Teaching English Overseas
The prospect of Teaching English overseas can be very exciting, however, many people who consider it find they face a sea of information they have to wade through to get to the essential stuff that will get them on the road to what is possibly one of the greatest adventures a person can have in their life. Here’s a practical approach, based on experience, which can make it all a lot easier. Many people start with a host of questions they want answers to, here are some examples:
These are just some of the common questions that often run through the minds of people considering teaching English overseas when they begin to do some research into the subject. At first glance it might seem a little daunting – but it’s not really. A lot depends on your own personality and character. I myself got into teaching completely by accident - I was already overseas – but that’s another post for another day.
If you answer those two questions, then you’re well on your way to teaching English overseas – the rest is simply doing what’s necessary to make it happen.
Quite simply, there’s no one hat that fits all – and that’s one of the great things about teaching English overseas – you’ll meet a much broader group of people than you would normally in almost any other working environment.
Being aware of your own personality and having your reasons for going overseas clear in your own mind can make the other steps of the process much easier.
At other levels of the teaching English industry, and it is an industry, having higher level qualifications is essential to be involved in research programs or becoming a teacher trainer, director of studies or moving into management, just as you’d expect in any kind of business structure. But we’re dealing with the initial steps of getting that first teaching English job overseas – so what really counts is – having an appropriate qualification, a positive outlook and a very open mind.
Many of the best teachers I have known, who dedicated many years in the classroom and had a wealth of practical knowledge and experience gleaned from various teaching scenarios in different countries were by no means ‘academic’ people. They had learned to teach English by doing and observing and practicing their craft over time.
Some countries are more popular than others; that means more competition. Some schools or institutions are more exclusive than others; that means higher standards. Some countries have very strict regulations about foreigners working there; visa requirements may be tied to teaching qualifications, and so on.
In a nutshell, the more formal the education environment is the more formal the recruiting process and qualifications, etc.
Unfortunately there is no similar correlation which applies to salaries. This can vary dramatically from country to country and I’ve known teachers earn more from simply teaching private conversation classes in one country than other highly qualified teachers working in state schools in other countries.
Each of these scenarios offers some advantages and disadvantages, many of which will be country dependent, but things to consider are:
Teaching adults is generally easier than teaching children or teenagers – simply because they have chosen to be in the classroom, and you have no disciplinary problems to deal with – classroom management is much easier.
There is no quick and easy way to find a good teaching English job. However, spend some time reviewing the listings and you’ll soon get an idea of the large players in any region or country and the typical ‘package’ that is on offer. It only takes a few hours to get a flavor of the variety of possible opportunities from small schools to state schools and universities, from private tuition to multinational companies seeking Business English teachers for their executives.
When you see something you like the sound of, check out the requirements in terms of length of commitment, teaching English qualifications, etc. If you like the sound of the job, then you have a starting point.
Assuming that you have neither previous teaching experience nor a teaching degree from college or university, here are some of the most respected and recognized teaching English qualifications/ certifications that you could choose from.
There is no single international accreditation body for such teaching certificates. However, the first three in the list are backed by prestigious educational institutions and the UK government. As a guide, they all offer around 120 hours of theoretical input plus a minimum of 6 hours of live and observed teaching practice. They are available in different modes such as part-time, full-time and some parts, such as the theoretical sections, are even available online. Again, a little online research to see what is available in your area will soon provide you with options.
Is there anything to choose between them? The short answer is no, not really. However, some potential employers, or countries, may have a preference – that is why it pays to check out potential job postings in the country you want to go to before deciding on which qualification you are going to obtain. Certain countries have preferences, often based on previous links or history with possibly the UK or USA typically.
There are higher level teaching qualifications such as DELTA, however, they mostly require at least a CELTA plus three years or so full time teaching experience – maybe something for the future if you decide teaching English is what you want to do as a career.
Once you’ve decided which country, the type of teaching environment you want to work in, and the most appropriate teaching English certificate, the rest is easy.
- Which countries offer the best teaching opportunities?
- How do I become an English teacher?
- How easy is it to find a teaching English job?
- What does TEFL/TESOL/EFL/EAP and all the other terminology mean?
- Will I like living in a foreign country?
- Which are the best employers?
- Should I teach English in my own country before going overseas?
These are just some of the common questions that often run through the minds of people considering teaching English overseas when they begin to do some research into the subject. At first glance it might seem a little daunting – but it’s not really. A lot depends on your own personality and character. I myself got into teaching completely by accident - I was already overseas – but that’s another post for another day.
Keep it simple
As with most things in life, if you’re thinking of teaching English overseas, don’t make it more complicated than it should be. Keep it simple. Ask yourself:- Which country do I fancy living in?
- What kind of teaching English do I think I would like most?
If you answer those two questions, then you’re well on your way to teaching English overseas – the rest is simply doing what’s necessary to make it happen.
Why?
What will help you make good, sound decisions is to analyze your motives or reasons for even considering teaching overseas at this moment in your life. There are no canned answers here, there are so many possible scenarios it’s impossible to cover them all – you as an individual have the answer. In my own time as a teacher, I’ve come across young graduates looking for a taste of tropical paradise and adventure before getting a ‘proper job’, volunteers who are motivated by helping children who otherwise would never have the opportunity to learn English, people who have been made redundant and found it difficult to find a job in their sector quickly, and retirees who fancy a bit of adventure and want to get out and see the world now that their ‘traditional working career’ is over and the family has grown up and left.Quite simply, there’s no one hat that fits all – and that’s one of the great things about teaching English overseas – you’ll meet a much broader group of people than you would normally in almost any other working environment.
How do I get started teaching English overseas?
Know yourself well. This can’t be stressed enough – know if you’re the type to jump into any situation and make the best of it, or if you like to feel comfortable and have a support network. Be honest; ask yourself some simple questions such as:- Why do I really want to go and live abroad?
- Do I want adventure?
- Do I want to learn a language?
- Do I want to help people?
- Is it to escape something?
Being aware of your own personality and having your reasons for going overseas clear in your own mind can make the other steps of the process much easier.
Where can I teach English?
The short answer is, virtually everwhere, including in your own country and online. It really is a global profession if you want it to be.Teaching English Qualifications
Maybe you have a teaching degree from college / university which will be more than sufficient – and then maybe not. The latter is not as problematic as it may seem. Here’s what you need to know. Just like any other sector of the economy, better qualifications get you access to better jobs. However, if you’re a rookie teacher, having a masters degree in teaching English and zero real experience will not impress many potential employers as much as another candidate for the job who has at least 12 months full time teaching experience in a similar environment but only a minimal teaching English qualification.At other levels of the teaching English industry, and it is an industry, having higher level qualifications is essential to be involved in research programs or becoming a teacher trainer, director of studies or moving into management, just as you’d expect in any kind of business structure. But we’re dealing with the initial steps of getting that first teaching English job overseas – so what really counts is – having an appropriate qualification, a positive outlook and a very open mind.
Many of the best teachers I have known, who dedicated many years in the classroom and had a wealth of practical knowledge and experience gleaned from various teaching scenarios in different countries were by no means ‘academic’ people. They had learned to teach English by doing and observing and practicing their craft over time.
Which teaching English course is best?
This is where knowing yourself and what you want will come in useful. The teaching English industry, as in any other, offers opportunities in large multinational organizations, small local operators and everything in between. Certain countries in the world require a college/university degree and a recognized teaching English certification as part of their recruiting process. Others require no more than a recognized teaching qualification. And of course, if you’re a native English speaker there are even some places that will offer you work even without a formal teaching English certificate or qualification.Some countries are more popular than others; that means more competition. Some schools or institutions are more exclusive than others; that means higher standards. Some countries have very strict regulations about foreigners working there; visa requirements may be tied to teaching qualifications, and so on.
Where to start?
Start by choosing which country you’d like to spend time in. It could be either six months, a year or possibly longer, but it’s better to choose a country you think you’ll like and then look for a job there than find a job you like and hope that you like the country. Believe me; it rarely works out in the latter case.What kind of environment do you want to teach English in?
Do you want to work with young children at elementary school level, teenagers in high school, university students or spend your time teaching English to adult learners? Your choice will have a lot to do with how structured the process is and also which qualifications are necessary.In a nutshell, the more formal the education environment is the more formal the recruiting process and qualifications, etc.
Unfortunately there is no similar correlation which applies to salaries. This can vary dramatically from country to country and I’ve known teachers earn more from simply teaching private conversation classes in one country than other highly qualified teachers working in state schools in other countries.
Each of these scenarios offers some advantages and disadvantages, many of which will be country dependent, but things to consider are:
- If you’re very social – adult learners love inviting their ‘foreign teacher’ for outings and suchlike to show them their local culture.
- Do you prefer being a cog in a big machine or part of a small team?
- Do you want to commit to a short term contract or a long term contract?
Teaching adults is generally easier than teaching children or teenagers – simply because they have chosen to be in the classroom, and you have no disciplinary problems to deal with – classroom management is much easier.
Finding a teaching English job
Once you’ve made up your mind where, you’ve already made the job search much easier by discounting anywhere other than your chosen country (or maybe region). That in itself makes the job search easier and quicker. There are a host of websites dedicated to teaching English, with job postings worldwide. Some sites cover the entire world, while others target one particular region or country.There is no quick and easy way to find a good teaching English job. However, spend some time reviewing the listings and you’ll soon get an idea of the large players in any region or country and the typical ‘package’ that is on offer. It only takes a few hours to get a flavor of the variety of possible opportunities from small schools to state schools and universities, from private tuition to multinational companies seeking Business English teachers for their executives.
When you see something you like the sound of, check out the requirements in terms of length of commitment, teaching English qualifications, etc. If you like the sound of the job, then you have a starting point.
Teaching English overseas – certification
So, now you know where and the type of job that interests you. To get a good job, you’re going to need at least a ‘recognized’ teaching English qualification. There are various available but some are more ‘respected’ and ‘recognized’ than others. Indeed, some countries will stipulate a certain certificate or qualifications as a minimum requirement to obtain a work visa for any teaching English job within the country.Assuming that you have neither previous teaching experience nor a teaching degree from college or university, here are some of the most respected and recognized teaching English qualifications/ certifications that you could choose from.
There is no single international accreditation body for such teaching certificates. However, the first three in the list are backed by prestigious educational institutions and the UK government. As a guide, they all offer around 120 hours of theoretical input plus a minimum of 6 hours of live and observed teaching practice. They are available in different modes such as part-time, full-time and some parts, such as the theoretical sections, are even available online. Again, a little online research to see what is available in your area will soon provide you with options.
Is there anything to choose between them? The short answer is no, not really. However, some potential employers, or countries, may have a preference – that is why it pays to check out potential job postings in the country you want to go to before deciding on which qualification you are going to obtain. Certain countries have preferences, often based on previous links or history with possibly the UK or USA typically.
There are higher level teaching qualifications such as DELTA, however, they mostly require at least a CELTA plus three years or so full time teaching experience – maybe something for the future if you decide teaching English is what you want to do as a career.
Is an online teaching English course a good choice?
While many online course may offer good quality theoretical content for study, unless it also provides for interaction with an experienced teacher trainer and observed teaching practice then you will only be getting a part of the overall package which is considered normal. It’s also still generally true that many employers are more than a little suspicious of ‘online’ teaching English qualifications because of the lack of classroom time and there are so many providers offering them. Overall, it’s probably best to stick with one of the well known branded qualifications. It may cost more and take more time – but it’s worth it.Once you’ve decided which country, the type of teaching environment you want to work in, and the most appropriate teaching English certificate, the rest is easy.
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