| First some context about the TEFL/ESL/TESOL | | | | your preferred destination and conduct the job search |
| labour market to think about. The market for English | | | | on the ground. This is beneficial for several reasons. |
| language learning in the world is booming. Compare the | | | | Firstly, you can apply to a range of employers and |
| world now with that of twenty years ago. Communism | | | | cherry pick the best deal. Secondly, you can negotiate |
| in Russia and Eastern Europe is in its death throes, | | | | yourself better terms and conditions by being instantly |
| China is beginning the transition to capitalism, South | | | | available. Thirdly, you can suss out the place and |
| America is emerging from a decade of turmoil and | | | | language schools to get an idea of whether you'll really |
| dictatorship, the EEC is deciding to become the | | | | like it there. Forthly, you can scan the market for |
| European Union, the Internet and email is in its infancy, | | | | private students to see how lucrative it is. If you are |
| but expanding rapidly. All these global changes since | | | | afraid of travelling far because of the risk, consider this; |
| then have unleashed the force of English as a global | | | | most money making requires risk (stocks, shares, |
| language and it is vital to understand that there are | | | | property etc). This is no different. |
| billions of dollars spent on learning it every year. It's time | | | | 4. Choose a Language School Very Carefully |
| to bring some of those dollars your way. | | | | Do not be desperate and go running to large corporate |
| Yet why when there are billions of dollars spent on | | | | language chains such as English First, International |
| English learning every year, do jobs still advertise only | | | | House, Language Link etc. Such schools offer meagre |
| a thousand US dollar salaries a month? Well, | | | | salaries relative to other local professions. How many |
| unfortunately the labour market for TEFL/ESL/TESOL | | | | times do you see big TEFL/ESL schools advertise |
| attracts people from Western countries who, because | | | | salaries online? They don't because they are so low. |
| of their desire to live abroad, are happy to live on | | | | They have a high turnover of staff, and prefer |
| nothing. The economic reality is that wages in TEFL | | | | teachers with no/little experience so salaries are kept |
| ESL/TESOL are dragged down as a result. The | | | | at a minimum. Rather than surviving through academic |
| secret to high TEFL/ESL salaries are knowing the local | | | | quality, they choose to cash in on their logo/brand |
| English learning labour market. Just follow these eight | | | | perceptions. Instead, scan the local TEFL/ESL market |
| techniques to land yourself a lucrative, highly paid job | | | | very carefully so you understand how it works and |
| teaching English. | | | | how you can make it work in your favour. While the |
| 1. Get Qualified | | | | big chains seem dominant, there are usually a myriad |
| In the supply of and demand for English teachers, | | | | of smaller, better-run, more professional outfits that are |
| teaching qualifications are becoming the rule, not the | | | | looking for teachers. Often, they recruit locally from the |
| exception. To stand a chance of getting a job, let | | | | expat community, hence their lack of presence online. |
| alone a high salary, you have to invest the time and | | | | 5. Get your own clique of private students |
| money into getting qualified. Entry level TEFL/ESL | | | | Once you have established yourself in a private |
| qualifications comprise essentially of the Cambridge | | | | language school in your country of choice, make an |
| CELTA/CertTESOL. These are month-long training | | | | effort to get a few private students every week. |
| courses that cost around $1500-2000. By 2009, it is | | | | Depending on the local supply and demand of |
| clear that the CELTA is becoming the industry norm. | | | | teachers, you can charge what you want. Private |
| This course is worthy of investing in, not only because | | | | student rates are nearly always significantly higher |
| it will teach you how to teach, but employers now | | | | than school rates. If you are quality, word of mouth |
| expect it. | | | | often spreads very quickly, and you may have more |
| To get a salary raise from CELTA/CertTESOL aim to | | | | privates on your hands than you can handle. Keep the |
| achieve the top grade the course can offer. In CELTA | | | | most profitable ones and expend with unreliable, poorly |
| this is a pass B, followed by a pass A, while the | | | | paying ones. You don't always have to be |
| CertTESOL does not officially award grades. | | | | well-established in a local school. If you have just |
| Achieving above a simple pass shows you're a | | | | arrived somewhere, simply get out there and |
| competent teacher and you are dedicated to the | | | | advertise. |
| profession. This may be reflected in a company's pay | | | | To make the most out of private students, consider |
| scales or can be used by you to negotiate a higher | | | | running them as micro-classes with two to three |
| salary. Therefore it is vital to take these training | | | | students present. Not only will this be more interesting |
| courses seriously and prepare comprehensively for | | | | for you as the teacher, you can grade the prices so |
| them. | | | | each student pays less individually, but as a whole |
| Do not even consider doing an online or distance | | | | contribute more than a single student. Also, consider |
| teaching course. These are a poor investment of your | | | | teaching private in-company classes as they can be |
| money and are run by unscrupulous organisations | | | | much better paying. Approach companies with your |
| keen to manipulate people's fears of investing a lot of | | | | credentials and offer to teach them in their lunch break |
| money in an expensive course like CELTA | | | | for several weeks. Make (achievable) promises to |
| CertTESOL. But why throw $500-1000 at a course | | | | whoever is organising in-company English classes, so |
| that no school will recognise, let a lone give you | | | | they can see how effective you are as a teacher. |
| pay-related credit for? For CELTA/CertTESOL | | | | 6. Be Entrepreneurial |
| qualified teachers, consider raising your salary through | | | | Do not think of your job being your sole source of |
| further qualifications. Once you have gained two years | | | | revenue. Branch out so you have other means of |
| experience consider investing in the next level diplomas | | | | bringing home money through TEFL/ESL. You have |
| - these are the Cambridge DELTA/DipTESOL | | | | probably already made quite a few classroom |
| respectively. While both courses require an even larger | | | | handouts. Make them look professional and approach |
| investment in terms of course costs, you will be | | | | the big three publishers; Pearson Longman, Oxford |
| rewarded by being eligible for promotion to a role such | | | | University Press and Cambridge University Press. |
| as DOS/ADOS, with comprehensive pay benefits. | | | | Even if they decline your ideas they may want you to |
| 2. Choose Your Country Wisely | | | | do other lucrative work for them. Alternatively, if |
| Study the market for English learning very carefully. | | | | publishers are not your thing, consider selling your |
| While the sound of a brilliant-white sandy beach close | | | | handouts online. Everywhere teachers need resources |
| to a school in Thailand does sound tempting, be aware | | | | and the online market for TEFL/ESL supplementary |
| that it is also tempting for thousands of other people | | | | handouts is in its infancy. |
| and this will be reflected in a low salary. Consider the | | | | 7. Get Promoted |
| pros and cons of the following TEFL/ESL/TESOL | | | | Teachers of English are often astonished to hear the |
| countries; | | | | considerable pay gaps between themselves and their |
| - Western Europe - offer high salaries with (usually) | | | | superiors, ADOSs and DOSs. If you are in TEFL/ESL |
| high costs of living. Some of the best TEFL salaries | | | | for the long haul, gain more experience and |
| can be found in France, Germany, the UK (summer | | | | qualifications to rise up the career ladder. The perks |
| schools), offering EUR2000+ a month, while further | | | | are often great; more money obviously, better working |
| south, salaries are drastically lower (only EUR1000+ a | | | | hours and conditions, a company car even. If you find |
| month). | | | | yourself in a company with no apparent system for |
| - Eastern Europe and Russia - currently experiencing a | | | | promotions; get out. Do not invest your precious time |
| TEFL boom with supply of teachers significantly lower | | | | and energy in a company that isn't going to reward |
| than demand. Salaries on par with southern Europe | | | | you. |
| already, with people having a much more dedicated | | | | 8. Expand your teaching experience through exam |
| work ethic. The market for private students in Russia | | | | courses such as CAE, FCE, TOEFL, and IELTS |
| is particularly lucrative. | | | | To many people, learning English is purely a matter of |
| - The Middle East - salaries are still riding high on the | | | | passing an exam so the next stage in their lives can |
| back of oil, with some of the best high salary/low tax | | | | be unlocked. The Cambridge exams, along with IELTS |
| deals. Cost of living is also very low, with many superb | | | | and TOEFL offer people a standardised level which |
| amenities provided in Saudi, UAE and Oman. Teacher | | | | they must achieve in order to work and study abroad. |
| freedom and happiness is a major issue, however. | | | | Gain experience teaching these areas primarily |
| - Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore - | | | | because students are highly motivated to pass such |
| high salaries combined with a reasonable standard of | | | | exams. This is reflected in how you will be |
| living. Long hours are the norm, but saving thousands | | | | remunerated. If you have sufficient experience apply |
| of dollars a year is a realistic goal. | | | | to become an examiner for one of these exams. You |
| - South East Asia and China - experiencing a TEFL | | | | will be remunerated well and be given an insight into |
| ESL boom finally, but this has not been matched with | | | | the examinations process, which students will be willing |
| corresponding high salaries. The cities offer the best | | | | to pay over the odds for. |
| opportunities. Expect big increases in the future as | | | | In conclusion, a high salary teaching English is an |
| markets mature. | | | | economic reality and simply depends on your |
| - South America - not a place to go if you want a high | | | | knowledge of the local TEFL/ESL labour market and |
| TEFL salary. Currency instabilities combined with | | | | how you can turn that knowledge in your favour. |
| market immaturities mean that this is a risky place to | | | | Follow the above advice, marketing yourself as an |
| set yourself up. Brazil offers the best opportunities for | | | | experienced teaching professional in it for the long haul. |
| serious money making. 3. The Job Search | | | | Strive to be the best you can be; both with your |
| Do not apply for jobs online through sites such as | | | | students and your company and you will be rewarded |
| TEFL.com/Dave's ESL Café if you are serious | | | | with a salary that makes teaching abroad a very |
| about making money. The best job deals are seldom | | | | profitable endeavour indeed. |
| online - it is far better to be proactive and travel to | | | | |