| You have decided on being an ESL TEFL TESOL | | | | 3. Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, including |
| teacher so you are off on the job search. Aside from | | | | teacher's license, work permit, and visa extension? |
| the obvious considerations such as what country to | | | | 4. How soon can you get this paperwork processed? |
| work in and what teacher training and qualifications | | | | 5. How many hours will I be teaching? |
| (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA/DELTA) to obtain; there are | | | | 6. What kind of insurance is on offer? |
| other things a teachers should consider when looking | | | | 7. When are the starting and ending times for work? |
| at potential job offers. | | | | 8. About how many events a month are teachers |
| There are many factors a teacher considers which will | | | | required to attend outside normal working hours |
| affect whether they accept a teaching position. The | | | | (teachers' meetings, parents' meetings, school festivals, |
| most obvious factor would be the content of the | | | | seminars, etc.)? |
| position (i.e. what is going to be taught). What is the | | | | 9. Does the school have/provide books? |
| school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask | | | | 10. Does the school have whiteboards or chalkboards? |
| yourself if the ESL TEFL TESOL job is interesting and | | | | 11. Does the school provide all teaching materials |
| fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person | | | | needed? What are the items provided? |
| ESL school you will be working for is also an important | | | | 12. Does the school require that I attend/teach a |
| consideration so you must take the time to talk to | | | | summer camp? |
| them either via email or phone. It would also be | | | | 13. Is there a discipline policy? What is it and how is it |
| beneficial to ask to speak to other teachers from the | | | | enforced? |
| school to find out their impressions. Finally, it is good to | | | | 14. What are the details of contract "extras" such as: |
| know if there is any special TESL TEFL TESOL | | | | - Resigning bonuses |
| training required by the school or visa/immigration rules. | | | | - Biannual or annual plane tickets to visit home |
| Knowing what the job is, what is required and whom | | | | - Housing allowances (if no housing allowance then ask |
| you will be working with are the first step in deciding | | | | about help finding accommodations along with cost in |
| whether to pursue it further. | | | | the school area) |
| Some may say that the most important consideration | | | | - Internet access both in and outside the school |
| would be salary and benefits but these should be a | | | | - Raise schedules |
| secondary consideration to what you want to do and | | | | Searching for a teaching position is difficult. After |
| who you will be working with. Regardless of the salary | | | | spending many hours on a search, making a careful |
| paid, most people will not stay at a position where they | | | | decision regarding a job offer is important. Getting a |
| feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In addition, the | | | | job offer does not necessarily mean you should take |
| people you work with or for have an enormous | | | | the job. Most TESL TEFL TESOL schools will not |
| impact on your job satisfaction. However, when | | | | expect you to make a decision on the spot. You will |
| considering salary and benefits, do not focus as much | | | | probably be given a few days to a week to make up |
| on the starting salary but rather on the potential for | | | | your mind. If they are unable to provide you with the |
| growth and increases. Does the school have growth | | | | time to make a decision then you should not consider |
| potential for you as a professional? Do they spell out | | | | this teaching job as a viable position. On the other |
| cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? | | | | hand, if you decide to go with a school without finding |
| Benefits are other areas that can supplement a | | | | out the proper information, don't blame the school |
| position where the starting salary is not as good as | | | | when the position turns out not to be what you |
| you would have wished. Get a list of benefits from the | | | | expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages and |
| company and formulate any questions you may have | | | | disadvantages of the job will help you make a more |
| regarding them so that you can better discuss the | | | | informed decision, rather than deciding on impulse. |
| position with management and other teachers at the | | | | When considering where in the world you want to |
| school. | | | | teach, the big 3 for ESL TEFL TESOL jobs are: |
| Another factor that may come into play with many | | | | Asia: Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, |
| teachers when evaluating a position is the ESL TEFL | | | | Vietnam and Indonesia are the popular spots because |
| TESOL resources provided by the school for the | | | | they have so many ESL jobs available but there are |
| teacher to prepare their lessons. Teachers spend a | | | | always positions coming up infrequently in places like |
| large majority of their time preparing for upcoming | | | | Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia though you must |
| classes. This requires readily available resources such | | | | be a qualified teacher to obtain these. You may even |
| as teacher edition books, computer, printer, internet | | | | find positions for Cambodia and Laos but you should |
| access, and preferably a reference library. In addition, | | | | look at the reputation of employers carefully due to |
| there should be a work area set aside at the school | | | | lack of a solid legal system for recourse. |
| for teachers to plan and prepare. Whether the school | | | | Europe: Everyone dreams of teaching in Greece, Italy, |
| already has a set curriculum/syllabus for the class to | | | | France or Spain but unless you are an European Union |
| be taught and ESL TEFL TESOL student books | | | | (EU) citizen it is difficult to obtain these positions. The |
| because the teacher may be asked to help to create | | | | more frequent positions are available in Eastern |
| these resources (i.e worksheets) for your school year | | | | Europe in places like Romania, Czech Republic, |
| if they are not provided. I have known many teachers | | | | Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. These |
| that have felt the need to move on because of the | | | | positions don't pay very well but they provide lot's of |
| demands of planning for a school year without | | | | opportunity for travel while not teaching. |
| adequate resources. | | | | The Middle East: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, |
| To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) ESL | | | | United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the most common |
| TEFL TESOL teaching job, you should ask these | | | | with Bahrain, Yemen and Qatar occasionally having |
| questions to all prospective employers/schools: | | | | openings. Now there are also more teachng positions |
| | | | available in Iraq. The Middle East is popular for the |
| 1. What is the salary? | | | | money paid for teaching positions but don't expect |
| 2. How many months is the contract? | | | | much of a social life due to cultural restraints. |