I think it’s safe to say that many of us have dreamt of travelling the world. But setting aside the time and money to do so comes to us either in the early years of our independence or much later, if and when we’ve accumulated enough money to do as we please. The opportunity to teach English abroad is unlikely to tempt many from careers in anything but the earliest stages, but the various international programmes are worth considering if you’re ever looking for a change in direction. And the fact that you can be usefully employed and earning money whilst you experience a new country is fact not to be scoffed at.
Why would I do it?
Teaching English as a foreign language isn’t as easy as banking a check and soaking up the tropical sun. But the effort it takes to get on a scheme and to last a full year in an unfamiliar place will prove your personal and intellectual resilience. The value of those who’ve actually done something useful with time abroad is not to be underestimated in an increasingly competitive jobs market.
And then there’s the fact that it will likely be very, very enjoyable for the right person. Teaching abroad is in some way, a higher stakes game of teaching. The isolation and culture shock may be enough to break some people down. But equally, the joy you get out of bringing a language that can change lives to children who might not otherwise learn it, simply cannot be rivalled by the home experience.
What do I need?
Depending on the country you’re attempting to teach in, you may find that your CV is actually quite irrelevant. The mere fact that you’ve been born in a native English speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States among them) is enough to get your foot in the door. In a few countries, provided you interview well with programme representatives, being a native speaker may even be enough. Those nations that can demand more from their applicants typically require a Bachelor’s degree-level candidate. At the very least you should expect to complete a TEFL qualification, a standardised 4 week course that touches on the basics of English grammar and teaching practice. It’s worth considering a TEFL course even if you have a Bachelor’s degree. Unless you have prior teaching experience, there can be very little way to tell if you’re going to manage a room full of children.
Where can I go?
There are probably too many nations running TEFL programmes to list. The rather lazy answer is therefore ‘virtually anywhere’. Historically, TEFL grew in Asia, and programmes like the Japanese JET are among the oldest and most prestigious. As interaction with English speaking business becomes increasingly important for China, as well as Taiwan, Thailand and other south eastern Asian nations like Cambodia, TEFL programmes have sprung up to meet demand.
In the Americas, English is being newly recognised as a lingua franca, even though Spanish and Portuguese open up much of the world. It’s worth observing that even in native English speaking countries (especially the United States), there is room for TEFL classes for immigrant labour and their families.
There are similarly plenty of opportunities in Western Europe. In the UK and Ireland, language schools bring students in to be taught by TEFL teachers. Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, demand for TEFL teachers is soaring because of the recent and ongoing entry of many nations into the European Union.
Steph Wood is a copywriter and blogger with a passion for technology, writing for a company that sells insurance for holiday homes and second home insurance.
Steph is a copywriter and internet marketer from South East England. Their principle passions are videogames, comedy shows and animated film, but if it can be researched, it's usually interesting!
