Teach English abroad

You can teach English abroad pretty much anywhere - being a native English speaker is a huge advantage when it comes to teaching!

Where can you teach English abroad?

Popular places to teach include the Far East and South and Central America. You can even teach in an English-speaking country, if you are in an area with a high number of non-English speaking people (although you will probably find getting a work permit difficult).

Who will you be teaching English to?

The type of teaching you do can vary. You may choose to do a variety, or perhaps you would prefer to specialise in teaching business English to adults. You may even be hired for a particular project - for example, if a business person needs to give a presentation to an English-speaking audience. You might choose to teach English as a volunteer, rather than as a paid worker, or incorporate it into a volunteering project.

What about the local language?

When you first start teaching, you will usually be given an interpreter in your class if you don't speak the language. Learning some basics in the local language before you go will be helpful though.

When can you teach English abroad?

You can go pretty much any time, but if you have a particular country in mind, check when the academic year starts, and if it's possible to start in the middle of it (if you want to). Your TEFL course provider will be able to help you with this.

Top tips on teaching English abroad

If you've never taught before, make sure you take a course which includes teaching practice (to actual language students)
If you're a teacher, you might feel that a shorter course will suffice (they are cheaper overall but can sometimes be more expensive per hour)
Shop around for a course that suits you - there are lots of providers and they offer different courses, qualifications and teaching methods
If you want to go straight into a job, use a course provider which has its own schools abroad
Having a teaching qualification can give you a lot of freedom to work and travel - but make sure you get one which is widely-recognised throughout the world.