Requirements in order to Teach English Abroad

After thinking about, and ultimately deciding that you will make that transition to expat life and Teach English Abroad, one of the key things that you will need to know is what is required of you when you’re looking for that job in a foreign country. After all, would you apply for any job unless you were qualified? It probably isn’t that way in your country, and I guarantee you that it won’t be that way anywhere else. So, to the interested and excited individual, it’s important to understand the requirements for Teaching English Abroad, and respect them the way you would any other job.

Educational Requirements for Teaching English Abroad

You’re planning to move overseas to Teach people in other countries how to speak English. What’s the key function in said job? Exactly! Teach! Keep the teachers you worked with, and the teachers you knew in mind when you’re thinking about making this move. Teachers are well-educated, they understand the teaching process better than you (They have more experience teaching!), and you know what you know because of them. When we look at teachers for the first time, it’s important to know that we naturally assume that they went to school and graduated with almost a complete understanding of the subject that they are teaching. If not, they wouldn’t be up there in the first place. Do you think that teachers are viewed differently in other countries? This is why most countries ask that you have a bachelor’s degree in hand before you think about applying for work as an English Teacher Abroad. It says that you’re an expert of sorts, and you’ve been educated to the point that you completed university. Now, let’s turn things around, and change the audience a little bit. You walk into a classroom for the first time, you take a seat, and you get your notebook (or laptop!) ready to take notes. When you see the teacher for the first time, wouldn’t you want that person to be educated, an authority on the subject that you’re trying to learn? You’re counting on them to give you the education you need. It’s the very least that you can ask for. Not only do qualified teachers know what they’re doing, they understand how to do it. They’re able to present and demonstrate how content works, which is important if you want to effectively use it when you finally begin your chosen career. I’m pretty sure you see how and why it’s important to have that aptitude when you decide you want to teach foreigners how to speak English. If you have it, they are more likely to listen and positively respond to your teaching methods.

Visa Requirements for Teaching English Abroad

After going to school, and deciding to take another important step in your personal growth by becoming an English teacher, you also need to look into the entry requirements for the country you want to teach in. They do vary from country to country, and from person to person, so make sure you follow them to the letter. Let’s go over a few scenarios to consider while we think about Visa Requirements. You could be an American with a parent, or maybe both parents who came from Spain. In this case, they not only gave you American Citizenship from being born in the United States, but they also conferred Spanish Citizenship over to you. In which case, all you have to do is get your passport, and you’ll be able to walk into the country (and the rest of the European Union, for that matter) without any problems. Such is true if you’re a citizen of another country in the European Union. You’ll be able to enter the country without any problems, and deal with any and all necessary administrative procedures (Residency, Social Security, etc.) in the country. You’ll also likely not have much of a language barrier as you’ll be able to speak English and Spanish at a native level.  Most of us, on the other hand, aren’t from Spain, so we will certainly have to do a little bit more before we can apply for a visa. However, there could one or two little things that can help ease your entry into your country of choice. The government in Thailand, for example, has abolished the rule that prohibits tourists from being in the country for more than ninety days in a six-month period. Indonesia has an entry-visa that can be purchased on the ground before you leave the airport. It’s certainly something to think about if you want to stay there for two months instead of one. In Spain, if you can show the government that you’re studying, you’ll be granted a student visa, which is valid up to one year, and this will allow you to work part-time while you’re studying Spanish, for example (Of course, this is conferred to those who aren’t Spanish or E.U. Citizens). Yes, visa requirements for each country vary, so it’s important to make sure that you do your research carefully to enter your desired country legally. Once you’re in the country, it will be up to you to make sure that you have adequate health care and sufficient means to take care of yourself. If you have all the necessary pieces to make this experience possible, then you’ll be among those willing to venture into places that you otherwise wouldn’t have known existed.

Get Certified to Teach English Abroad

You have your educational requirements, and you have your visa. What else do you need to Teach English abroad? You’ll certainly want to get yourself certified as an English Teacher. Academies, agencies, and companies all over the world have a need for English teachers with your drive and determination. When you’re thinking about where and how you want to teach English abroad, you’ll need to know the mechanics of the English language, the how-to when it comes to delivering classes, and practice in front of a certified instructor. This is common practice. Of course, one could certainly find a TEFL Certification Course in one’s own country. One of the great appeals to doing this in the country you want to be resident in is the fact that you get to experience the country before you ultimately decide if you want to stay. This is the period when you’re excited, nervous, and you just got off the plane. TEFL Certification classes introduce you to like-minded people, and also put you in a room with people who’ve been in the country for a longer period of time. You get yourself settled into the course, you meet your fellow students, and you begin the routine of classwork, and maybe for the first time in a couple of years. Over the 120-hour course, you’ll gain invaluable experience that you will definitely need as you look for work. That’s the key thing when it comes to finding work as an English Teacher. It’s something that you can put on your C.V. (or resume, depending on where you’re from in the world). The more practice you get with teaching, the more of a style you’ll develop, and the more confident you become as you progress through your career, however long it may be. You’ll learn how the grammar and vocabulary work, and you’ll learn how to transmit it in a way that’s understandable to people who are trying to learn it.

So, three steps…… one, two, three. Education, Visa, Certification. What happens beyond the requirements is up to you. You can meet other English teachers, you can look online, you can print your C.V. and go door-to-door. How you show your drive and energy is up to you. There is something exciting about looking for a job after giving up whatever you had from wherever you came from. Always remember that you are looking for a job, and that job requires certain skills in order to be successful. You need it to find a job, and your students need it in you to that they can learn the language that you’ve innately known your entire life. You’re looking for jobs in foreign countries, so respect their immigration laws, and when you gain entry, respect their every other law, and the people who’ve grown up abiding by them, and they’ll welcome you like one of their own. You need to be certified as a teacher to find work as a teacher. The best way to do that is with a TEFL Training Course. You can decide where you take it, as they’re offered in hundreds of major cities all over the world. The point that I’m trying to make with this passage is simply to respect everything that comes with the job as you aspire to do something that you’ll never forget. Approach it with the dignity it deserves, be mindful of where you are when you do it, and you’ll walk away with more than a lifetime of unforgettable memories.