What makes it such a fantastic career?
Some careers offer good pay, others offer exciting new experiences, but very few offer both. One career that does offer both is teaching English in a foreign country. This is an extremely rewarding career, allowing you to travel to almost any country around the world and enjoy all the experiences they have to offer. This career is extremely flexible and offers you the capability to meet and fulfil a wide range of different needs and requirements.
How to begin teaching English in a foreign country
The process to begin teaching English in a foreign country is very similar to becoming a teacher in a country where English is the native language. Below, we have listed a few steps for you to follow and consider if you decide teaching English abroad is the ideal career for you:
Step one – Which language/country?
The first step you need to take to be able to teach English in a foreign country is deciding which language you would like to learn and teach / which country you would like to live in. This is an extremely important step as it will decide the experiences you have access to, and therefore the quality of your experience teaching English in a foreign country.
Step two – Where and how will you teach English and where will you live?
Now you need to decide where and how you would teach English, as well as where you would like to live in this country. There are several options available for how you can teach English in a foreign country. For example, you could choose to teach at one of the local schools and educate the students, or, you could also become a private tutor. Whichever way you choose to teach English, you should spend time on real estate websites to make sure that you can find a quality home for your time spent teaching English in a foreign country.
Step three – Applying for necessary documentation
Once you have done the first two steps, you need to apply for various pieces of documentation that allow you to live and teach in a foreign country. Some of these documents include: a passport, a visa and a bank account for use abroad.
To give you the best chance for getting your dream job, you should also have a verifiable bachelor’s degree, and a thorough medical check; some jobs also require a TESOL, TEFL, CELTA or DELTA certificate.
Step four – Apply
Now you can begin to put offers in the accommodation, apply for jobs and arrange travel to and from the country. You should start putting together some savings ready to pay for the travel and living costs when you first start teaching English in a foreign country.