| Teaching English is not an easy vocation, but it has | | | | the way to working professionals. As mentioned |
| seen a huge surge in popularity over the last decade | | | | above, the best-paid areas for English teachers are |
| as it becomes increasingly important in the international | | | | the Middle East and parts of Asia. Benefits in these |
| business sector. Since English is the language of | | | | areas usually include, free housing, reimbursed |
| international business, many countries want their | | | | round-trip airfare, covered or 50% of medical |
| children to learn the language at an early age. This | | | | insurance, and salaries ranging from $24,000 to |
| demand for English instruction has led to a huge | | | | $36,000. |
| demand for native English speakers in foreign | | | | It is important to keep in mind that these jobs are often |
| classrooms. Teachers can now find jobs in South | | | | challenging and should not be viewed as an easy |
| America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There are excellent | | | | paycheck. Language barriers and lack of teaching |
| opportunities for good money in Asia and the Middle | | | | materials are common complaints, and disinterested |
| East, and it has become very popular during the | | | | students can plague teaching younger classes. Lesson |
| financial crisis as a convenient way to pay back debts | | | | planning and office hours can add work time beyond |
| such as school loans and consumer credit cards. | | | | just being in the classroom, so it is important to take |
| Most foreign schools require that their English teachers | | | | the drawbacks into consideration before deciding to |
| have some form of certification, usually in the form of | | | | teach in a foreign country, because contracts are |
| a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults | | | | often ironclad for one year. I am not discouraging |
| (CELTA) or Teach English as a Foreign Language | | | | prospective teachers from trying their hand at it, just |
| (TEFL) certification. Courses for both certifications | | | | laying out the facts so that informed decisions can be |
| utilize a combination of in-class instruction and online | | | | made. |
| resources, and some TEFL classes can be taken | | | | To get a feel for what teaching in a foreign country is |
| entirely online. The cost of classes varies by company, | | | | like, Dave's ESL Café is the best website on |
| but most that combine in-class and online portions | | | | the Internet. Formed a lifelong ESL teacher, its forums |
| range from $1000-1200 USD. These certifications are | | | | are full of teachers from all over, and they can tell you |
| accepted worldwide, and in some cases demand is so | | | | exactly how things are where you are considering |
| high only a college degree is required, no matter what | | | | teaching. Recruiters and schools can sometimes paint |
| subject. | | | | an overly rosy picture of the teaching situation, so it is |
| In most countries teachers have a lot of control as to | | | | good to have an objective view from the ground. |
| what level they will be teaching to, be it kindergarten all | | | | |