Teaching English Abroad: What to Know Before You Go

A Number of our fans have asked us about teaching abroad and specifically about teaching English or other foreign languages abroad. Here we go over some of the tips and tricks and some advice so you can teach English abroad and not have the bureaucratic issues that many face. From getting your TEFL Certificate to watching out for bad programs.
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Copyright Mark Wolters 2017

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[KartoffelHundin]

I'm currently in Japan, teaching English on the JET Programme. I highly recommend it; good, guaranteed salary and lots of help with getting your life set up, but still lots of independence and travel opportunities.

[craigchambers]

My son teaches English for a company in S. Korea. He was, of course, qualified and it took a process. They love him and he loves living there.

[What-tn]

I suck in speaking German, I suck in speaking English, I suck in speaking Spanish, and I suck in speaking French. Well, maybe I should not become a teacher at all:) Good video Walter

[rachellerachelle]

Nice video Walter - I like the fact that you focus on having some sort of certificate (at the very least). So many people think that because they speak English, they can teach it. Also, for those of you out there who want to teach, think about if the reverse was true - if you were spending hard-earned money on a language teacher, wouldn't you want them to be at least somewhat qualified, and not some person off the street who thought they could make some money?

I've been teaching for 18 years abroad (4 different countries overall), and in my experience I would say this:

-If you are not from Europe and/or do not have the right to work in the EU (most Americans, Canadians, etc.) you will find it very difficult, if not impossible to find a job there (EU countries). There's an incredible amount of red tape that schools (and you) have to go through to prove that you are more qualified than any other European who could possibly do that job. Things are a little easier if you look at non-EU European countries, but the pay will not be great.
-Language teachers don't make a lot of money in most countries (survival-level pay) so you need to consider whether or not you want to try to make money, or just supplement your income/travels.
-Some cheap countries to live in will accept teachers with minimal or no qualifications, but you will not earn much and/or it will a volunteer position (quite common in SE Asia).
-If you want a better chance of landing a job and/or some decent money, having at least a Bachelor's degree AND a TEFL/TESL certificate is the bare minimum you need. Even better is having a Master's degree, ideally in something related to language or education (although not always necessary). With that you can get university teaching jobs which are much more stable and pay more (and have long holidays). Also, having some language ability in the country you are interested in can help (though it's not always required).
-Japan and the Middle East offer the best opportunities in terms of long contracts and money and decent employers (although you should always do your homework). South Korea is another option, but it can be hit or miss as to getting a quality work environment. Research, research, research - and be prepared for conditions to be different than what you were led to believe. China pays less money (unless you can get into a foreign-based university) but the cost of living is cheaper, especially if you don't live in any of the big cities (this is true for most countries).
-Japan has the JET Programme, which is generally for people who are freshly graduated with Bachelor's degrees (minimum requirement), but it's hard to get in. As an alternative, there are plenty of ALT (assistant language teacher) positions that you can get directly with a school, or more commonly with dispatch companies -- but in both cases, you have to do a lot of research - many of these companies employ shady practices and you can end up working your tail off for very little money. In Japan I would say the bare minimum for a starting salary should be 3 million yen, but you will be living very cheaply and paycheck-to-paycheck at that range. Better is if you can get 3.5-4 million yen, then you might have some money to travel and/or pay off student loans. Better still is getting a job with a 5 million yen starting salary, but most of those jobs would be in universities and/or businesses.
-I don't know much about Central and South America - there are many opportunities there, but again, you have to check that with salary expectations and cost of living.

[OnTheGoWithCarson]

Tons of my friends are wanting to teach abroad so this is a very useful video. Thanks!

[PatMaxAdventures]

Thanks for sharing this video Walter! I have been teaching English in Korea for the past three years and you are required to have TEFL to teach int he public school system here.

[sofia_t_]

I love your videos sooo much and I always feel like you're talking to me...!! So, when I saw this video, I was so suprised cause right now I'm looking for an ELT job in the UK! :-)

[ronni]

And make sure to look up what kind of English the specific country teaches. A lot of them teach UK english instead of US english if we talk public and/ or private school's.

[loris]

I would enjoy a meet up in Italy if September travel is still a go

[jd-pynm]

I have always wanted to teach abroad in Japan but Europe would be amazing to!

[benksy]

You don't need any certificates depending on where you go.

[scottishgirl]

this was something I did consider in my early 20s. i was wanting to teach in Europe. If I did decided to teach I would be lucky because I have my UK citizenship thanks to my mom being born in Scotland! I am Canadian so we allow duel citizenship!

[emmalinsofie]

Omg ! I'm going to college just to become an English teacher ! I'm so scared but excited!! I'm leaning towards teaching in Turkey or Germany I was wondering how you could get a private teaching job ? (Teaching English in a private family setting) if that makes sense !! Also binged watched your videos 💖💖

[SUpersaiyajinjerkbag]

Teach English to teach English (Not to travel). Never look for your work in one place; and your progress in another. Be a travel writer (or blogger?) if you want to travel

[sguardoacuto]

Neuebenos, ojuitos videos! Muchas pizdados gracias!

[mckenna]

mark. Do you have any idea about a curriculum for teaching English in Europe or throughout the world ? I'm actually a teacher and I do have my endorsement for teaching English as a second language.... but that is in America where these folks are inundated with English already. is there a curriculum that they usually use in foreign countries?

[LiveInSydney]

Evening from sydney you lot! And Night to those in the Southern Hemisphere!
Bernie in sydney

[kinosilenzio]

Mark, I am a big fan and you seem a great guy however your video on this is way too short and way too simplistic, the TESOL world is a minefield. While it can be great if you happen to be at the higher end, there are a lot of cowboys, scams and other things to negotiate. A TESOL is no longer enough if you want to work in a reputable school/university. For Korea for example you will need to spend a lot on notaries and apostles. Then you (might also) need a criminal record check and preferably for universities an MA minimum (that is if you want a real university, there are some colleges that call themselves universities). And that's before you even get to the visa. Another thing that irks me is the fact schools expect teachers to be in country or to travel across the world with no guarantee of a job! When it comes to Europe it seems a lot of countries rely on the teacher being a freelancer. I've not yet worked in Europe but this is one of the things that puts me off. Just my 2c worth but I think this subject demands a lot more than 2.36 considering the time you give to other videos.

[jallenwa]

Currently weighing up whether to enroll in an online TEFL course. Do you need a university degree to teach abroad?

[CaptianCapibara]

Hey Mark, got a question. I have a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language and have experience working with adult ELLs. Do you think it would still be necessary to get the TEFL certificate for employment ?