| Before Beginning | | | | Their set up varies from country to country and city to |
| Before beginning here's a quick word on acronyms | | | | city. In richer and more developed countries you are |
| you'll find here which are common in the industry. | | | | likely to find school chains which are often large affairs |
| | | | - sometimes up to 1,000 students or more - with tens |
| However for all intents and purposes these three can | | | | of English teachers and several different campuses. In |
| be considered the same. They all mean standing in | | | | less developed countries and smaller towns, schools |
| front of a class of students teaching them how to | | | | tend to be much smaller, sometimes just a single |
| speak English! | | | | teacher in a single classroom with perhaps 20 students |
| Qualifications | | | | in all. |
| Although each country has their own specific | | | | It's hard to say, but the average school is perhaps 200 |
| requirements for English teachers, generally speaking | | | | students, two or three classrooms, basic facilities and |
| the first thing you'll need is a degree which is a legal | | | | three or four teachers in all (mostly locals; often |
| requirement for a work permit in most countries. | | | | schools will have just one English native speaker |
| The degree can be in almost any subject although | | | | teacher). |
| when you apply for the job you may find that some | | | | The majority of students will be from 10 - 17 years old, |
| schools prefer English or language related degrees. | | | | though many schools also run English classes for |
| The next thing you'll need is a TEFL Certificate. This is | | | | younger children and Business English. And in case you |
| given after a short course which teaches you the | | | | are wondering, the students tend to be quite well |
| basics of how to teach English, classroom | | | | behaved and there also tends to be much more |
| management, lesson planning and so on. The ICAL | | | | respect for a teacher both inside and outside the |
| TEFL Certificate is offered online and you can learn at | | | | school. |
| your own pace and taking the course from anywhere | | | | A typical working week would involve something like |
| in the world - at 265 USD it is also ideal for people on | | | | 20 classroom hours. You may well work slightly odd |
| a budget. | | | | hours though: 9 to 12 in the morning and then again in |
| Choosing a Country | | | | the afternoon from 4 till 8. Split shifts like this are not |
| While you're getting qualified, you can be deciding | | | | uncommon in private schools. |
| where you want to teach. You can go almost | | | | Generally you'll sign a contract for the school year. The |
| anywhere so if a particular country takes your fancy, | | | | pay is generally quite good by local standards. An |
| the chances are that you'll be able to find work there. | | | | entry level job will give you enough to live on, pay for a |
| Oh, and one common question we are often asked is, | | | | bedsit type accommodation (which is often organised |
| "Do I have to Speak the Local Language?". The simple | | | | by the school), give you a couple of nights out per |
| answer is, "No!". You don't need to speak Russian if | | | | week and enough for a holiday at the end of your |
| you're looking for work in Russia or Portuguese if | | | | contract. |
| you're looking for work in Portugal! | | | | The school will often organise basic health cover if the |
| The general principal of teaching English is that you and | | | | country you are in does not have a reciprocal |
| your class only speak English when you're together so | | | | agreement with your home country. Often, your return |
| don't worry if you don't speak anything but English | | | | flight will be reimbursed at the end of your contract. |
| yourself! | | | | Finding Work |
| Meanwhile, here are some common destinations for | | | | There are three generally accepted ways of finding |
| teachers (but this list is by no means exhaustive and | | | | work. |
| you will likely find small, privately run English language | | | | 1. Through an online advertisement. Many schools |
| schools in every city and almost every single town in | | | | advertise their job online and a simple search will bring |
| every country in the world so wherever you want to | | | | up suitable jobs. Spend time to look through them all |
| go, you'll find work there if you look hard enough): | | | | and get the feel of what is out there and general pay |
| Europe | | | | and conditions. Be aware that there are scams about, |
| Due to EU regulations, schools tend to favour EU | | | | so if a job looks too good to be true then it probably is! |
| passport holders as this spares them the bureaucratic | | | | 2. Using an agent. Sometimes you can see |
| hassle they would get trying hiring non EU applicants, | | | | advertisements online for agents. These will help place |
| so in practical terms that means that most English | | | | you in a school and help with sorting out paperwork. |
| teachers in Europe are from Britain or Ireland. There | | | | There is one golden rule here: NEVER PAY AN |
| are still plenty of jobs in southern Europe (Spain, Italy, | | | | AGENT. They are given a commission by the school |
| Greece, Turkey) and Eastern Europe. Work is harder | | | | to find them a teacher and so if they ask you for |
| to find but still available in Central and Western Europe | | | | money to find you work, walk away immediately! |
| although generally you have to have experience and | | | | Another point to bear in mind is that the agent works |
| higher qualifications for places like Germany and | | | | for the school and not for you so they may not be too |
| France. | | | | scrupulous when it comes to placing teachers in |
| China | | | | not-so-perfect schools. This being said, it's often a |
| There are a lot of jobs in China. It's the new emerging | | | | good way to find a first job in a country until you find |
| market for teachers and a simple search online will | | | | your feet and it also means there's someone there |
| bring up hundreds of jobs available there ranging from | | | | you can turn to for help should the need arise. |
| work in the big cities to small towns in the far end of | | | | 3. Pounding the Streets. This isn't to be dismissed |
| the country. If you work here you'll find teachers from | | | | immediately and a lot of teachers do this. If you know |
| many different countries alongside you. | | | | where you want to go but can't find work there |
| Asia | | | | beforehand then you can take a flight over, rent a |
| Outside of China common destinations are Japan, | | | | cheap room and see if you can find work on your |
| South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. In the same way | | | | own using the Yellow Pages or local newspapers as |
| that Europe is a common destination for British and | | | | your starting point. It's best to go at the beginning of |
| Irish teachers, these countries are popular with | | | | term (usually around September/October) and be sure |
| Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian | | | | to have enough money to get you home if things go |
| teachers although you'll still find plenty of British and Irish | | | | completely wrong. |
| working there too. [edit] South America and Central | | | | And then? |
| America | | | | And then it's time to buy a phrase book, pack your |
| Mainly popular with American teachers, the more | | | | bag and go! |
| popular countries include Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. | | | | English teaching has taken people to all corners of the |
| What are the Schools/Pay/Conditions like? | | | | earth to live and work. It doesn't matter if you are |
| Schools vary a great deal. In all likelihood you'll be | | | | straight out of college or looking for a mid0life career |
| teaching at a private school which works outside the | | | | change. English teaching can give you the opportunity |
| public school system, often supplementing its | | | | to get out there, make a difference... and enjoy |
| shortcomings. | | | | yourself! |