Billions of people all over the world are learning English, and that means if you have the right skills and qualifications, you could teach English internationally in the country of your choice. However, if you want to take advantage of the many opportunities out there, you’ll need to know how to reap the benefits. Here, we’ll look more closely at how to become an overseas English teacher and what it takes to succeed in your chosen career.
Why Teach Abroad?
People increasingly seek unconventional income streams in this modern world. More people than ever are looking beyond the typical 9-5 office job and, instead, are seeking opportunities that enable them to travel the world and earn an income while doing so.
While many people yearn to explore and discover new destinations, being able to afford to take time out to travel is simply not possible for most. Travelling is expensive, and dedicating time to visiting dream locations means doing a conventional job is out of the question. That’s why becoming a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) professional is appealing. If you’re teaching abroad, salary is covered, so you can earn while seeing the world.
How Do I Become An Overseas English Teacher?
While it’s technically possible for a native speaker to get a post as an English teacher overseas without any qualifications, it’s not the best course of action. For a start, the places you can go and the jobs that will be open to you are significantly fewer than those on offer for people who have obtained TEFL certification, not to mention the fact that you’ll lack the necessary knowledge and training to be able to plan and deliver lessons well.
Taking an accredited TEFL certification course is, therefore, the best way to start your journey towards overseas English teaching. You’ll develop all the essential skills to teach English grammar and conversation, as well as how to prepare an effective lesson and manage your classroom efficiently. With a TEFL qualification, the door will be open to a wide variety of teaching jobs around the world, and you’ll have a competitive edge over those who have no training or experience.
Where Can I Teach Abroad?
Once you’re TEFL certified, the world is your oyster. You’ll be able to find English teaching jobs in virtually every country worldwide. Depending on which country you choose to head to, you can have a variety of potential openings.
If you already have some teaching experience and have a degree as well as a TEFL certification, you’ll have the widest possible variety of jobs to pick from, with posts available in schools and universities working with students of all ages.
The good news is that as long as you are TEFL certified, even if you don’t have a degree and are still in the process of building up your classroom hours, you’ll still be able to find a position in a language school, delivering English lessons for businesses, or as a private tutor.
You can find positions advertised online, or you can head to the country of your choice and start looking for work when you arrive. The choice is up to you.
What About Online English Teaching?
One career path that is becoming more popular than ever amongst newly qualified TEFL professionals is online English teaching. There are many online language schools that offer classes to learners of all ages and from locations all around the world. Online English teachers deliver their lessons to groups or on a 1:1 basis with individual students from their own virtual classroom, meaning that they can base themselves anywhere as long as they have a good internet connection. Of course, there’s also always the possibility of offering online English lessons on a freelance basis, either to supplement your income or as a standalone job.
As an online English teacher, you aren’t tied down to any single location, and that makes it an appealing option for keen travellers who want to see as much of the world as possible while earning a living. You can teach equally well from the comfort of your own home, from a campervan or mobile home on the road, or from a hostel or hotel room in an exotic destination. Essentially, you’ll have all the flexibility you need to follow your wanderlust dreams, however far-flung they may be!
