Teaching English in a Foreign Country
There are many reasons to teach English in a foreign country: to give vacation a purpose, to explore a new career path, or to fund a lengthy stay abroad, to name but a few. In any case, it's a calling that is incredibly easy to get into.
Although requirements vary among countries, typically you must:
- Be a native English speaker, which means English is your first and primary language;
- Possess a passport from a country that primarily speaks English which is the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland or Canada;
- Hold a Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline or an Associate's Degree in any discipline plus a TEFL or TESOL certificate which you can obtain through a number of sources, many of which are listed on the official association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other languages (TESOL) web site.
Many courses for TEFL certificates also are listed online
There are many recruiters eager to match you with a teaching assignment overseas. TESOL lists many reputable recruiters.
Many universities and colleges also have information on recruiters so be sure to look there as well.
Typically, the recruiter will require you to sign a one year contract and will provide benefits beyond a salary.
"The recruiters offer teachers a package of a return flight, paid furnished apartment, 50% of health insurance, 1 month's bonus upon completion of 12 months of work, and of course a salary, usually in the foreign currency," says Dan Lockwood, project manager at Dragonfly, a charitable organization in Thailand that is always looking for volunteers, including those who can teach English.
TIP #1: Bring more than English skills.
"There is an incredible amount to learn to be an effective teacher, but the most important attributes are creativity, flexibility, patience, and a really encouraging and positive attitude to keep students feeling like they are succeeding - learning a new language can make students feel extremely insecure," says Lockwood.
TIP #2: View teaching English as a means to an end, not as the end itself.
"Teaching abroad can be very rewarding, but it can become a dead end after a while," says John Hayden, president of Versation, a company he founded after a stint teaching English in Japan. "I think it's good to keep your flexibility so that you can make sure you have the best experience possible, and to always be thinking about how that experience can help you at whatever you do next. When we hire new content writers for our site, one of the main qualifications we consider is what candidates gained from teaching abroad."
TIP #3: Don't do it for the money.
Wages tend to be low, especially for first-timers. It is a great way to explore other countries and absorb other cultures in ways you cannot experience via a traditional vacation, but teaching English in a foreign country will not make you rich, monetarily speaking. "The methods for obtaining such employment and the amount of money that can be earned depend on several factors: 1) university tuition vs. private tuition; 2) the geographic area where one is seeking the opportunity; and 3) credentials of the individual who is seeking the opportunity," explains Tonya M. Fitzpatrick, CEO of Travel'n On Media Productions.
TIP #4: Choose your company.
Choose to teach in rural areas if you want to be totally immersed in the local culture. Choose urban areas if you also want other English-speakers nearby.
Other sites of interest:- HESS Educational Organization -- teach English in Taiwan
- Ajarn -- Living and Teaching in Bangkok, Thailand
- Dave's ESL Cafe for ESL and EFL teachers and students
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