As over 2 billion people in the world continue their insatiable rush to learn English, the lingua franca of international business, technical jobs, diplomacy, and higher education, most job opportunities abroad continue to be for those who teach English. Your primary credential is simply being a native speaker of the English language, but a bachelor's degree is often required. Some formal training, such as a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, is almost always a plus or a prerequisite, especially if you have no previous experience as a teacher.
Your ability to teach English as a second language (TESL) may be all you need to obtain a job and a work permit in various countries across Asia and Latin America, and many other ESL jobs exist in desirable locations worldwide.
Guide to Teaching English as a Second Language Abroad by Ted Campbell
10 practical tips in an essential guide, including key resources provided by an experienced expat who has taught extensively in Mexico and South Korea.
How a TEFL Certificate Abroad Leads to a Teaching Job by Linda Dunsmore
An experienced teacher provides practical recommendations and tips for gaining a TEFL Certificate overseas as a path to English teaching jobs worldwide. With the demand for teachers still very strong, there are so many great options.
Below are featured stories written
by those who have traveled and lived long-term in some of the
most popular countries to teach English.
Teachers share their experiences and provide tips with resources
to help you live and teach abroad successfully.
Teach
English in Asia and Southeast Asia
Teach
English in Asia: Finding a Job by
Susan Griffith
An expert on work abroad and author of a classic book
on teaching English abroad provides an overview of
the many job options in Asia, along with rich resources.
The
Best Countries to Teach English in Asia by
Michael Hines
Many nations in Asia share a desire to learn English
and most are experiencing a strong demand for teachers.
From South Korea to Vietnam, most Asian countries
are in racing to get their population to learn the lingua
franca of globalization.
Live
and Teach English in Smiling Chiang Mai
Voted one of the friendliest cities in the world,
Chiang Mai is an ideal place to dip your toes into
the world of teaching. The relaxed environment and
low-key attitude make for a gentle introduction to
TEFL for those just getting their feet wet.
The
Guide to Teaching English and Living in Bangkok
Bangkok has a high demand for English teachers in
many different types of schools, from corporate training
centers to small private schools to public schools
with 50 students per class. There are opportunities
for beginning teachers as well as those with more
experience.
Teaching
English and Living in Japan
A practical guide by a teacher experienced in countries
across Asia. The author provides you with detailed
inside tips and resources you need to find a job.
Teach
English in Japan: You Can Do It!
Teaching and living in Japan for over a year was eye-opening
for the author, who provides useful resources and
inspiration.
Teach
English in South Korea: Own Your Adventure
A snapshot of the world of teaching in South Korea,
where the still economically booming and transitioning
country is swept up in a fever to learn the language.
Resources and tips from an experienced teacher.
Teach
English in Latin America: Finding a Job
An expert on work abroad and author of a classic
book on teaching English abroad,
Susan Griffith
provides a resource-rich overview of the many options
in Latin America.
Teaching
English and Living in Mexico
...I was still looking for a job. I had long thought
about trying to live overseas and I knew that teaching
was a great vehicle for doing so, so I enrolled in
a 1-month crash course in Teaching English to Speakers
of Other Languages (TESOL) to figure out how to do
it.
Teaching
English and Living in Brazil
The demand for English teachers in Brazil, including
beautiful Rio, is quite high, reports one who has
taught in the country for many years.
Teach
English in Argentina A guide to the various opportunties to teach
in Argentina. Work can be found in Buenos Aires, Bariloche
and other cities where the demand for English teachers
is greatest.
How
to Find Jobs Teaching English in Santiago, Chile
Practical insider tips to get a teaching job in a
city for those qualified to teach, usually requiring
a B.A. and a TEFL certificate, which call also be
acquired on site.
Teach
English in Western Europe
Teach
English in Europe: Finding a Job
Expert and author Susan Griffith provides a resource-intensive
overview of the job possibilities for teaching in
Europe.
Teach
English in Spain: Open Up Opportunities
An experience on the Teach in Spain program with CIEE
transformed the life of Sagan Pope, led her to 5 years
in the country and to success thereafter.
Inside
the Paid Teaching Assistant Program in France by
Sarena Tien
A rare opportunity for Americans to find work abroad
teaching English in France. Use your stipend to travel,
explore the culture and learn French.
Teaching
English in Spain
The many advantages of working as an English language
assistant in a program sponsored by the Spanish government.
How
to Find Work Teaching English in Italy
Practical tips and resources for finding and landing
jobs teaching English in Italy. With EU regulations
quite strict for long-term work, you must do your
research.
Teach
English in Central and Eastern Europe
Teach
English in the Czech Republic
What is involved in teaching in the new Czech Republic,
part of the EU, as described by a long-time teacher.
Teaching
English in the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean (Non-European)
Teaching
English and Living in Morocco
Author of a fine book on Morocco, Lucas M. Peters
describes what you need to know to teach English in
a beautiful land, with very hospitable people, where
jobs are ever increasing.
