Choosing a location
So... you've decided that you want to teach English abroad, now where can you go? There is demand for English teachers practically anywhere in the world that does not have English as an official or widely-spoken language, and you won't find many other jobs or specializations where that is true! The world is truly your oyster.
This section reviews some of the factors that teachers tend to compare when deciding where to teach English: pay, job requirements, benefits, job availability, visas, working conditions.
However, some of the most important factors are subjective: where do you want to go? What areas of the world interest you? What cultures, histories, politics, geographies, landscapes, peoples, or languages draw you?
Look again through your list of motivations when you are making this choice. It's easy to be swayed by a lucrative job offer if it's where you want to go, but if you find yourself dragging your feet, remind yourself why you want to do this and what your hopes are in making the decision to teach abroad.
Europe
Europe holds a strong attraction for many would-be English teachers, and as a result competition to work here is high. In general, European countries have strong education systems and in many places, children learn strong English skills while at school. This is true of much of northern Europe: Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries, for example. Positions teaching English in northern European countries are often specialized courses offering English for specific purposes, such as business English.
Demand is higher in Eastern and Southern Europe: Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain and Italy, for example. However, North Americans who wish to work in these countries will face competition from teachers from the UK and Ireland, who have the right to work anywhere in Europe. Employers, therefore, may be unwilling to hire you unless you already hold a working visa. Salaries are low compared to other areas of the world, and it can be difficult to secure a job offer in advance, from overseas. Positions in Europe tend to begin in September or January.
East Asia
This is the main market for first-time teachers looking to earn and save. There are lots of jobs for would-be English teachers, with South Korea and Japan leading the way in terms of salaries and benefits. In both of these countries, you will likely have your flights and accommodations covered, but you will need a university degree to work there. Demand for teachers in China is high and rising, with many positions available, but at much lower pay. There are also opportunities in other countries. Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam all pay reasonably well, while Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia offer positions that are much less well compensated, but are potentially interesting destinations to live and work.
The Middle East
This market has traditionally been the most difficult to access for first-time teachers. Pay here can be very high, with airfare and accommodation included, and teachers who are hired often have at least two years of teaching experience. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates top the list as far as salaries go. However, jobs are more plentiful (albeit less well-paid) in Turkey. Living in the Middle East can be a big cultural adjustment for some teachers, particularly women, so be sure you are prepared for this.
Central and South America
Paid jobs are available in some of the wealthier South and Central American countries, and volunteer positions are readily found throughout this region. This is definitely an area of the world that attracts English teachers based on the lifestyle, culture and amenities rather than salary. Employer-provided airfare and accommodation are virtually non-existent, and to get a paid position in most places you will need to be there to apply in person. You may find that your salary is insufficient to cover your living expenses; however, if you are looking to supplement your income while you travel, with the opportunity to settle down for a while in a community, this may be for you. Volunteer positions are also great for gaining teaching experience.
Africa
African countries are not on most people's radar when they talk about teaching English overseas. However, positions do exist with a range of organizations—the majority of them are volunteer placements, though placements in private schools and language institutes are also available.
Resources
Various TEFL schools and other organizations do regular round-ups of the job markets for teachers. An example is included below, and others are readily available online.
TEFL training college
This provides a comprehensive summary of typical degree requirements, salaries, contract lengths, hiring seasons, visa information, housing and airfare arrangements for 52 countries.
Choosing a job type
In addition to choosing your preferred destination, you may want to think about your preferred teaching environment—the type of school or company that you prefer to work for, as well as the people you would like to teach.
In general, teaching positions are one of the following four types:
- Public school positions:
These are government schools that hire native English speakers to enhance the English language skills of their young students who are usually between 5 and 18 years of age. - Private school positions:
These are independently run and operate as a business. They include specialty schools, such as language academies, business language schools and preschools. - Private tutoring:
This is usually organized privately and independently by English teachers. Tutoring is very individual in nature and varies from teacher to teacher and student to student. Private tutoring can pay the most of any position, and provide a quite different teaching environment. However, teaching privately requires you to cultivate your own client base, work hours according to your clients' needs, and be flexible if they need to change or cancel lessons. Teachers often tutor privately outside their regular school hours, and may switch to exclusively private tutoring after they have spent some time in country. - University jobs:
These often involve teaching your degree subject in English, rather than teaching English directly. University teaching positions are highly sought-after and the requirements are quite different from most English teaching jobs. They are not covered in detail here for that reason.
By and large, most new teachers will find placements in either a public or a private school. The differences in job requirements, work and classroom environment, job security and support can be quite different. Both types of school have advantages and disadvantages, and knowing these can help you choose the best option for you.
Public schools
Does the thought of thirty to fifty students looking up at you from their desks cause you to break out into a sweat? If so, then a public school may not be for you. Generally, public schools have large classes and students whose abilities in English vary. This means that for each class you teach, you may have to create three lesson plans: one for your beginner students, one for your intermediate and one for your advanced students.
Public schools will often employ an assistant teacher, who knows how to teach English, but who may not be able to speak it very well. The assistant will help you with executing lessons, explaining difficult concepts, teaching grammar and assisting with discipline. As the foreign teacher, you will be expected to focus on teaching students to speak, listen and communicate.
Those who do well at public schools tend to be creative, independent, and enjoy working with children and teens. You may be the only foreign teacher at the school: this can make you a bit of a superstar. But it's possible to feel a little lonely at times, and communication breakdowns commonly occur (unless you speak the local language) because your fellow teachers normally won't speak English very well.
Public school teachers enjoy more holidays than those at private schools, and you can be assured that your contract is secure. Unlike private schools, public schools do not shut down due to financial problems or low enrolment.
Private schools
Private schools are businesses that offer students a range of English language classes for a fee. Programs vary from school to school. Some focus on speaking and communication, some help with homework; some have a strict curriculum with textbooks, while others are very easy going and allow the teacher to choose what to teach. Private schools may accommodate a range of students, from preschoolers to adults learning business English—and you may be teaching all of them.
These schools are quite popular for new English teachers because you can ease yourself into the culture and teaching. Classes tend to be small—about 12 to 15 students per class. Students are placed in classes according to level, making lessons easier to plan and many schools provide resources for you to use. Nearly all your fellow teachers will be from North America, Australia, Europe or South Africa. Some teachers—especially those with limited overseas experience—may prefer this, due to the ease of making friends and having a ready-made support system to help you integrate to life abroad.
However, there are downsides. Since private schools exist to provide education and make money, holidays are quite short. Classes tend to be scheduled around the school day for children, or the workday for adults. Students come before school or work, or at the end of the day, so you may be teaching for a couple of hours in the morning and then a few hours at night. Having to teach students after they've finished a full day of school or work means that they may be less focused than they would be if you were teaching in a public school.
One of the biggest potential downsides with private schools is an element of risk that is inherent with these employers. If you have heard nightmare stories about corruption, school closures, contract issues and the like—chances are that they were with a private school. While it is the exception rather than the norm, things can and do go wrong with these schools. Whatever employer you choose, it is best to make sure you have some emergency money available to you before you go, just in case.
Finding a job
There are many ways to find a job in this sector. Below are three of the most common ways to find and apply for a position as an English teacher.
1. Apply directly to schools from your home country
Many of the larger employers recruit teachers directly from English speaking countries, sometimes through recruiting firms and sometimes by advertising directly on English teaching websites or through TEFL certification schools. The advantages of applying for a position before going overseas are many: obviously, you'll have a job secured before leaving, flights will sometimes be covered, and you may have accommodation provided for you. Be aware that just because a company recruits teachers from abroad, it's no guarantee that it is reputable, and the advice to do your research applies equally to job offers via these means.
2. Apply to schools once you are overseas
In some locations, few employers recruit directly from overseas—or, even if they advertise teaching positions overseas, they still expect you to turn up in person for an interview. In these cases, where schools don't actively recruit abroad, your flights will not be covered and you'll need to go prepared for a job hunt. Be sure to find out in advance when the main recruiting seasons are. Research and make contact with potential employers before you leave if possible. Be familiar with expectations for resumes in the local country: these can very significantly, from the one- or two-page resume, to a several-page CV, complete with photo and information that is not customarily included in North American documents (for example age and gender). If you are considering volunteering as a teacher, look for community organizations that may be able to use your skills, and see the chapter on volunteering overseas.
3. Find openings through your network
Once you put the word out that you are planning to teach overseas, you will be amazed who pops up in your network. It is not uncommon to discover a friend of a friend is teaching overseas and knows of an opening. Similarly, if you've taken a reputable TEFL course, you will be connected into a community of people who have taught overseas, including their contacts and resources. Of course, finding job openings through personal connections can be reassuring in many ways, but the advice to do your homework still applies.
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