Teaching English
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
One way to travel — or to pay for your travels — is to get a job overseas teaching English. If you want to spend several years in a destination, this is a popular way to earn a living. Jobs worth considering as a long-term prospect — or even as a career — are widely available. They generally require qualifications and experience; see Certificates below. In many such positions, the benefits include airfare and housing, though there is great variation from country to country and by type of institution.
Other jobs might do to supplement a backpacker's income, or even let you live somewhere interesting for a year. For some of these jobs, especially in remote areas, anyone who looks foreign and speaks some English can get work. Again, details vary greatly.
Speaking the local language is not generally required for the job itself, though it may be quite useful in beginner classes and will make your stay far easier and more pleasant in other ways.
JargonThe students are learning ESL (English as a Second Language) or EFL (English as a Foreign Language), or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
TestsA good score on an English test is almost always required for students whose native language is not English to study at a university that uses English (sometimes even when the university has a different primary…
The workEnglish is weird. It can be understood through tough, thorough thought, though. Teaching ESL (or any other language) has much in common with any other teaching, but also has its own unique challenges.
CertificatesAnyone contemplating more than a bit of casual work in this field should seriously consider getting some training. Training can make it a good deal easier to survive in a classroom and can help you be a better teacher.
DestinationsPopular destinations for paying English teaching jobs include
Pay and conditionsNearly all ESL jobs that hire from overseas include worthwhile benefits, though there is great variation from country to country and employer to employer.
Looking for workThere are many ways to look for work in the field. One option is to narrow down your areas and then send out letters or emails with your resume included.
Other ways to teach abroadThere are many other ways to live abroad. See Working abroad for some details. Here we cover those that involve teaching.
Online teaching materialsMany sites offer teaching materials, lesson plans, or related ideas.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Teaching English" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: USMC-080305-M-2385V-002.jpg, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons