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How do I get English Teaching Jobs Abroad?

Tara Barnett
Tara Barnett

English teaching jobs abroad are easy to find with the right qualifications and the right connections. Depending on the country where you wish to teach, it may be necessary to get the appropriate qualifications in advance, but many teaching programs provide certification after arrival in the country. Usually a college degree is required for English teaching jobs abroad, but it may be possible to find shorter programs that do not require a degree. Often, a person with some teaching experience will be able to find a better job than a person who has none, but almost anyone can find a basic teaching job with only competency in English and a willingness to accept low pay.

Different countries have different regulations regarding English teaching jobs abroad. In some areas, for instance, a person must be qualified in a specific way in order to work within the country. One common type certification recognized worldwide is called CELTA, which stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. More generally, this type of certification is called TEFL certification, which stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It is a good idea to look into which types of TEFL certification are accepted in the country where you wish to teach.

Depending on where you want to teach, you may have to acquire further certification.
Depending on where you want to teach, you may have to acquire further certification.

In many cases, English teaching jobs abroad can be obtained through job placement agencies that advertise in English-speaking countries. These job placement groups are not always reputable, so caution should be taken before committing to any placement. A good way to choose safe job placement opportunities is to speak to others who have completed the program or to people currently working for the company. This way, you need not go into the job without understanding what it is like.

Some English majors go on to teach English as a second language (ESL) in foreign countries.
Some English majors go on to teach English as a second language (ESL) in foreign countries.

For people who are highly qualified, English teaching jobs abroad can also be obtained through schools directly. In most locations, a school will usually look for a person who has some certification and who has at least a college degree, but the necessary qualifications differ by country. Applying for a job in a foreign country is a lot like applying for a job in your own country in that it demands professionalism and representation of your suitability for the job. Most organizations that are looking for applicants from foreign countries understand that job application customs are different between countries and offer extremely detailed descriptions of what precisely they are looking for and what documents must be obtained. When applying for English teaching jobs abroad, the most important step is doing background research and following directions because, if you can apply correctly, it is almost always possible to find a job.

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    • Depending on where you want to teach, you may have to acquire further certification.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Depending on where you want to teach, you may have to acquire further certification.
    • Some English majors go on to teach English as a second language (ESL) in foreign countries.
      By: isuaneye
      Some English majors go on to teach English as a second language (ESL) in foreign countries.
    • Demand is high for native English teachers in several countries in Asia.
      By: taka
      Demand is high for native English teachers in several countries in Asia.