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