| here really any ESL jobs for me? | | | | However, if you are in the country itself, you can often |
| Yes, there are. Rightly or wrongly, the whole world | | | | work on a monthly basis if it suits you better. For a |
| wants to learn English. People everywhere, especially | | | | few government-sponsored programs—eg, the |
| young people, are convinced that speaking good | | | | Peace Corps or JET—a minimum two-year |
| English is their passport to a successful career. What | | | | contract is obligatory. |
| is more, they are being encouraged in this by many | | | | Do I have to get a work permit and residence visa? |
| governments. Worldwide, there are many more ESL | | | | To work legally in a foreign country you need a work |
| jobs than there are native-speaking EFL teachers to fill | | | | permit, with which you can then get a resident's visa. |
| them (though it should not be forgotten that English is | | | | You should be aware that working in a foreign country |
| also taught by perfectly competent non-native | | | | without a work permit is usually a criminal offence in |
| teachers). EMT (English mother tongue) teachers are | | | | that country and you render yourself liable to |
| in high demand in virtually all parts of the world. | | | | imprisonment, fines and/or deportation. Having said that, |
| However, EMT teachers may find it more difficult to | | | | many EFL teachers do work illegally in many parts of |
| break into other English-speaking countries. And in | | | | the world. |
| general, schools in Western Europe express a | | | | So how do I get this work permit? |
| preference for teachers with an EU passport as | | | | You won't get any work permit without a job, or at |
| working papers are then automatic. | | | | least a firm job offer. Once you have that, your |
| So where are all these ESL jobs? | | | | employer will normally sponsor you and take care of |
| Everywhere. Though you must realize that economic | | | | the necessary paperwork. |
| conditions in individual countries do impose restrictions | | | | Who will I be teaching? |
| on supply and demand. Virtually all parts of the | | | | This depends to some extent on the school, but in |
| world—Latin America, Asia, Eastern/Central | | | | general all kinds of people are learning English. You |
| Europe, Western Europe— welcome | | | | may be asked to teach students of all ages, of all |
| native-speaking teachers. Africa has some demand, | | | | levels, in groups or one-to-one, general English, business |
| but less so. There is, of course, also demand in | | | | English, exam preparation and so on. The more flexible |
| English-speaking countries such as the UK, USA and | | | | you are in this respect the more hours you will |
| Australia. | | | | probably get. Schools are usually quite sensitive to their |
| Which countries pay best? | | | | teachers' capabilities and will try to match you to the |
| If making money is your chief preoccupation you'd be | | | | most appropriate students. |
| better off becoming a lawyer and going into politics. | | | | What are typical working hours? |
| There are no really rich pickings in teaching, though | | | | Schools in most countries will expect you to work five |
| there are other compensations. However, in | | | | days a week, with 20 to 25 contact hours (plus |
| comparative terms the highest paying jobs are in | | | | preparation time). Depending on your |
| Western Europe; the oil-producing countries of the | | | | contract—full-time or hourly—you may |
| Arabian Gulf; and in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Some | | | | have something like 6 or 8 weeks of paid holidays (if |
| jobs within the English-speaking countries may also be | | | | you're paid by the hour you may get no paid holidays, |
| reasonably well paid. | | | | just a higher hourly rate). In some of the better paid |
| Must I have a university degree to teach English? | | | | Asian countries such as Korea or Japan you may be |
| A degree is often not required to teach EFL/ESL. The | | | | required to teach much longer hours and receive less |
| more important qualification is some kind of TEFL | | | | time for holidays. You should be aware that though it |
| certificate. Experience can also count highly. The snag | | | | may not seem much, 25 contact hours a week is |
| is that in many countries, especially in Asia and the | | | | actually more than enough for most human beings, and |
| Middle East, a working permit will not be granted | | | | anything over that—especially on a long-term |
| without a degree. So a degree is more to satisfy the | | | | basis—can be quite strenuous. |
| country's authorities than the language institute's real | | | | How much will I be paid? |
| requirements. With a TEFL certificate, it is certainly | | | | Not enough! :-( Don't enter TEFL for money's sake. It's |
| possible to find work without a degree, but you should | | | | difficult to quantify earnings as they vary so much |
| check the country's legal requirements in | | | | from country to country and are in any event relative. |
| advance—or be prepared to work illegally, which | | | | In most places, with a reputable employer, you will earn |
| is not unheard of. | | | | enough to get by comfortably in local terms. However, |
| Can my partner go with me? | | | | very few countries or jobs will allow you to live well |
| You can usually take your wife or husband with you if | | | | and save money. In general, you need to consider the |
| you have been offered a legal job with visa and | | | | cost of living of the country you are in. For example, a |
| working permit. However, she or he may not be | | | | miserable pittance in Eastern Europe may in fact allow |
| allowed to work and you may find it difficult to support | | | | you to live better than a relatively high monthly salary in |
| a dependant on a teacher's income. If, however, your | | | | Japan. |
| partner is also an EFL teacher, you could probably | | | | What currency will I be paid in? |
| both find work in the same school or town. | | | | Almost always you will be paid in the local currency. |
| What about taking children abroad? | | | | Will I earn enough to send money home? |
| With a legal job you can usually obtain a resident's visa | | | | Unlikely, unless you are particularly frugal. In the Middle |
| for your children, though again you may have difficulty | | | | East and some Asian countries, you may be able to |
| in supported them on a teacher's income. There would | | | | save worthwhile amounts of money to send home. |
| also be the question of their education, which in some | | | | Elsewhere, you are unlikely to be able to save much, if |
| cases would prove exorbitantly expensive. | | | | anything, and may in any case find that exchange |
| Should I find a job before going abroad? | | | | controls make it impossible to repatriate your savings. |
| Very much up to you and the country in question. If | | | | What happens with taxes? |
| you like adventure, and have a good TEFL | | | | If you are legally employed you will usually be taxed at |
| certificate—and perhaps a degree for working | | | | source and pay taxes and other relevant charges to |
| permit purposes—you might jet off with the | | | | the local government. |
| reasonable confidence of finding work when you land. | | | | What about accommodation? |
| If you are a little more staid, or nervous, or | | | | You are more likely to have accommodation arranged |
| cash-strapped, you might do better to fix it all up | | | | and perhaps paid for or subsidized if you secure a job |
| before leaving. This is six of one and half-a-dozen of | | | | in advance with a contract of one year or more, |
| the other. Employers in some countries actually prefer | | | | especially for jobs in Asia or the Middle East. You may |
| to see the whites of your eyes and are not interested | | | | find, however, that you are expected to share such |
| in talk of video-conferencing or Internet interviews. | | | | accommodation with other teachers. |
| Other employers may have agents in your own | | | | And travel? Will the school pay for it? |
| country and prefer to recruit in that way. | | | | Again, for contracts arranged overseas in advance, |
| How do I arrange a job from home? | | | | travel is often paid for. It is much more difficult to get |
| First of all, watch the job advertisements in | | | | travel subsidies for jobs that you sign up for on the |
| newspapers and online, and contact possible | | | | spot. |
| employers. Check out sites such as TEFL Net ESL | | | | Will I have health insurance? |
| Jobs. You can also post your resume online to let | | | | Many countries outside Europe and North America |
| employers know that you are available for work. | | | | have little or no national health service and you will |
| How do I know that a foreign employer is reputable? | | | | need to check with the school whether they provide |
| If you are employed by an international organization | | | | private cover, or be prepared to pay a little extra to |
| such as the British Council or International House you | | | | sign up for a local healthcare programme. |
| have probably already some knowledge of that | | | | What about private lessons? |
| organization's status and reputation, or can easily verify | | | | In general, employment contracts exclude the possibility |
| it. For less well known institutions, try looking on Internet | | | | of taking on private students without prior permission |
| forums for more information or ask the employer to | | | | from your employer. However, if your regular teaching |
| put you in contact with existing or past employees. | | | | is going well, many employers will not prevent you |
| Is there a specific time when most jobs start? | | | | from taking on private students (as long as you find |
| Generally speaking, teaching EFL is a year-round | | | | them yourself and do not take them from the |
| business with no particular calendar or holidays. Even if | | | | employer). |
| schools employ teachers at the start of their | | | | What if I really don't fit with the job or the country? |
| "academic year", teachers leave or additional clients | | | | Most employers know that an unhappy teacher is a |
| arrive unexpectedly so job opportunities arise during | | | | bad teacher. If you are genuinely unhappy with your |
| the course of the year. It is true, however, that in | | | | position, they will often allow you to quit as soon as |
| Europe there is a particular demand for teachers to | | | | they can find a replacement. If, however, they have |
| start in September or October. | | | | incurred costs such as travel or visa arrangements, |
| How long a commitment will I have to make? | | | | you may be required to repay some or all of those |
| Most good employers will expect you to sign a | | | | costs. In general, you should thoroughly research the |
| contract for at least one year, especially for a job | | | | job and country you are going to in advance to avoid |
| arranged in advance with airfare and accommodation. | | | | such a situation. |