Article - Teaching English Abroad
What would you say if I told you that for 15 months we travelled extensively through China and South East Asia and returned home with more money than we started with? Yup, teaching English abroad is becoming a well established way to see the world regardless of whether your bank balance is on your side or not. It is also a fantastic way to get some genuine life experiences whilst showing future employers that you are far more than just a lazy hippy.
That said, organising such a trip is no easy feat and it takes considerable time to find a school, negotiate contracts and arrange the necessary visas. However, if you manage to pull it off, you’re going to have the adventure of a lifetime.
Initial Research
The key to getting an overseas teaching position is research, research and more research. There is a vast amount of information available online and I strongly recommend that you start with Dave’s ESL Café, the bible of teaching abroad. Here you will find forums, advice, teaching adverts and, above all else, a large community of experienced English Teachers.
Choosing a country
Deciding where to teach is a big decision. Remember, this is not a quick vacation, your going to be spending the best part of a year living in this country so it’s important that you make your choice carefully. All countries have their pros and cons and this is why your initial research is so important. If you are planning on pursuing a long-term career as a foreign teacher, you may wish to focus on the better paying countries. By contrast, those looking for a gap year may not be that concerned with money at all. It really is a personal choice and peoples’ motivations vary wildly.
Are you qualified?
The qualifications and experience you need to teach abroad differs from country to country, school to school. Generally speaking, you will need a degree or/and a TEFL / TESOL certificate, although many individuals manage to teach without any qualifications at all. You see, the extent to which you will have to prove your qualifications depends on the location. Naturally, the higher paying jobs in the more prosperous countries will take the recruitment process more seriously than their poorer and less popular counterparts. Again, Dave’s ESL Café has the most up-to-date information.
But I can’t speak the local language!
Fear not, because you are not expected to do so. Most English Teachers actually only teach ‘oral English, that is, the spoken word. The purpose of these lessons is to immerse the students in a foreign language in a more natural way. You have to remember that there are millions of kids across the world learning English but most have never had any real reason to use it. Your purpose is to make the language less abstract. If a school is employing a foreign teacher, chances are the students have already mastered the basics and are, at the very least, able to understand simple conversations or concepts. In cases where the ability of the students is not sufficient, schools will normally give you an assistant to help translate.
Am I up to it?
This is an important question that many people, worryingly, fail to ask themselves. You are going to be immersed in an entirely new culture, possibly alone, and thousands of miles away from your friends and family. In addition, you will be expected to work and adapt to this new environment from the outset and, quite rightly, your employer is not going to be too sympathetic to your homesickness.
Importantly, remember you are going to be teaching and, as such, you have a responsibility to your pupils. It might be a gap year for you, but you still need to respect their education and be willing to put your heart and soul into your job. Far too many people abuse the situation and embarrass both themselves and others within the profession.
Arrange a placement independently or through an agent
Unless you are already in the country where you wish to work and can physically approach schools, you will most likely find a position through an agent. Most schools don’t advertise jobs themselves, instead choosing to pay an agent to do the dirty work. Predictably, there are advantages and disadvantages to this practice…
Firstly, whilst often friendly and helpful, agents are running a business and it is in their interest to fill positions, regardless of how crummy the job is. Take what they say with a pinch of salt and ALWAYS research the school they are trying to place you at.
Whilst most agents are legitimate, there are others out to scam the less experienced job hunters. Agents should (generally) never ask for money so, if yours starts asking for the green stuff, run for the hills.
Schools, language schools and universities
Whilst I’ve been throwing the word ‘school’ around a lot, there are other places where you can teach English. For a more detailed understanding of how these institutes differ, check out Dave’s ESL Café.
Don’t put all those eggs in one basket
Though it might not sound very loyal, it’s best to keep your options open right until the last moment. As we experienced first-hand, contracts can and do collapse, and don’t go thinking your chosen school will be faithful if they were to get a better offer – because they won’t.
Get the right visa
The type of visa you need will depend on the country you plan to teach in. Generally speaking you will need to acquire a working visa and a residency permit. Your school / agent should be able to advise you of the correct procedure, although confirm this through research to ensure you don’t encounter any nasty surprises later on. Importantly, never allow your school to “look after” your passport. “Look after” in this context often means “hold you hostage” as, without your passport, you cannot leave if things turn ugly.
So what’s in it for me?
Aside from the sense of satisfaction teaching provides!!? Okay… yes, there are certain bonuses to teaching and, though they vary depending on your contract, you can normally get:
To conclude…
You could easily fill a number of books if I tried to cover everything there is to know about teaching abroad and, for the sake of my wrists, I will not attempt to do this. However, I hope this had provided a nice overview for those interested in venturing overseas as a teacher and I would, once again, strongly recommend visiting Dave’s ESL Café for more information.
You’re lucky being born an English speaker!