Over the past few decades teaching English overseas has become a career choice for many native English speakers. Teaching English overseas offers an opportunity to not only see the world, but to also get to know local cultures and customs. As with any profession, teaching English overseas can be rewarding if approached in the right spirit and with your eyes open.
Teaching English Overseas - Training
Teaching English overseas is open to almost anybody who has a bachelor's degree. If you are interested in teaching English overseas to broaden the horizons, there's really no need to worry about getting a master's degree in ESOL, TESOL. However, it is important to acquire a TEFL or CELTA certificate when teaching English overseas. The providers of these certificates usually offer a basic month long course that teaches you the ropes of teaching English overseas.
There are also online certificates to prepare you for teaching English overseas. If you are interested in an online course, you can take a quick look at my review of i-to-i aimed at those interested in teaching English overseas. However, many people in the profession feel that the online certificates are not nearly as valuable as certificates taught on site. Personally, I think there are valid arguments that can be made for both types of courses.
Finally, one important aspect is that many of these certificate providers also offer help in job placement. This can be a very important factor when deciding which course is right for you in your efforts to begin teaching English overseas.
For more information on certificates necessary for teaching English overseas you can refer to these resources on this site:
Getting a Teaching Certificate- TESOL Teacher Certification
ESL Teacher Training and Certification Resources
Getting Qualified as an ESL Teacher
Teaching English Overseas - Job Opportunities
Once you have received a teaching certificate you can begin teaching English overseas in a number of countries. It's best to take a look at some of the more important job boards to check out the opportunities. As you will quickly find out, teaching English overseas doesn't always pay very well, but there are a number of positions that will help out with housing and transport. Make sure to check out these ESL / EFL job board sites when you start applying for teaching English overseas.
TEFL.com - Probably the site with the most jobs posted.
ESL Employment - Another fantastic resource
Teaching English Overseas - Europe
Teaching English overseas requires different documentation for different countries. For example, if you are interested in teaching English overseas in Europe, it's very difficult to get a working permit if you are not a citizen of the European Union. Of course, if you are an American interested in teaching English overseas and are married to a European Union member, that's not a problem. If you are from the UK and interested in teaching English overseas on the continent - it's no problem at all.
Teaching English Overseas - Asia
Teaching English overseas in Asia generally offers many more opportunities to US citizens because of high demand. There are also a number of job placement agencies that will help you find work in teaching English overseas in Asia. As always, there are some horror stories out there, so beware and make sure to find a reputable agent.
Teaching English Overseas - Canada, UK, Australia and the USA
It's been my experience that the United States offers the fewest job opportunities of any of the native English speaking countries. That might be because of difficult visa restrictions. In any case, if you are teaching English overseas in a native English speaking country, you'll find opportunities abound for special summer courses. As always, rates aren't usually that high, and in some cases teaching English overseas also means being responsible for a certain number of student activities such as field trips and various sporting activities.
Teaching English Overseas - Long Term
If you are interested in teaching English overseas for more than just the short term, you should consider further training. In Europe the TESOL diploma and Cambridge DELTA diploma are popular options to deepen your teaching expertise. If you are interested in teaching English overseas at a university level, a master's degree in ESOL is certainly advisable.
Finally, one of the best long-term opportunities for teaching English overseas is in English for Specific Purposes. This is often known as business English. These jobs are often on-site in various workplaces and often offer better pay. They are also much harder to find. While teaching English overseas, you may want to move in this direction if you are interested in teaching English overseas as a career choice.
