Have you just graduated from college and want to explore the world while getting paid handsomely for it? Why not consider becoming an English teacher overseas! There are thousands and thousands of opportunities in countries like Turkey, Argentina, Morocco, China, Spain or Indonesia, and that’s just the beginning of the list. In fact, almost any skilled and fluent English speaker can follow this path if they put their mind to it.
But how do you do that? Read on to learn more:
Where do I begin?
Since you already have a college degree (and most teaching job opportunities will require it), the next thing you need to do is get the extra certification required for your target country. You can either move to that country and get certified there or do it before the journey to the place of your choosing. There are hundreds of sites and blogs to help you with this information. And while at it, beware of online fraudsters – you’ll need a little bit of research, but only go for reputable websites with genuine user reviews. Also, while planning the trip itself, don’t remember about Discountrue coupons for Expedia or Hotels.com, as they can help you save immensely on the flight ticket and other travel expenses. You don’t want to start your new life penniless, do you?
What kind of certification is required?
For most English language teaching destinations, you will typically need a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification. You can opt for an online course or register for an in-class program. The online option is more flexible but, as mentioned earlier, you need to beware of scammers and unscrupulous people who are out to fleece you of your hard-earned money. A few hundred dollars will do here, depending on the provider and the total number of hours needed for the certification. On the other hand, in-class programs can cost between a few hundred dollars to as much as several thousands.
How do I know the specific certification program to go for?
Settling for a certification program can be quite tricky. According to Lauren Bauer, a senior teach-abroad manager at Greenheart Travel, one crucial thing you need to consider is the number of hours of training offered vis-à-vis the cost. Most schools hiring English teachers abroad often look for people who have undergone at least 100 hours of training. Some certification programs offer their learners practice teaching experience, after-certification placement assistance, as well as a generous pre-departure and on-site support once you have reached your teaching destination. It’s best if you try and choose such a program.
How to choose a country in which I want to teach?
Apart from the remuneration offered many people – obviously – have other reasons because of which they want to move abroad. While some of us just want to travel the world, others want to experience a specific new culture. Ultimately, whatever the goal you have, it is going to affect your choice of destination. For a guaranteed job placement, I would recommend Southeast Asia or Taiwan as opposed to a Western European destination like Spain. European destinations are extremely competitive and life is much more expensive there than, say, in the Middle East, North Africa or Southeast Asia. Salaries also differ widely, from $1,000-1,500 per month in Vietnam to $400-800 a month in Costa Rica. However, no country beats South Korea. Here they have a wholly government-funded program that offers English teachers some of the best pay packages and benefits you can find anywhere on the planet. From a free government-furnished apartment and reimbursement for your airfare to and from South Korea to a monthly remuneration of $1,600-$2,200 and a free national health insurance cover, you will love this! However, there are also a lot of expectations that come with such perks. Most countries and specific schools will also have guidelines on how to go about picking the most appropriate school to teach in.
Finally, as you seek for a job to teach English abroad, we wish you all the best. Go out there and have fun passing your English language knowledge and skills to others tirelessly!
