If you love languages and want to explore the world while making a positive impact on people, teaching English abroad is a perfect career choice. It allows you to combine your passion for languages with teaching in various settings, such as schools, language institutes, or corporate programs.
You can teach in countries where English is spoken as a second language or in places where it's not widely used. Regardless of the location, you'll have the opportunity to earn a competitive salary and live a fulfilling overseas life.
To start your journey, you need to get certified, research different countries and schools, connect with fellow teachers, and understand the reasons and methods behind teaching English abroad. But don't worry, we've got you covered from the "why" to the "how"! So, let's begin with the ‘why’.
Teaching English abroad is a transformative chance to grow personally, have extraordinary experiences and earn handsome money. Unlike a typical dull office job, teaching English Abroad is filled with exciting reasons to pursue it, such as:
There is a high demand for English teachers in countries like China, Japan, Spain, and Cambodia. They have very few English speakers thus seek English teachers from other countries and pay competitive salaries.
When teaching English overseas, you have the chance to immerse yourself completely in the host country's native language and regularly practise it. By speaking and practising the language every day, you can accelerate your language learning and achieve fluency in the most effective way possible.
English is more than just a language. It is much broader. While teaching English, you also become skilled at listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW). You get a chance to brush up on your grammar, fiction, non-fiction, and spoken English.
Teaching English overseas not only grants you teaching skills but also enhances your public speaking, leadership, conflict resolution, writing, and communication abilities.
It assists aspiring writers in enhancing their writing abilities. Upon returning to your home country, you can teach the native language acquired during your time abroad. Moreover, it provides transferable skills advantageous in various occupations such as customer service, publishing, editing or copywriting, journalism, and more.
If you're bored with your job, consider teaching English abroad. It offers travel and teach opportunities, lets you explore new places, and creates a network that may lead to unexpected career paths. You can surely give it a try and see where it takes you!
You must have found the advantages intriguing and have decided to pursue this career path. In that case, you may already be contemplating your next course of action, how to commence, and the necessary steps to take and for that you need to have a checklist for all the prerequisites to teach abroad.
Let's now initiate our exploration by focusing on the "how" and acquaint you with a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through it.
Before commencing a career in teaching English abroad or any job, the first step should be to establish clear goals, preferences, and objectives. This will help you figure out what you want to achieve and what teaching experience you aspire to have. To identify your priorities, ask yourself the ensuing questions, such as:
Once you have established your goals and preferences, the next crucial step is to become eligible and certified to teach English. Qualifications and certifications vary depending on the destination country, institution type, and desired level of English teaching. Here is a list of certifications you will need to teach English abroad:
It is often a basic requirement for teaching positions worldwide and demonstrates that you have completed a higher education program and have a certain level of subject knowledge (an English degree will be a cherry on top).
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) certifications provide the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English as a second language, increase job opportunities, and can lead to a higher salary as they demonstrate completion of a recognised and authentic certification.
It guarantees that you have expertise in teaching methodologies and pedagogy to teach students globally.
Our PgCTL course is the most convenient way to become eligible to teach abroad and gain high-demand pedagogical skills within just ten months. Simply book a mentoring session and talk to your mentor to gain more insights.
Language proficiency certifications like IELTS and TOEFL assess your English language proficiency and command over the language to effectively teach, communicate with, and instruct non-native English speakers.
To apply for IELTS or TOEFL, visit the official websites of the respective exams to register online. Choose a test date, pay the fee, and receive confirmation. On the test day, arrive with the required identification documents, complete the exam, and check your result online.
The experience requirement can differ based on the country you're applying to. However, having relevant experience opens up better opportunities and higher pay scales and showcases your practical teaching expertise.
Here are some ways to gain experience:
The following step involves researching various available job opportunities, ensuring their authenticity, and aligning them with your teaching preferences. Considering important factors before applying and committing to a teaching English abroad position is crucial.
When considering teaching English abroad, there are different types of jobs available that match your preferences and qualifications, such as:
It's important to rely on reliable sources and be thorough in your research to ensure a safe and legitimate teaching experience abroad. Few key factors to consider are:
Finally, make sure to research carefully and use authentic and trustworthy channels to find opportunities. There are several sources available for finding job openings to teach English abroad. Consider the following options:
The next step is to prepare for the application process to ensure you present yourself as a qualified, competent, and prepared candidate.
To begin with your job application, the first essential thing is a well-crafted resume, cover letter, teaching demo or references. Then, you need a set of crucial questions to remember for the interview process.
Related Resource: Get answers to these questions and more important interview questions for teaching interviews by simply signing up to watch our free masterclass now!
Finally, let's talk about the practical aspects of teaching English abroad, which include important tasks like getting a visa, finding a place to live, and dealing with culture shock. Let's go through a few of them:
Lastly, potential challenges of culture shock while teaching abroad include language barriers, unfamiliar customs and traditions, homesickness, and isolation.
You can easily overcome them by connecting with a community of ex-pats or locals, seeking out local language classes, engaging in cultural activities, maintaining contact with loved ones back home, and being open-minded and adaptable to new experiences.
We have discussed all the important points so far, and now it's time to summarise the key steps:
Teaching abroad offers a transformative experience that expands horizons, enhances intercultural competence, and builds lasting connections.
Now it's time to make a decision. Although it may not be easy, following the steps we've covered will make your journey easier. Take the time to review everything carefully and turn your passion for teaching English abroad into an exciting career filled with cultural immersion and personal growth.
It's time to take action, step out of your comfort zone, and pursue your dreams today by booking a mentoring session with your expert. The world eagerly awaits passionate and dedicated teachers like you. Begin your journey now.
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