Teach English Abroad

As you are probably aware, there has been a definite increase in the demand for English teachers overseas. English has become an international language, used in trade, science, politics, technology and more. Around the world, English is taught everywhere from grade schools, universities and private language schools to companies and businesses. The field is wide open, both for those with experience and those without. While the majority of jobs are in Asia, opportunities to teach elsewhere are certainly available. The "big" markets right now are in Eastern Europe, Turkey, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Japan.

Because of this increase in demand for teachers, there has also been a demand for the qualifications these teachers must possess (see qualifications). Most schools require you to have at least a Bachelor’s degree and more than ever, certificates and degrees in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language are being asked for. However, anyone who can speak English fluently and who has a lively, positive personality still has a reasonable chance of finding an opening as a teacher somewhere.

If you are considering teaching abroad, be it in South America or Southeast Asia, there are several issues to be aware of before you start your job search. With careful analysis and research, you will find yourself prepared to shop the job market and get yourself the best job possible. If you have already decided to teach English abroad, or even if you are simply considering the option, your first step should be to research the different possibilities.

There are good jobs and bad ones, good companies and bad ones, and it is your responsibility to be a consumer and find out which are the good ones. Talk to people who have done what you’re hoping to do. Their firsthand knowledge can be an invaluable resource.

Some good starting points include the following resource materials, available at the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad (MSC 275):

Teaching English Overseas – A Job Guide for Americans and Canadians by Jeff Mohamed
This comprehensive guide includes information and advice on teaching without training, how to conduct a successful job search, dealing with culture shock and much more.

Teaching English Overseas by Susan Griffith
This is a great reference material for those beginning their search. Everything is explained, whether it be visas or culture shock.

The Big Guide to Working and Living Overseas by Jean-Marc Hachey
This book is the ultimate guide for anyone wanting to do anything overseas and includes sections on teaching English abroad, creating an international resume, etc.

Transitions Abroad
This is a bi-monthly magazine that includes articles from all sorts of overseas adventurers. Volunteers at the CISSA have compiled a special binder dealing with articles on teaching English. Ask them to point it out for you.

A few questions you may want to begin to answer are:

Where do I want to teach? Is there a specific world area that I prefer, or is it simply to experience another culture? Am I a big city or rural person?

Why do I want to teach? Is it the salary that I see as a priority? Is it the teaching experience? Do I enjoy teaching? Do I prefer working with children, teenagers or adults?

How does this experience fit into my 5 and 10 year goals? Am I interested in teaching for future professional experience - and if so, would extra qualifications/certifications be beneficial to me?

What are my needs? Is it necessary for me to have a fixed contract beforehand and the signed agreement that an agency can provide? Am I interested in more flexibility and in arriving in-country to "shop around" for the right school for me?

Choosing Where to Go

In narrowing down your geographical preference, keep in mind a few general rules of thumb:

• In the majority of schools, it is not necessary that you have knowledge of the host country's language. In order to teach your students to use the language, schools often prefer that you use an “English Only” method in the classroom. Of course, learning a few phrases of the host language will certainly come in handy outside the classroom.
• The "big" markets are Eastern Europe, Turkey, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Japan Asia offers the most opportunities for teachers of English, with or without qualifications. Eastern Europe is looking for teachers but by North American standards, the pay is low. Demand is highest in Hungary, Poland and the Czech and Slovak Republics. Highly qualified teachers are definitely given preference and expect loads of red tape.
• In Western Europe, getting a working visa is tough. The British and Irish are given preference as they have access through the common market. The jobs tend to be market oriented and your best bets are Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Private schools will still hire unqualified teachers and private tutoring is in demand.
• If you are interested in teaching in Latin America, expect to work in private schools. Your best bets are Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru and Venezuela.
• Much work in Africa is done through volunteer organizations like World Teach and New World Teachers Try these sites for some travel info about countries around the world: World Travel Guide and Lonely Planet

Qualifications

When your job search begins and you start to answer advertisements and job postings, you should be aware of how your personal qualifications will be measured. Bachelor's degrees are recognized as a nearly universal "measurement" of qualification and are now almost a pre-requisite to teach. In most cases, English need not be the recognized major of your degree. Any Bachelor's degree will increase the salary that you will be offered and it will increase your likelihood of being hired by a reputable school. In some countries, obtaining a work visa in order to teach may not be possible without a Bachelor's degree. Some schools may require Master's level education with an ESL specialization. And more than ever, certification to teach English as well as formal or informal teaching experience increases your chances of finding a good job.

Depending on where you go, however, you might be able to find a job on the basis of being a native speaker of English, even with no academic or teaching qualifications. As in any job situation, a positive attitude, research into the company and demonstrated characteristics of adaptability and humor are tremendous assets that may offset the absence of a degree or certification. In general, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand are the easiest countries in which to find employment without certification.

Certification

Certification is highly recommended for those interested in pursuing a career in teaching English as a second/foreign language. Certification can increase your chances of finding a job and result in a higher salary. Obviously, higher quality schools will hire higher quality teachers. If you view the experience as a potential career move, (either in-country, or when you return to Canada) you would be wise to invest in certification of some sort.

Certification can be costly, however, and because its focus is often on lesson preparation and grammar, it is not always entirely practical for those simply interested in teaching conversational English during their sojourn abroad. There are still many employers who recruit teachers with no formal certification or training. If your priority is to pick up some extra money while living in Korea, perhaps your best bet is to find employment in a small private school whose requirements for teaching experience are less demanding.

Some common acronyms:

ESL is English as a Second Language — TESL is Teaching English as a Second Language. This is a term that refers to teaching that is offered to non-native English speakers IN an English-speaking country. For example, there are ESL courses for recent immigrants offered in Calgary at Immigrant Aid societies.

EFL is English as a Foreign Language — TEFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or teaching non-native English speakers OUTSIDE of an English-speaking country, For example, teaching English in Turkey. This acronym is known under similar variations that essentially indicate the same thing: TEFLA (Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults) CTEFLA (Certificate of...), DTEFLA (Diploma of...)

TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) is the British version of TEFL.

ELT stands for English Language Teaching/Training and is used internationally.

TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language — an exam administered worldwide to international students applying to institutions of higher education in many English-speaking countries.

As there is no effective regulation of certification programs, they vary enormously in terms of quality and of recognition by employers. Be a consumer. Realize that there are many agencies that offer certification. It is your job to research and educate yourself as to which are good and which are a waste of money. Courses can vary from 2 days to 2 years. The best employers ask for certification that includes at least 100 hours of training and a minimum of 6 hours of supervised practice teaching. Several 4-week intensive programs meet these requirements. Courses that are less than 100 hours or that do not include practice teaching can still help you find a job or, at the very least, feel more confident in your job. In general, you can expect certification to be fairly costly.

*Tip*
Ask the agency if you may contact past participants of the course. This is wise for two reasons. One, you will be able to get a first hand account of the program. Two, their cooperation or lack thereof may be indicative of the quality of the agency.