Teaching English abroad is unlocking a whole new world for those who feel that inextinguishable need to travel. Wanderlusters can now earn money, have flights paid for, have visas sorted out, and see the world by simply following the career path of an ESL teacher. Here is the ultimate guide on how to teach English and travel abroad.
Who Can Teach English Abroad?
The short answer is, almost anyone! There are programs out there that suit just about every level of education and experience in the ESL field.
The most basic necessity is to have graduated high school. From there, you can enter basic volunteer programs abroad to teach English part-time or get a TEFL qualification for more substantial work. If you need to study English, avail this great opportunity in FamilyTutor.
Even if it is your first teaching job and your salary starts out small you do get the opportunity to travel and you will often receive benefits like accommodation in return. There are opportunities for people who don’t have a degree and an accredited TEFL qualification can take you a long way down the career path of an ESL teacher.”
There are a few countries that require a BA degree or teaching qualification in your home country. These are the jobs that will allow you to stay in a country for the longest time and also earn the most amount of money.
Where Do You Teach English When Abroad?
When you hear the word “teaching”, your mind automatically goes to a school. But in the field of ESL that is not always the case. There are many public and private schools that employ ESL teachers but it is much broader than that.
A big part of the ESL market is made up of language centres, for both young and older learners. These centres operate privately outside of school hours and on weekends, allowing students to pursue English more intensively than what schools might offer.
Once you are settled in a new country, you can also pick up private students for tutoring. This is a great tactic if you want to learn more about the local culture and get integrated into a new community.
Another big corner of the ESL realm is occupied by online teaching. This is by far the most flexible way to teach English and will allow you to travel as much as you want. This way you can teach adults and children and make your own office hours. All you need is a laptop and a stable internet connection and you are pretty much set!
Which countries are best for teaching English Abroad?
The world is your oyster when it comes to teaching English, with well over 50 countries in need of English teachers in some way, shape, or form. Where you teach is dependent on how long you are looking to commit, how much experience you have, and how much money you want to make.
South and Central American countries offer many volunteer opportunities or work at small centres. Here, the cost of living is low and there are tons of opportunities to explore the vibrant cultures of that corner of the world. Mexico is a popular base for first-time teachers as it is quite developed but the cost of living remains low and travel time to the USA is very short.
China has for many years dominated the world of English teachers, offering very lucrative jobs with many benefits like housing and flights. Other countries in Asia like Korea and Japan have also become key players in the sector, allowing teachers to live well and save some money.
South-East Asia has always been popular with backpackers as the countries are close together with many exciting adventures between them. As online English teaching grows, this becomes one of the most popular areas for teachers as the cost of living is extremely low and the quality of life they can afford is remarkable. SEA is also close to the Beijing time zone, a big bonus for those teaching Asian students. Thailand has long been a popular destination for TEFL teachers and a few recent reports show that it is still one of the top places for both online and in-person teachers.
The Middle East is by far the most worthwhile destination for qualified teachers. These jobs offer upwards of $2000 per month with housing and flights paid for. This allows teachers to travel the world during holidays and discover the ancient cultures across the Middle East.
How Do I Get a Job Teaching English?
Once you have set your sights on becoming an ESL teacher, there are many different ways to apply for jobs. Many TEFL course providers will assist you with job hunting and point you in the right direction. It is also entirely possible to embark on a job hunt by yourself but as a first-timer, it is helpful to have a course provider on your side.
There are also recruitment agencies that place teachers across the globe, especially in Asia and the Middle East. This is great if this is your first time travelling and you would feel more comfortable with a stable job and secured visas.
Seasoned travellers like to visit countries and apply for jobs once they are there, but not many countries allow this. In some cases, you will need to leave the country and re-enter with a working permit once you have found a company to sponsor you.
A little legwork before landing will go a long way. Email all the schools, centres, and recruiters in a city you are interested in to find out about any vacancies. Take note that in some places there is a hiring “season” while other locations hire teachers year-round.
To get a job as an online teacher you will need to apply directly to many online companies. They will ask you to do a demo lesson or send in a video recording of yourself before continuing with the hiring process.
Final Thoughts
Teaching English is by far the best way to see the world these days. You can make and save money and get to know different cultures on a whole new level than when you just hit all the tourist hotspots. There is an English teaching opportunity waiting out there for just about everyone, it’s all about finding the right one for you.
