How to travel the world while teaching English abroad
Irene Hoenigman’s advertising guest article as part of the new “Overseas Travel and Work” series
Do you have the desire to travel, but lack the time or money to realize your holiday dream? If you are like me, addicted to reading travel blogs and looking at the beautiful scenery that can be uploaded to pictures, I will let you know a little secret: it is easier to live a travel life than you think. Ask those who teach English abroad.
Choosing to enter the world of TEFL is a great way to experience other cultures. You can not only teach around the world, but also use your teaching salary to fund your travel. Want to spend a year in Japan and then jump to Thailand for Christmas? Or you want to teach in Peru and hike Machu Picchu during the holiday. By teaching English abroad, you can certainly do all the above!
In addition to your long-term memory and friendship, teaching abroad will help you gain valuable professional experience. Even if you don’t plan to teach for a long time, international experience is very good on any resume. So what are you waiting for? Read on to learn how to become a TEFL teacher and see the world as you dream.
See Machu Picchu from above
Maybe you want to teach in Peru and walk Machu Picchu during the holiday
Certified
The first step for you to travel abroad is to ensure that you have the appropriate qualifications to teach in other countries.
Long ago, the only requirement for teaching English abroad was to use English as the mother tongue. You may still be able to find an international teaching position without any further certification.
However, if you want to really win in the competition and get a job you absolutely love, you should obtain the certification of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). This certificate will enable you to teach in any country. It will give you the skills you need to manage a classroom full of eager learners.
All you need to do is complete a TEFL course. Fortunately, there are a variety of TEFL courses, so you can find the perfect course that suits your budget and learning style. Here are some good online resources.
https://www.tefl.org/en-us/tesol/
https://www.tesol.org
www.americantesol.com
To start learning, please find a recognized way to obtain certification, such as The TEFL Org, the most experienced TEFL course supplier in the UK. You can choose to take a virtual certification course at your convenience, or you can even start traveling in advance and choose to complete the course in another country.
Either way, once you get the TEFL certificate, you will be qualified to teach English around the world. The world is at your fingertips, where will you choose to teach?
Looking for overseas teaching work
In essence, where you finally teach depends on you! You may already have a specific country or region. You may already have an idea for a specific country or region. It is important to choose a country that allows you to travel and experience the things on your wish list. Some places like South Korea not only have great benefits for TEFL teachers, but also make travel easy and convenient. From South Korea, you can fly to almost any other country in Asia.
You should also keep in mind what type of school you want to work in. Most countries employ TEFL teachers to work in private English colleges. Other countries, such as Japan and France, also have government-funded projects to place teachers in public schools across the country. Therefore, if you want more “nine to five” experience, you can consider looking for TEFL teachers in a country with public school programs.
Once you have decided your destination, you can start applying for a job. Your TEFL course provider may help you find a job.
Because each country has its own visa procedures, you must understand what you need before accepting a position abroad. Some countries have regulations on your degree, age, nationality or criminal record. If you are not sure how to obtain a visa, you can contact your embassy in that particular country at any time for more information.
Consider online teaching
If you can’t imagine living in a specific place, you can consider becoming a digital nomad. Once you have completed your TEFL certificate, you can teach English as a foreign language anywhere. Well, as long as there is a good wifi connection.
In recent years, the online TEFL teacher market has developed greatly, so you can be sure that you will find the perfect company for you. Are you interested in teaching young learners? Then you can consider working for VIPkid, one of the largest online English learning companies. Do you want more flexibility in your rates and schedules? Look at companies like italki.
Most online companies require a TEFL certificate, as well as an undergraduate degree and background survey. Once you are ready, you will probably take a demonstration class to show your teaching skills. But don’t worry. Your TEFL certificate will provide you with correct professional knowledge.
In Tokyo, a beautiful red tower is located next to a large red temple
Teaching English abroad is a golden opportunity to see the world around you
Travel, travel, and more travel
Once you finally find your dream position, it’s time to pack up and go. Please make sure to budget your income to fit your schedule.
If you work in another country, you can set aside part of your monthly salary for use during your holiday. You can also save for long distance travel after completing the contract. Many jobs abroad offer graduation bonuses, so once you finish teaching, you may have a long travel time.
If you choose to teach online, calculate how many hours you need to teach every week to support your travel life. You can also find ways to save money, such as sleeping in a hotel or teaching in a public workplace.
No matter which way you choose, it is obvious that teaching English abroad is a great once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world around you. So what are you waiting for? Get certified and start exploring.