Working Abroad Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Summary: One of the easiest jobs to acquire abroad is that of English teacher to speakers of a foreign language. Students, graduates and even those who move overseas with no career plan find that they can pick up well paid work as TEFL teachers relatively simply.

One of the easiest jobs to acquire abroad is that of English teacher to speakers of a foreign language.  Students, graduates and even those who move overseas with no career plan find that they can pick up well paid work as TEFL teachers relatively simply.

It is also possible to take on the role professionally and to build a career working abroad and teaching English; this path requires qualifications, aptitude and experience.

Whether you’re looking for long term career prospects abroad or just hoping to earn a temporary income while travelling overseas and you’re fluent in the English language, the TEFL, EFL, TESL or ESL job path might be worth considering.

Because the international business language is English, if you come from the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand or another English speaking nation you have one major skill and advantage over so many people; namely fluency in the lingua franca of international business, commerce, education and relations.  You can put your advantage to good use in countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and Russia and earn significant sums of money teaching the residents of these countries how to effectively communicate in the international arena through the medium of English.

If you take the time to achieve the qualifications to establish yourself as a professional TEFL teacher you will reap financial reward particularly in Asia where the demand for qualified English as a foreign language teachers is intense. 

If you’re British you can move into all the non-English speaking EU countries without the need for a work permit and teach the residents of countries such as Germany, Austria, Greece, Finland, Portugal and France how to correctly communicate via the English language.

If you’re considering working abroad teaching English as a foreign language you need to decide what your career objectives are.  If you have the short term goal of finding sufficient work to fund your overseas travel you can self-study at home before you go and expect to find work assisting those already fairly proficient in the English language with basic grammar, vocabulary and understanding.  If on the other hand you want to establish yourself as a full time teacher it will be worth spending the time getting properly trained and qualified either before you go or once you’ve expatriated.

When it comes to finding TEFL courses for would be teachers the internet is a great place to start but you will quickly see that there are many colleges, universities and companies around the world offering training, exams and qualifications - so how can you determine which qualifications are the best ones to have?

When it comes to recruiting teachers and advisers to work with and educate speakers of a foreign language The British Council rates graduates with the ESOL DELTA from the University of Cambridge, graduates with the Diploma in TESOL from Trinity College London and also those with a PGCE in TEFL as the most qualified individuals. This does not mean that other qualifications are not recognised elsewhere however, and it will be well worth your while speaking to other TEFL teachers in the location you’re hoping to expatriate to about the qualifications teaching institutions in the region prefer.

There are many forums and internet sites dominated by those who choose to work abroad teaching English and a great deal of insight into the profession can be gained from these places.  Furthermore the offer of employment, average wages, employment conditions and teaching placements are likely to be discussed and it can be a great way into a new role for a novice TEFL teacher.

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