1 Qualifications for Teaching Abroad

If your college degree offers a focus on education then you may already have a fair amount of the qualifications to teach overseas. It is important to note that each country has its own set of rules and regulations to oversee international teachers; by understanding the requirements of each country you will be able to readily select one for which you are the best fit.

In most countries a bachelors degree is the minimum level of education that you must possess in order to work in the country while some may not require that their teachers hold a bachelor's degree so long as they are native English speakers and are willing to teach your classes in English. You are, also, often not required to have any prior experience in teaching or tutoring non-English speakers. Of course, if you do happen to have experience doing so then you are only more likely to land a prime teaching position.

Many countries do not require their international teachers to have degrees with a focus on education; however, the requirements will be widely varied within most countries depending on the availability and demand for English teachers.

2Understanding the TEFL Certification for Teaching Abroad

The majority of countries who accept international teachers into their borders require that their teachers hold at least the TEFL Certification. The Teaching English As A Foreign Language certification is one that is readily available via online or in-class training sessions. Holding this certification will ensure that the processes for your work visa will move along a lot more smoothly. To get more information on the TEFL certification you could contact your local community college or visit www.teflcertification.com.

Your TEFL certification courses will provide you with an understanding of what it takes to teach English as a foreign language while also preparing you to enter the classroom as an English teacher. An added bonus is that the majority of the TEFL certification schools offer a job placement program that can help you land TEFL teaching jobs a lot faster than if you were to attempt it on your own.

3Housing Concerns for Teaching Abroad

Most schools that make the effort to hire an English teacher will also take the steps to provide accommodation for their TEFL teachers. While the accommodations are not likely to be lavish when teaching abroad, they will be comfortable and ensure that you have a private place to retreat to at the end of your busy day in the classroom.

If you will be teaching at a boarding school, a common educational institution abroad, then you may be housed in one of the student dormitories. Before you arrive in your destination country it is important that you understand what duties and responsibilities will fall to you as a result of living in school-provided facilities.

On the other hand, if you will be entirely responsible for seeking out accommodations for yourself then you should find out if your school will at least refer you to a person who speaks the native language who may be able to help you. It could prove to be a difficult task to find somewhere to stay in a city where you don't speak the language and don't know a soul.

Unless you plan on staying on at your school for longer than your contracted term then it makes little financial sense for you to seek out alternative accommodations that might cost you a lot more money.

4How Much Money Can Be Earned Teaching Abroad

The amount of money that you will be earning teaching abroad will vary depending on your teaching position, your qualifications, and also the country that you will be teaching in. The cost of living in the country will have a significant impact on your ability to live well. For example, if you are teaching and living in Mexico, you may be able to afford an incredibly high standard of living whereas your earned income would not get you very far in the USA.

Your offers and income potential will vary greatly between countries so it is important to carefully research everything that each country can offer you when considering a TEFL job.

5Your Students

Your students are likely to range in age from small children all the way up to corporate executives who are attempting to learn English as a means to be more productive in the global economy. Carefully consider each teaching position that may be offered to you to find out if your students may be out of your skill set. Not every person is best suited for teaching five year olds, just like not every teacher is skilled at teaching adults. Understanding and being realistic about the skills that you possess will help you to avoid a potential teaching nightmare once you land in your destination country.

6Teaching Job Resources

As already mentioned, the educational institution that you earn your TEFL certification could prove to be an excellent resource for job placement. There are, however, several other resources that you have at your fingertips.

• Online Job Boards

  Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com are two of the giants in online job listings; browse their database to find posted positions for teaching English overseas jobs.



• Pick A Country

  If you have a country in mind that you have been desperate to visit for some time then you should consider checking their government websites; very often their websites will contain job listings for vital roles – like teachers.

Regardless of the country that you select to teach in, you are sure to find that your teaching experience is one that is incredibly rewarding as you are given the opportunity to travel your new host country extensively, meet new people, and learn new languages!