At some point in their lives many people dream about living abroad for a while or travelling and seeing what more there is out there – and one of the best ways to finance yourself whilst you travel and explore and learn about new cultures and languages is by utilizing a skill that, if you can read this article, you definitely have – and that is the ability to speak English.
If you’re prepared to teach English abroad you can be paid relatively well to satisfy your inner urges to explore and travel and this article details the practicalities and realities of teaching English as a foreign language overseas for anyone considering this option.
First things first it’s a commonly held belief that you don’t even need to be qualified to begin working abroad teaching English as a foreign language – you just need to be able to string together a sentence or two (preferably in English), turn up on time and sober at any old language school and secure yourself a well paid posting – well, that’s not really the case anymore!
Nowadays there is such competition among those who want to teach English abroad and language schools the world over can pick and choose from quite a substantial list of qualified candidates, so if you’re serious about teaching overseas then spend some time getting at least your basic TEFL qualification which in its most basic form takes the structure of a 100 – 120 hour course – you can do a course while you continue your current job or take it as part of your college degree for example.
By taking the time to get qualified you also ensure that you do actually like the subject of English and that you can cope with the realities of teaching it, which means you will be far more likely to succeed when you do finally take an overseas assignment – you’d be surprised how many people only find out that they are not cut out for teaching when they face their first classroom of bored children or confused businessmen!
There is another added bonus to getting qualified – the better schools in the UK and the US are affiliated with language schools around the world which means students often walk into jobs upon graduation or at least are in the right place at the right time to learn about opportunities around the world for which they can apply.
If you have a solid opinion about where in the world you want to work then you will need to research which private institutions employ TEFL teachers or which organisations take on TEFL teachers – if you’re not fussed about where you work then you’ll find it far easier to get a job! Basically the more flexible you’re willing to be the more an employer will be willing to consider you. Did you know if you get a posting with the US Peace Corps you have no say whatsoever about where in the world you’ll be going?! Mind you they don’t pay you either…so they may be an employer to avoid if you want to actually finance your travels overseas!
Asia and the Middle East are both locations with nations that take on many English teachers annually, rates of pay vary depending on the nation you go to and the institution you find employment with. Those willing to live in a closed community with restricted access to the local people and surroundings and no access to alcohol can get well paying jobs in Saudi but for those who want a good mix of lifestyle, adventure and money Asia and Europe are the best places to go.
Finally if you seriously want to teach English abroad your first step should be finding out about courses that you can enrol for locally that will give you recognised qualifications and open up your world to a whole host of international opportunities.
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