Four Steps to Become an English Language Teacher Abroad and Travel The World

A lot of people dream of living in a foreign country for a while to broaden their horizons. It isn’t easy to immigrate to many countries unless you can bring an important skill. Teaching English is one of those skills that allow people to move to another country since English language skills are in high demand.

To make a move abroad to teach English you have to understand a few things so the process can go smoothly. It isn’t the same as finding a job in another city in your home country. In this article, we will go over what it takes to teach English abroad.

Ste 1 – Get certified

There are several different types of certifications available for those interested in becoming a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher. The most common types of certifications include:

TEFL certification: This is the most widely recognized certification for teaching English abroad. It typically involves completing a course of study, which can be done in-person or online, and includes a practicum component in which you observe and/or teach real English language students.

TESOL certification: TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is similar to TEFL, but is more geared towards those who want to teach English in a non-foreign setting, such as in an English-speaking country to non-native speakers.

CELTA certification: CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a highly respected and internationally recognized certification for teaching English to adult learners. It is offered through the University of Cambridge and involves a combination of in-class and online study, as well as practical teaching experience.

DELTA certification: DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a more advanced certification for those who already have a TEFL or TESOL certification and want to further their teaching skills and knowledge. It is also offered through the University of Cambridge and involves more in-depth study and practical teaching experience.

It is important to research the different certification options and choose one that is reputable and meets your specific needs and goals as a TEFL teacher.

Step 2 – Pick a Country

You have the entire world available to you potentially as an English teacher. Unless you have your heart set on one particular country, you should weigh your options for many different countries and pick the one that you think is the best fit. The best place to start is to find a country that has a high demand for English and where there aren’t that many teachers so you will be sought out.

For instance, Japan is a country that has a lot of international businesses so the people there are very keen on learning English. Because it is expensive and the culture is so different, there aren’t as many teachers that go there as in some other countries. You just need to apply to some schools and then focus on renting in Sapporo Japan.

Developing countries also have some demand for English teachers and the cost of living is low but there are other challenges to deal with such as poor infrastructure.

Step 3 – Try to Specialize

You can have success finding a job even in a competitive area when you have a specialization that sets you apart from the other teachers. You should look into a specific area of teaching to focus on and you will be sought after.

For instance, you can teach business English to people looking to work in an international company. Or, you can teach medical English to doctors and healthcare professionals.

Being a general English teacher won’t help you stand out from the crowd. It may take more time to learn how to teach English this way and some certifications may be required but this is worth the time and expense.

Step 4 – Understand the Bureaucracy

Moving to another country involves a lot of paperwork. The first thing you need to do is figure out the visa situation. Many countries will require you to have a work visa to be able to live there.

Sometimes the visa also requires you to have a certain amount of money in a bank account and to have your own private health insurance. Make sure that you talk to the consulate for that specific country to understand what you need to be able to get a visa.

Some will allow you a visa to come to the country and hunt for a job while others require you to have a job offer to be able to apply.  Be sure to research living and working requirements and conditions before completing your applications.