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Teach English Abroad! Here is Everything You Should Know!

By Marcel,

After graduating in Industrial Engineering in 2007, from day one, Marcel has been working as a freelance writer, digital marketer, and business trainer. He’s very much into foreign cultures and learning languages and enjoys leaving his office for backpacking and hiking trips in the countryside. Together with his team, he blogs about teaching English as a foreign language on Blog – jimmyesl.com

Nowadays, everyone is looking for new ways to earn. While working hard used to be the way to success, I believe in working smart and fulfilling your dreams. If you’ve come across this article, the chances are that you already have a firm grip on the language and are looking for job opportunities abroad.

While this area did originate as a result of globalization and colonialism in the previous ages, it has now become a necessity. The English language has gained international recognition and is used in many countries we might not even know about.

Why Teach English Abroad?

The first question that comes to mind is, why teach English at all? There are plenty of other job opportunities, why not go for them? Teaching is not only a great way to combine work and travel, but teaching abroad also helps you learn more about different cultures. You get to experience the place in its full essence.

Experiencing different cultures also changes your perspective on how people live in different regions. Language is a major barrier when it comes to cross-cultural communication. Once you start teaching English in foreign countries, you will find it much easier to blend in with the new people.

If you cannot make enough money with your day job, you can always tutor students in the evening. It is also a great way to socialize and make acquaintances at a place where the language barrier can keep you from settling down.

Some Major Points You Need To Know Before Starting Your Teaching English Abroad Job

The fact that English language is becoming an everyday necessity to prosper in life says a lot. It means that those who have a grip on the language have ample jobs all around the world; all you need is to know where to look for them. Some people think the ESL jobs come with high requirements that we won’t be able to meet and don’t look into it further.

However, there are only three requirements you need to fulfill in order to be eligible for such a job. You need to be a native speaker, a bachelor’s degree and a certificate stating that you can teach English as a foreign language. These are the three main requirements that you need to meet in order to be eligible.

Once you know that you’re eligible for the teach English abroad programs, you then need to start applying to different schools and organizations. Rather than going through agents, I have found it best to contact prospective countries and schools on your own. Here mentioned below are a few questions that I had on my mind before I started my research journey regarding the matter.

What is ESL?
Why do you need it?
What is TEFL?
How long does this certification last?
Where do I find basic information to apply?
Is experience required?
Is being a native speaker necessary?
What am I signing up for if I go?
What should I be ready to face?
How much money can I make abroad?

How to Become a Good English Teacher?

If you want to teach the English language anywhere, you should go for ESL. The main goal of ESL teachers is to teach their students and improve their level of English comprehension and writing skills. The term English as a Second Language is used to refer to the study of this language by people whose first language is not English.

ESL is a great course for non-native speakers who want to learn a language in a short span of time. Some of the major focuses of ESL teachers are conversational English, comprehension, grammar, reading, writing, and vocabulary.

However, before you teach non-native speakers, you must take the TEFL course. TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a kind of prerequisite for anyone who wishes teach English abroad programs. Even if you think you know the language, you should still take the course to make sure you are on the right track. It will help you learn the correct teaching methodologies and how to approach them.

Having experience is not very necessary in this field if you have the necessary skills. There are many teachers that get into this field without any prior experience, but they quickly learn to follow their instincts. However, taking courses such as TEFL can improve your teaching skills. You will also learn certain strategies that will help you in this field.

Another frequently asked question is whether the teacher requires to be a native speaker or not for English language teaching jobs abroad. The truth is, your ethnicity doesn’t matter when it comes to your language skills. There are plenty of native speakers whose English speaking abilities are not good. For such people, being a native speaker is not going to help.

On the other hand, there are such people who can speak and understand English better than many. At the end of the day, your skills will determine whether you’re good for the job or not. Here is an overview of job opportunities in various countries around the world. You can find the scope of language teaching in these regions and how the job can be beneficial.

South Korea

English teachers are so high in demand in South Korea that both private and public schools would not only pay you a solid salary, they will cover your flight expenses and pay for your apartment as well. You get free health insurance, and you can get up to 2 to 4 weeks of paid vacation in a year.

Moreover, they will also compensate you for pre-class prep time. That means if you spend 22 hours a week teaching, you could get paid for 40 hours of work. You can get paid up to 2000 dollars a month plus a bonus month upon the completion of your teach English abroad program.

In the center of a technologically advanced country, you can live in some of the most dynamic cities like Busan and Seoul. Seoul is a lively and spirited city, with a lot of great food, and it is also a great place to base yourself for more exploration of Asia during your time off.

The only downside is that it is very difficult to get integrated into Korean culture unless you speak the language, which is not very easy to learn. All things considered South Korean can be one of the best places to live and teach English.

Brazil

Brazilians love foreigners and are always happy to do a language exchange. Unfortunately, there are no teachEnglish abroad jobs in Brazilin public schools, which mean you’ll have to look for a job in a private school or private tutoring might also be a good option. It can be a difficult way to earn money in big cities like Rio or saint Paulo.

Plus, getting a Brazilian visa is a legal nightmare. Some people get a multi-entry tourist visa which allows you to visit Brazil for up to ninety days at a time over five years. This isn’t a very good solution, but a lot of people do this.

After the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, the demand for English speaking teachers skyrocketed in Brazil, besides you could wander around the tropical rainforest, lounge on the beach, enjoy some authentic cuisine or learn to dance the samba.

Vietnam

Decent salaries plus a low cost of living makes Vietnam an ideal place to live and teach English abroad. As long as you have a degree, a TEFL certificate and you are a citizen of a native English speaking country, your options for teaching, especially in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are endless.

There are a number of international schools that pay extremely well and will usually cover your airfare and your accommodation as well. To top it all off, the work environment is much more laid back and relaxed than South Korea or China. You’re expected to work 15 to 25 hours a week, and with the low cost of living, you can pocket most of your paycheck.

It’s a country on the rise and has a lot to offer for travelers and teachers alike. It has great food, stunning natural scenery, and it’s a great location to explore Southeast Asia. Vietnam has a huge demand for English teachers. Thousands of teachers go to Vietnam to jointeach English abroad programsevery year, still there is a demand for more.

For a country on the rise, it is very important to make English mainstream among the masses, so they can attract more tourists and businesses from across the borders.

China

In China, you will get to enjoy the spectacular skylines of Shanghai and ride on the bullet trains. When it comes to an amalgam of ancient and modern, China is the best place to explore that. In China, around 300 million Chinese take English language classes every year. China is also one of the largest job markets in the world when it comes to teaching English abroad.

You can make enough money and save up to a thousand dollars a month or more. It depends on your expenses. Another benefit for English teachers in China is that most of them receive free housing, making it one of the best countries to teach English abroad. Shanghai is one of the most modern and fast-paced cities with amazing shopping malls, exciting nightlife, fantastic cuisine and modern public transportation.

Poland

Like many other countries, Poland also has a lucrative market for English teaching. Native English speakers can easily find a job in Poland. The major cities will even sponsor work visas for Americans and qualified non-European union citizen. This job might not pay the highest wages, but it promises a comfortable life as it has a very relaxed work environment.

For Poland teach English abroad programs, you can get paid around 600 to 1000 dollars a month, and you are required to work around 22 to 30 hours a week which means, you have a lot of spare time on hand to roam around and travel the country and its sites.The country is known for its rich architecture, and it has famous churches and museums like JasnaGóra and Museum World of Illusion.

The people of Poland are very hospitable, and they welcome foreigners with open arms. Moreover, Poland is known for its distinctive and delicious food such as cucumbers pickled in a salty brine, pierogi and curd.

UAE

If you are looking to teach abroad and get paid 2500 to 4000 dollars a month, UAE is the best place for you. UAE is populated with people from all around the world; so, English has become the main language in the country.

In order to join teach English abroad programs, all you need is some teaching experience and a TEFL certificate. Initially, everything might seem a bit expensive, but once you get a job, you can expect free housing or even subsidized housing for teachers. And in a country as small as UAE, it is easy to land a job in big cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

You can easily afford a glamorous lifestyle in huge, cosmopolitan cities of UAE. The best part about working in the UAE is that your salary is tax-free. Given most of your expenses are covered by your employer, and you don’t have to pay any taxes, you can actually save up a healthy amount of money for the future. So, the UAE is one of the best countries to teach English in.

If you’ve gone through the above-mentioned article, you now know where your prospects lie; all you have to do is take the first step. Know that you can benefit from such jobs a great deal and make a difference in someone else’s life.

As our own language comes naturally to us, many people around the world struggle with it and helping them will, in return, benefit you. If you’re eligible for the English language teaching jobs abroad and you think you need to get out of this part of the world where everything is becoming too fast to keep up with, this might be the option you’ve been looking for.

Teach English Abroad! Here is Everything You Should Know!

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