If you have native fluency in spoken and written English and enjoy interacting with people, teaching English as a foreign language could be your ticket to see the planet. There is nowhere in the world that you cannot work.
In some countries, you can earn more than in others, but it depends upon your motivation and your preference. Do you stay where the income is or travel to a place where the salaries are lower but somewhere you have always wanted to visit?
This guide goes over some considerations you’ll need to make if this career path—or even life path—interests you. Read on to discover how teaching English can be a wonderful way to see the world.
How Do You Organize a Teaching Job?
If you have teaching qualifications, it is easy to find jobs online from various sources. But some organizations don’t even require that—all they want is proof of your English fluency skills.
That said, the best-paid jobs tend to go to experienced teachers, so try to match your skills and experience to a suitable vacancy level. Interviews will usually be via video calls.
When thinking about a start date, it is common for people to overlook employment regulations in the destination country and border formalities. For instance, how long does a background check take? Will that impact your travel plans?
Find out during the interview who arranges the paperwork, like visas, and what travel expenses are covered. Some employers will book and pay for your flights.
Plan with your teaching schedule and apply for jobs with enough lead time to allow your new employer to set everything up.
The Most Popular Countries to Visit
It would be best to consider whether you want to travel to a popular country or somewhere less popular where you can have your pick of jobs and living places.
Japan is one of the most popular locations for a teaching job with good salaries, and flights and accommodation are also often included. Consequently, competition is fierce.
In contrast, Colombia is less in-demand but creeping ever higher on the English teacher’s favorite list. The country is safer than it has been for many years. While Colombia offers salaries of around $1,000 a month, which is much lower than other nations, the cost of living is low.
Colombia is a beautiful and diverse country with beaches, jungles, and mountains. The climate is largely sunny and warm year-round apart from Bogota, making it a wonderful place to explore on your days off.
Do You Need Certification as a Native English Speaker?
Most decent employers will require a proper TEFL qualification to consider you for employment. Certification is essential for the best-salaried jobs and countries with fierce competition amongst applicants.
Finding the right course can be both daunting and confusing, but many advice guides online can help you filter to find the right match.
Final Thoughts
Teaching English as a foreign language is attractive for many people, especially if they want to travel the world and still get paid to do it. Once they start, they just can’t stop. It’s a very rewarding job and perfect for those with itchy feet – the world is your oyster.