs is to network with people who are already teaching abroad. Ask them about their experience and what countries they would recommend. Finally, consider going through a teaching placement agency. Placement agencies can help connect you with reputable schools in different countries and often provide visa assistance and other services.
