Information on Being an English Teacher
One of the good jobs people can get overseas is that of being an English teacher. These jobs pay well, are easy to get, dont require many qualifications, and are very abundant. All you need to do is be a native English speaker with a university degree. In this modern age, English is the language of business so countries all over the world are looking to make their population proficient in this language. Thus, there is great opportunity for people.
In order to be a teacher overseas, you need three things: be a native speaker, have a university degree, and have a TEFL certificate. If you want to teach business or at an international school, youll need a higher level degree too. A TEFL certificate or the British counterpart, the CELTA, is a certificate course that potential English teachers take that teaching them how to teach English. The course lasts 120 hours and usually takes about a month. If you are a licensed teacher, you dont really need to take this course. However, if you dont have a teaching degree, most places want you to have a TEFL.
In most countries teachers have a lot of choice as to what level they will be teaching to, be it kindergarten all the way to working professionals. As mentioned above, the best-paid areas for English instructors are the Middle East and parts of Asia. Benefits in these areas usually include free housing, reimbursed round-trip airfare, covered or 50% of medical insurance, and salaries ranging from $24,000 to $36,000.
Teaching is a well paying job but is not a complete walk in the park. Being an English teacher abroad is easier than many other jobs but it is still a time and energy consuming task, especially if you work with little kids who demand your constant attention. As a teacher you will be expected to put in extra time making lesson plans, grading papers, and having office hours. There might even be events you need to attend.
For the best ESL teaching discussions and information, Daves ESL Caf is the best website on the Internet. Built by a lifelong ESL teacher, its forums are full of teachers from all over the world, and they can tell you exactly how things really are where you are considering teaching. Recruiters and schools can sometimes paint an overly rosy picture of the teaching situation, so it is good to have an objective view from the ground.
Being an English teacher overseas is a very rewarding experience. Youll get to live in a new culture, learn a new language, and make international friends. Teaching English is a wonderful way to earn a lot of money too as English teachers are very well paid. These jobs are paid and perfect for people with an adventurous spirit looking to do something new and exciting with their life.
