How to Teach English Abroad
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More and more people are choosing to teach English abroad as a great way to experience new and exciting places and earn money whilst doing so. It's not uncommon for someone to teach abroad on a temporary basis only to fall in love with the profession and become a permanent Émigré to a new life in the sun.
Get Qualified
Of course not just anyone can teach English abroad, and you need an accredited and recognised qualification, recognised by the authority in your chosen destination. Essentially this means a TEFL qualification, TEFL meaning "Teach English as a Foreign language."
There days there are all sorts of organisations which offer TEFL accreditations and you can partially take the TEFL course online, with the rest of the course taking place in a classroom. This "physical" time spent in a classroom is mandatory to gaining the qualification in the end.
More often than not you will also need a degree. Generally speaking this is more true for the most developed nations, such as Japan (who only consider people who are well qualified and have a degree.) In some other countries like parts of Asia and South America a degree may not be a requirement, and demand is so high that a TEFL qualification may be enough. If you don't have a degree then you should at least demonstrate lots of experience, either voluntary or paid.
Can Teach, will Travel
The most exciting thing about teaching English abroad is the oppourtunity to travel. Native English speakers are in demand all over the world, and that includes some of the most exciting corners of the globe, everywhere from Asia to Africa to South America. Many people qualify for TEFL exactly because they want to travel, however for others it is a long term career path.
Of course the job is fundamentally the same wherever you go, however different countries have markedly different cultural preoccupations and standards of etiquette, especially when it come to children. Beyond your TEFL qualification it's definitely worth investing in some sizeable research about your chosen destination. Bon voyage!
