| Do you like to travel? Would you like to spend time in | | | | you should have a good command of English. When I |
| a foreign country, have your airfare paid and make | | | | started teaching, even as a native English speaker, I |
| money while you are there? | | | | found I had to revisit what I had been taught many |
| What a concept that is, huh? Pick a country...explore | | | | years before. There is a learning curve but it is a case |
| it...and earn a salary at the same time. Well, folks, you | | | | of remembering and demonstrating. Never taught |
| can do it easily. Here's how. Schools around the world | | | | before but game to give it a go? Don't worry! There is |
| are in desperate need of people to teach English to | | | | a vast number of books available to help you. If |
| their students. Many, many people have discovered | | | | traveling overseas and getting paid appeals to you, the |
| that teaching is a great way to see a different part of | | | | next question is: How do I make it happen? |
| the world, experience a new culture, learn a language | | | | If you have a degree, no problem. Key "TESOL |
| you never even knew existed and perhaps even | | | | certificate" into Yahoo or Google search engines. Then |
| meet the love of your life - as I did! | | | | be prepared to go through many school promos |
| What do you need to make this happen? | | | | offering the course from $300 to $1500. You can do it |
| ONE - A bachelor's degree in any discipline is a good | | | | in a classroom or by e-learning (online). Then search |
| start. (If you don't have a degree, don't give up. Keep | | | | for "ESL jobs". Again, you will be faced with an |
| reading!). | | | | exhaustive number to research and choose from. |
| TWO - A certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to | | | | Some will be agents for schools; others may be the |
| Speakers of Other Languages). More and more | | | | schools themselves. Check out those of interest. |
| schools are asking for this qualification. After all, they | | | | There are some countries where you are able to |
| want to know that you have had some training in | | | | teach without having a degree. It is the law of supply |
| teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Having | | | | and demand. If there is a need for teachers but not |
| a TESOL qualification will open more doors to better | | | | enough teachers available with the qualifications the |
| paying jobs so if you would like to do some traveling | | | | school would prefer, they will look for the next best |
| and teach, this is an easy and very worthwhile | | | | option - a native English speaker, or someone with |
| certificate to earn and you can do it in a month or two | | | | very good English skills, without a degree but who has |
| depending on your schedule. | | | | a TESOL certificate. Read another of my articles |
| THREE - Enthusiasm. There are millions of students | | | | "How to Teach Overseas Without a Degree". |
| around the world who want to learn English. In most | | | | However, I strongly recommend that you plan to |
| overseas schools, English is a part of the curriculum. In | | | | complete your degree at some time. Some colleges |
| almost every city and town there are usually one or | | | | and universities offer credit for other courses you |
| more language schools featuring English grammar, | | | | have taken as well as for business and life |
| conversation, writing, and business English. Most are | | | | experiences. And e-learning is a great way to fit |
| looking for teachers. | | | | earning a degree, and paying for it, into your own |
| Several factors have contributed to the huge need for | | | | schedule. A degree, a TESOL experience, and some |
| English teachers. The Internet has opened the world to | | | | teaching experience are all you need to teach your |
| everyone with a computer (this includes almost every | | | | way around the world if that is what you want to do. |
| school in the world!); the opening of China to world | | | | I don't think there is a better way to travel and get paid |
| markets; the fall of the Soviet Union and opening of | | | | for it than to teach. Apart from your own personal |
| Eastern European countries. You can see how these | | | | experiences, you will make a difference and help |
| have created the need. | | | | hundreds, perhaps thousands of students to learn to |
| If you don't have a degree but are truly interested in | | | | communicate in English. |
| teaching, you still can. There are countries who will | | | | Ask me for my free e-book "Introduction to Teaching |
| accept you as a teacher if you at least have a | | | | Overseas". |
| TESOL certificate. Oh, and it goes without saying that | | | | |