So You Want to Teach Overseas?
Maybe you’re thinking about what it would be like to teach overseas, or you’re trying to figure out how to actually get there. What documents do you need? What experience do you need? Where should you teach? What should you teach? Here are some tips and things to consider before you make the jump.
What Documents Do I Need?
Each country will have its own requirements, and depending on the type of school you teach at, each school could have its own requirements as well. Three documents that are a good idea to have are:
Bachelor’s Degree
Criminal Background Check
TEFL certificate
How Should I Prepare to Teach Abroad?
Try to get as much exposure to teaching as you can. If you have the chance, try to get involved in volunteering teaching. If you’re still in college, see if you can add some educational electives to your schedule. Books, of course, are a great resource. While decent books about ESL are unfortunately hard to find, teaching is teaching, no matter if it’s ESL or not.
Start getting familiar with different cultures. Watch some foreign movies or see if there are any international student groups at your college. If you know what country or countries you’re interested in, look up information online about culture or geography. Dare yourself to go to a new restaurant and try some food you’ve never tried before from another culture!
Where Do You Want to Teach?
Speaking of different countries, you’ve got to decide where you want to teach? Obviously, if you teach in a country in the same culture zone as you, it might be easier to adapt to the culture, but don’t let cultural differences scare you. You’re going to experience culture shock no matter where you go, so choose a place that feels right to you! I would advise having a few options in case one country is particularly strict on teacher qualifications or the job market is flooded at the time you’re planning to head over.
Where Exactly Do You Want to Teach?
You might have chosen your country, but within each country, there’s a lot of variety. Start looking at what type of cities you would want to live in. I would break it down into big cities vs. small ones. Both have their perks, of course. In a big city, traveling around the country will be more convenient, you’ll have better access to foreign products or foreign foods, more people will speak English, and it might be a little easier to adapt to if you’re from a first-world country. Small towns, though, can give you a better exposure to the culture, you’ll learn the language faster out of necessity, it might be easier to become friends with locals, and a slower pace of life might be right up your alley.
What Kind of School Do You Want to Teach at?
Kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, universities, training centers—the list goes on and on. Keep in mind your teaching experience, personal preferences, and language preferences. Kindergartens will generally have the lowest requirements for teachers, and to work in a university, you will probably already need teaching experience. Do you prefer working with kids, teenagers, or adults? What type of English do you want to teach? Do you love getting into the nitty-gritty of grammar? Then high school might be perfect for you. Do you prefer teaching simple vocabulary? Kids might be a better choice. Interested in teaching business English terms? Universities or training centers will definitely give you that opportunity.
What Else Do You Need to Know?
My last piece of advice is to just do your research. Research the country, research the city, research the school or company you’re interested in. Look for reviews online on Glassdoor or Linkd In. Of course, take everything you read with a grain of salt because no two people’s experiences will ever be the same. And, at the same time, don’t get too caught up or worried about all the research. When I first visited China, I knew nothing more than Jacky Chan and the Great Wall. You’ll definitely learn as you go!