Teaching English Abroad/Overseas

 

Finding English teaching jobs overseas:

How do I actually get a job teaching overseas?

Jobs are obtained by interviews; you are not “assigned’ any place by TEFL Institute.  You chose to interview with an employer in the country you wish to work.  You and the school will decide if there is a mutually good fit and then proceed with employment.   You can teach English in Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, Middle East.  The job options are endless but they are real jobs with hiring requirements and procedures that are unique to each country.  TEFL Institute is your school for advice to transition from our student to a working teacher abroad.

As a TEFL Institute graduate, you can apply to overseas jobs via the many postings on the ESL job boards, directly contact schools in the country where you wish to work from the international school directory, or ask TEFL Institute to facilitate introductions with schools or recruiters we have relationships with around the world. Most international teaching job searches and interviews are conducted by email and phone calls between the prospective teacher and the hiring school.   There are hundreds of thousands of positions available worldwide.

For summer opportunities, TEFL Institute has programs available in China, Chile and Spain. We also have partner organizations for volunteering in developing countries where volunteers pay for their experience, as the host country is not able to pay for volunteers.

Job placement assistance for TEFL Institute graduates:

Part of TEFL Institute’s service and support is to teach you about the English teaching job market; where to find teaching jobs, interviewing skills and how to determine if the job and country is right for you.  We offer lifetime job placement assistance at no charge as a TEFL Institute graduate.  We provide you with the resources to contact thousands of schools, and we can initiate contact with trusted schools and recruiters around the world.   
 
When you graduate from our professional level TEFL course, you will be 100% prepared to find many options for a good job at reputable schools worldwide. We give you the resources to obtain many job interviews - you will be responsible for being professional and being prepared for that interview. 

TEFL Institute will offer job placement assistance to our graduates in a variety of ways:

 1. ESL job search manual:  All of our graduates receive a manual with instructions on creating your international resume and cover letter, also information about hiring periods, interview questions and listings of international ESL job boards with tens of thousands of posted jobs from around the world. (see table of contents of our placement book below)

 2. ESL worldwide school directory:  We will forward you a directory of approximately 8,000 schools worldwide that you can contact for job openings.  Many positions are not listed on job boards. Having the school’s contact information gives you a jump on the competition.

 3. Referrals to preferred language schools:  TEFL Institute has relationships with schools in Europe, Asia and Latin America.  We will forward you our preferred list of schools that are waiting for our TEFL graduates to contact them.

 4. Job interview assistance for International TEFL course participants:  For the students who take our 4 week TEFL course at an international location, the site director can arrange interviews for jobs during or after the training.  The directors in Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia will provide interview assistance in that country. Paid teaching positions in Africa, India and Nepal are scarce, most students go to these areas to volunteer.

 5. Forwarding your resume to schools and recruiters in selected Asian countries:  The market is so large in China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, we can forward your resume to recruiters and schools we have relationships with.  You will proceed with the interview process via email and phone.

For those countries where you can interview via email and phone calls, the process starts 2-3 months in advance.  In other countries, you need to be there during the hiring season and interview in person. To learn more about the typical hiring procedures of different countries, speak to a TEFL Institute advisor about the different options.

Picking a country to teach in:

Am I sent to a certain country or do I get to choose where I go?

You decide where you want to teach!  With Professional TEFL Certification you can teach around the world; the choice of the country is yours.  You are not assigned a country like with the Peace Corps or the military.  You can work in a different country every year if you wish. Some countries require a 4-year degree and others are open for those who have not completed a degree.  TEFL Institute can give you advice, but it is your choice to interview wherever you wish.

Questions you should consider:

• Do you want to learn a certain language?
• What type of weather and climate are you interested in?
• Do you need to make extra money or savings?
• Do you want a “Western” country or amenities, a developing country
  with a very different exotic experience?
• Do you want to teach children or adults?
• What countries are you eligible to find employment?
• How long do you want to teach?
• Do you need a country where airfare is reimbursed and allows
  low financial start up money?

Qualifications for employment as an English language teacher:

1) College degree? Some college?  No college?

The qualifications required by employers vary widely depending upon the demand and availability of teachers and the work visa requirements in your country of interest. About half of the countries worldwide require a Bachelors degree in any field.   Ask the TEFL Institute for a country chart which lists degree requirements.

As a rule of thumb, most of Latin America, some Eastern European countries, Spain, Russia, Thailand and China do not require a 4-year degree if some of the language schools.

 

2) Citizenship requirements for working in different countries:

Most English teaching jobs are for fluent or native English speakers with citizenship of US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.   There are many jobs for fluent English speakers around the world but those will be on a country by country basis.

 

3) Native or fluency level of English

 

You are hired for your fluency level of spoken English.  Teachers will interview over the phone for many positions so the hiring manager can hear your fluency level. 

If English is not your first language, but want to teach in your home country, this is a common occurrence.  Approximate 80% of all English teachers worldwide are not native English speakers but teach in their own country.

4) TEFL Certification

Language schools will require a TEFL certification for employment.  The international standard is 120 hours of training.  All of the European schools will require 120 hours.  Some schools in Latin America and Asia will accept a shorter TEFL course but the premier schools will require 120 hours.

Interviews for English teaching jobs abroad:

Job interviews are done in 1 of 3 ways:

 1. Advance interviews via email and phone. 

 2. Interviewing in person in the foreign country 

 2. Advance interviews done prior to going abroad

1)  Advance interviews:

After you contact a school abroad, typically the school or recruiter will email you the job opportunity and set up a phone interview.  You will discuss the job/pay/housing/flight details with the school and decide if this is the position for you, as the school will determine if you are a right fit for them.  Any information they need from you, such as, a copy of your passport, letters of reference, transcripts, etc., are your responsibility to obtain and forward to the school.

TEFL Institute is available for advice, but you will make the job decision and follow through with all of the details for employment. You typically need to start the interview process 3 months prior to the start date of the job.  This is common in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Central and Eastern Europe, and some Latin American countries

2)  Interviews abroad:

Many countries will require you to come to their school in-person during the hiring cycle.  Up to 50% of the teachers from last term have left and the schools need to fill positions.  Schools are reluctant to offer a position in advance to later find out a teacher does not show up, leaving 100 paying students without an instructor. 

More schools are interviewing in advance to secure the best teachers but each country has its own customs.  Typical countries for in person interviews are: Western Europe, some schools in Eastern Europe, some Latin American countries and some schools in Vietnam and Thailand.

3)  Interviews in person prior to going abroad:

Interviews in person are common for Japan and necessary for work visas.  These are conducted in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.  A formal interview process, along with video taping a teaching exercise, may be then sent to the hiring committee in Japan for review.

Is there a job contract? Should I sign a contract?

In most cases, you and the schools will agree to a written contract. A contract will simply outline the agreement of pay, work hours, benefits, etc. to make sure there are no misunderstandings about each party ’s responsibilities.  You can research a school in advance by speaking to former teachers. Just remember your experience is individual and just because someone else loves or loathes a school doesn't mean you will share their views.

The TEFL Institute will provide you with a job placement guide to provide you with the qualifying questions you will want to ask your employer to evaluate the merits of the position.   If the job is not for you, simply walk away and find another teaching job elsewhere; it is your choice.

Can I start a job search and interview immediately?

Students can start interviewing with schools immediately after registering if they are in the right hiring season.   (See country chart on typical hiring seasons.)  Phone interviews typically begin 2-3 months prior to the hiring period.  Those who take our online course can start the interview process while in the class if it corresponds with that country’s hiring dates.  If you are taking an international TEFL course, you can do advance interviews with some schools, but they will only offer you the job contingent on showing up with your TEFL certification.

Where will I live while teaching overseas?

When you interview with schools, you will ask about the typical assistance for finding an apartment.  Many new teachers will share an apartment with other English teachers, others often move into the newly vacant apartment of a teacher who just finished his/her contract.  Schools have teachers coming and going every semester and this is the most common thing to help the new teachers with.   Some schools do provide free accommodation either a private or shared apartment, on the school campus, or in a homestay (if in a small town).

How do I actually pack up and move overseas?

TEFL Institute offers pre-enrollment advice and pre-departure support.  We offer manuals on moving, health, safety, packing and traveling overseas for long term employment.  We will offer information on obtaining documentation to move and live overseas. Your new employer abroad will also be a great resource to help you.

If I take the TEFL class do I have to move to another country?

No, you can just take the class for your own knowledge, to volunteer domestically and sometime find part time work and tutoring in private language schools.

Can I take the course now and go overseas in a year or two?

Yes, it is a lifetime certification and you can teach anytime.  Many of our students take our courses 6-12 months in advance of the date they are looking to move.  It’s always good to plan ahead by having a course finished and giving you time to interview, pack and prepare to move.   The choice is yours for where and when you go.

TEFL Institute Job Placement Book Guide Table of Contents  -
(Provided to our graduates)

1.Overview:  Where can I teach? – Page 3

2. Responsibilities of TEFL Institute graduates and TEFL Institute placement department - Page 4

3. TEFL Institute placement assistance guidelines - Page 5

4. Worldwide teaching abroad basics– Page 6
            Salaries
            Definition of terms
            Housing
            Medical insurance
            Start up money
            Passports and visa

5. International salary survey and charts – Page 9

6. Regional information summaries – Page 10
            Asia – Page 10
            Latin America – Page 14
            Europe – Page 16

7. English teaching job search – Page 23

8. Getting prepared for job interviews – Page 24

9. Job search process – Page 26
             Job search journal – Page 29

10. Writing international resumes – Page 33

11.  Getting the interview – Page 38

12.  Interview questions:  typical questions to be prepared for and questions to ask – Page 39

13.  After the interview -  Follow up – Page 44

14.  Getting the contract – Page 45

15.  Preparation for going overseas – Page 46

16.  Country specific goals – Page 48

17.  References  -  books and ESL websites – Page 50

The following is an except from our job placement guide book

Chapter 12 – Interview Questions:

What questions will I be asked in the English teaching job interview?

TEFL interviews, whether by phone or in person, can last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more. Questions can vary considerably, but here are some of the more common types you may be asked. Many of these questions relating to previous teaching may not be relevant if this is your first job, but you could be asked similar questions about the teaching practice from your training course.

Remember that interviewers often look for concrete examples of skills or behaviors.  A question such as “Can you control disruptive students” is less likely than “Tell me about a time where you had a disruptive student or class and how you successfully dealt with the situation”.

The TEFL Job Interview
The 10 Most Important Questions to Ask

If you are a new teacher or even an experienced teacher who hasn’t taught in a foreign setting before, there are certain things you need to know in order to gauge the desirability of a TEFL job.

1. How many teaching hours does the position involve?

2. How many different courses will I be teaching?

At the very least, you’ll spend 30 minutes of preparation time out of class for every hour in class (a 2:1 ratio is probably more likely, especially if you’re a new teacher. Two preps is probably the ideal.

3. How big are the classes?

4. What textbook does the school use?

The important thing isn’t so much which particular book they use but to make sure there is one. You’ll probably end up modifying a lot of textbook lessons and you’ll create a lot of your lessons on your own, but it’s always good to have a textbook to fall back on.

5. What sorts of audio-visual equipment are available?

Having regular access to a good CD and cassette player is essential. Also, ask about video equipment, since you’ll probably want to watch videos from time to time. And see if there’s a computer lab where you can take or send your students for writing projects, interactive CD-ROM activities, or Internet research.

6. What are the resources for teachers?

You will want to know if the school has a library with a good supply of resource books and if there are computers with Internet access available for teachers to use since you’ll want to find materials on the Web. You’ll need to be able to print documents from the computers. Copy machine access is also very important: you’ll create a lot of your own materials that you’ll need to copy for your students.

7. Who are the students and why are they studying English?

Students studying English at high schools or universities are usually doing so to fill a graduation requirement or because it’s useful in their major. But language schools attract people from a variety of backgrounds and age groups with a variety of reasons for studying English. Adult professionals often come to language schools looking for business English instruction or other specialized courses. Also, many language schools cater heavily to children and function largely as an after-school program. If this is the case, keep in mind that kids generally don’t sign up for classes after school of their own accord. Motivation and discipline can be issues when teaching kids.

8. What benefits does the school provide their teachers?

It’s not common but still possible that a school might offer things like medical benefits, paid vacations, and holiday bonuses. Some offer reimbursements for your travel expenses to and from their country. And most schools offer their teachers free classes in the local language and history or fun stuff like cooking and dancing instruction.

9. Does the school provide assistance with housing?

Some schools have apartments for their teachers; if they don’t, see if they can offer you some assistance in finding a place once you get there. Having a native speaker along to help negotiate can save you from getting ripped off by a greedy landlord.  What happens when I arrive at the airport?

10. What are the visa requirements for the job?

If you’re going to teach at a university or a primary or secondary school you’ll likely be required to obtain a legal work visa. Find out what role the employer will do to help you get the visa and if they’ll pay the fees. Do they have a lawyer or university official who handles the paperwork? Immigration officials can be difficult to deal with, especially when there’s a language barrier. Be sure to ask about what you’ll need to bring with you in order to get the visa. Some countries require that you apply for the visa at their embassy in your home country, so obviously you’d need to get that taken care of before leaving.

One final note:

If for some reason the pay for the job wasn’t included in the announcement or if you’re interviewing for an unannounced position, expect it to be brought up by the interviewer. If that doesn’t happen and you feel uncomfortable about bringing it up yourself, try a roundabout approach. Start asking questions about local rents, transportation fees, and food prices. This might cue the interviewer to bring up teacher salaries in relation to these figures

Typical Questions that an employer may ask you in an interview

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your interests outside of work?
• Do you speak any foreign languages?
• Tell me about your experiences learning a foreign language.

Questions about your training

• What was the most important thing you learned in your training?
• Why do you think you were awarded an A/B/Pass grade?
• Have you attended any additional training or seminars recently?

Questions about your current and previous jobs

• Where are you working at the moment?
• What are your responsibilities in your current position?
• What have you learned from this job?
• Tell me about your previous jobs. Why did you leave?
• Why are you looking for a new job?
• Questions about the school and country
• What interests you about this school?
• What do you know about this school?
• Why do you want to live in this country?

Questions about your teaching and experience

• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher?
• How would you introduce the past simple tense to a group of 10 adult students?
• How would you explain “proud”?
• What would you want to know about a group if I told you I needed you to teach it in 30 minutes?
• What ages and levels of students have you taught in the past?
• Have you ever had to teach without materials? How would you feel about this?
• Tell me about your experience teaching children / business English / TOEFL. How would you feel about being asked to teach this type of class?
• What aspects of your teaching have changed with experience?
• How would your approach with a one-to-one student differ to that with a group?
• What course books do you have experience using? What do you think of them?
• Can you think of a time when you’ve successfully dealt with a difficult student or class?
• How would you deal with a class of students of mixed abilities?
• Tell me about a time when you felt rewarded or satisfied by something you did in a classroom.
• Have you used multimedia (video, DVD, CD-ROM) in the classroom?

Questions about your expectations

• Have you lived or traveled abroad before?
• What cultural differences did you find difficult to get used to?
• Working in this country can be frustrating. The photocopier may break and go un-repaired for a week. Have you had to deal with situations like this before? How do you think you’d deal with them?
• We expect our teachers to be flexible and supportive of colleagues and other staff. Can you think of a time when you’ve been flexible or supportive?
• How much support do you expect from a school?
• How do you feel about working split shifts and weekends?
• Do you think it is important for the whole school to be an English speaking environment (not just the classrooms)

Questions about your future

• Where do you want to be in five years?
• How do you see your future in teaching?

There are some things to watch out for though with every job that you apply for:

• Are they willing to offer you a job without speaking to you first? (Unless TEFL Institute vouched for you)
• Are they unprepared to put you in contact with current teachers?
• Are they expecting you to accept a job offer without seeing a contract?
• Are they asking you to send them money? (There should be no reason for this unless you are paying for a recruiter that TEFL Institute recommended)

What questions should I ask the hiring school?

During your TEFL interview, and at any stage before and after, you should be given the opportunity to ask any questions you have.

There are some things which you need to be clear about before signing a contract. If the school works on Saturdays and this is a problem for you, for example, or if you want the possibility of overtime but it is not on offer, you need this information to decide if the position is for you!

Here are some of the questions you may want to ask:

What are the working days and working hours? (do you mind working Saturdays?)

• How many contact teaching hours will I be expected to do? (20 to 25 a week is common with 12-15 hours of lesson planning – 40 contact hours a week can be common in language schools in Japan but typically no prep time needed!)
• Will I be paid overtime if I teach more than this number of hours? (when is it paid and is it compulsory?)
  What non-teaching tasks am I required to do? (administration, creating materials, marking, placement testing of students, after school activities)
• How many days of paid holiday are there? (and does this include public holidays?)
• Is there a probationary period where either party can terminate the contract? (a period of up to 3 months is common where either you or the school can end things)
• What is my salary? When and how is it paid? Am I taxed and what is the %?
• Is there an end of contract bonus? (what are the conditions under which this is paid?)
• Is medical insurance provided? (particularly important in countries which do not have reciprocal agreements with your own)
• Is my flight ticket paid? (and when?)
• Is accommodation provided? (is it shared, how much does it cost, how far is it from the school, does it have a TV/fridge/bed?!)
• Does the school provide local language lessons for teachers?

• How many hours will I be in the classroom per week (exactly)?
• How many hours will I be expected to be on location (office, school) per week?
• Are there any required extracurricular activities? (Many schools host mandatory parties, summer camps, winter camps, etc.)
• What percentage of teachers typically complete their contract? (High turnover is a very bad sign.)
• Have pay checks ever been late (obviously a very bad sign)?
• Are teachers observed? (Many schools constantly observe teachers and create a very tense working environment.)
• Do you have split shifts? How much will I travel each week? (You may “only” be teaching 20 hours per week, but if the first class is at 9 a.m. and the last ends at 9 p.m., it feels like you are working much more.)
• What days will I have off?
• Do you provide any orientation or training? (Beware schools that do not. Will you be thrown into a class, jet-lagged and clueless, two days after you arrive?)
• Can I arrive early in the country prior to the start of the job to get orientated and over jet lag?
• Can I have the email addresses and phone numbers of two of your current teachers and one former teacher? (The more the better, as it gives you a more honest picture of the school.)