Grew up in an English speaking country? Or your Mum and Dad taught you to speak English? Or both? Congratulations! You have a talent that is in huge demand and that can take you just about anywhere in the world. Teaching English as a second or foreign language.

The world is growing smaller day-by-day. Increasing globalization in the business world combined with the phenomenal growth of the Internet mean demand for a truly international language has never been greater. And that language is English.

The demand for English is such that a native speaker could probably finance (or substantially subsidize) a global tour without any kind of training or qualification. Indeed, that is what many people do.

However, given the immense and likely increasing demand for English, English teaching is an extremely good career choice. Not only are qualified, experienced English teachers are unlikely to be unemployed for very long but the profession offers the true job satisfaction that comes from the knowledge you are genuinely giving something to others.

Becoming an English Teacher

So, how do you become a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL)?

The answers are many and various and range from strapping on a backpack and buying a plane ticket to an exotic destination through to taking a Master’s degree.

Teaching is very much a practical skill and you will find that no matter how academic study you’ve completed you will feel pretty overwhelmed when you encounter your first real learners. Don’t panic, you’ll quickly get better with practice. And, if it’s any reassurance even experienced teachers sometimes give dogs of lessons.

Try to build a rapport with your students and to develop an awareness of how a lesson is being received. Is the topic too easy or too difficult? Are the students interested or bored? You should have some sort of plan for every lesson, ie what you want the students to get out of it and how you hope to achieve it. However, if a lesson isn’t working, don’t be afraid to tear up the plan and improvise according to the needs of the moment.

The important thing is to be your own harshest critic. If a lesson doesn’t go as you intended, ask yourself how you can make things better. Remember, if your learners have been exposed to real English – and better still used some themselves – the lesson has been worthwhile.

Teacher Training

I can’t over-emphasize that teaching is something you learn by doing. However teacher training courses are useful, as they will introduce you to a range of techniques that you can employ to help your learners learn. They will also remind, or teach, you about the more technical aspects of language such as rules of grammar, phonetics etc. All the kind of stuff you do without thinking about, but can’t necessarily explain why you do it.

If you’ve completed a recognized training course it will make you much more marketable to potential employers and private students, simply by showing you’re serious about teaching and not just another backpacker passing through.

There are a growing number of online TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teacher training courses. These allow you to study in your own time and pace.

For those that prefer more traditional face-to-face tuition many language schools also offer TESL training courses. These can be taken full time part time. Full time courses generally run for four weeks and are highly intensive. You will eat, sleep and drink ESL for the duration. The part time courses cover the same syllabus, but spread over a longer period. The choice is yours. Some people prefer the intensity of full time study, for others part time allows them to keep working and may give longer to absorb the numerous new concepts that are presented.

Gaining Experience

Some face-to-face courses include actual teaching practice (with real ESL learners). This is helpful because when you graduate you are not only qualified but experienced too. However, if your course doesn’t include real classroom teaching, don’t despair; there are plenty of opportunities to gain that all-important initial experience.

Perhaps your locality has volunteer programs for learners of English. Such programs are nearly always grateful for new volunteer teachers. If you live somewhere where there are a lot of ESL learners, advertise your services as a private teacher.

Alternatively, look for language exchange partners. this is an arrangement whereby you teach someone English in return for them teaching you their language. Not only will you get experience, but it can also be valuable to put yourself in the learner’s shoes. You can also make some good friends.

If you’re hoping to travel abroad, why not look for some pen pals (or e-mail pals) in your intended location? You can get some experience helping them with their English, as well as making some friends to show you around when you arrive.

Finding a Job

ESL teachers have several employment options. They can be employed by a school, teach privately or – as many do – combine the two.

There are different kinds of schools. These include private English schools, schools and colleges in mainstream education (ESL teachers are employed by English departments) and organizations offering services (including English lessons) to immigrants.

Some countries operate centralized recruitment schemes for ESL teachers in schools, eg the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program in Japan. Teachers employed under such schemes have the advantage of being public employees and also enjoy working standard business hours (TESL hours can be very unsocial).

When applying for jobs try to sell yourself as much as possible with your CV/resume. Don’t only state your TESL qualifications and experience, but include absolutely anything that may be relevant, eg have you trained staff in a previous job, do you have any hobbies that show you get on well with people, do you have a background in business or working with children that may equip you for specialized teaching?

Be prepared to do some sample teaching, or even give a free, observed, trial lesson when you attend a school for interview.

You can find private students through placing small ads wherever English learners might see them. Often, if you are a good teacher, students will refer friends and colleagues to you. It’s a good idea to offer students a free trial lesson. Try to put the potential student at ease. Spend some time on introductions. Tell them a bit about yourself, but more importantly listen to them.

Private students will often tell you what they want to focus on, eg fluency, grammar, English for work etc. You may notice other areas that might need attention, eg listening, pronunciation. Point these out, but avoid being too critical. Praising students for what they do well goes a long way in winning confidence – and a new customer.

A Final Word

Teaching English should be fun. As an English teacher you have the opportunity to travel anywhere, giving something to people as you go. You will meet many interesting and wonderful people (and a few difficult ones too). Language is learnedt best when the learners are having fun, and learners are most likely to relax and have fun when the teacher is doing likewise. Enjoy yourself.

There are many opportunities for teaching English abroad that are open to anybody who is able to speak English fluently. Whether you have a teaching degree or a certificate in English language teaching you can find work almost anywhere in the world.

This article looks at two options for people who want to teach English abroad including private language schools and teaching English abroad in International Schools.

International Schools

International schools are elementary, middle and high schools for expatriate children whose families live abroad. There are international schools that offer an American curriculum, those that offer a British curriculum and many more. The language of instruction in most international schools is English but many of the students have English as a second or third language, and so most international schools have teachers who support these students by teaching them English language.

Teaching English abroad in international schools can be done with the same qualifications that are required for teaching in a private language school however you will be competing with people who have teaching diplomas. With over 4000 international schools worldwide, there are many positions vacant every year.

Teaching in an international school often offers better pay and more benefits than teaching in a private language school. Some benefits you are likely to receive teaching in an international school are annual flights, accommodation allowance, medical insurance and, free tuition for your children in the school.

International schools follow the regular school year, so you will only be teaching for around 200 days, and you will be paid for your vacation time, unlike private language school where you will receive 3-4 weeks holiday in a 12 month contract.

Private Language Schools

Teaching positions in private language schools are easy to secure. English language tuition is a growth business in many areas of the world, in particular in Eastern Europe and throughout Asia.

In order to teach English in a private language school you need to be able to speak English fluently and have a certificate from either Trinity or RSA CELTA. These courses are around 4 weeks long and can even be completed online. Some language schools will hire native English speakers who do not have any ESL qualification, but usually these schools are not as reputable as those that insist their teachers have the appropriate qualifications.

For some countries you will need to have a Bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible for a work permit. You need to check this out if you do not have one because you could end up working abroad illegally. Usually your degree can be in any subject, it does not need to be in education.

Working at a private language school can be rewarding as you learn about the local culture from your students and see the progress they make. You are likely to have a combination of classes with 12-20 students and private lessons where you teach only one or two students.

In Asia you can land an English teaching contract at any time, but in Europe most contracts are from the beginning of autumn in September through to the beginning of summer in June or July.

Having taught English in both private language schools and worked in international schools, I recommend you try and focus on landing a position teaching English abroad in an international school because the pay and benefits are better and you get longer holidays too.

If you think you’d like to experience life in another culture, and support your adventure by teaching English as a second language, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you get the job you want in the part of the world you’d most like to see.

1. While finding jobs in the Pacific Rim countries–Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia–is not very difficult, you would be better off seeing the school facilities and talking to their staffs, especially and ESL teachers already working there, in person before making a commitment. They will be your best sources of information on what you can really expect from each school.

Because it’s hard to get a job, in Thailand in particular, without undergoing a personal interview, arrange to take a few days off to visit the schools there in which you are particularly interested. Be prepared either to stay on if you are hired, or to return home, possibly with a layover in another Pacific Rim country for additional interviews.

2. Dress professionally; clean neatly pressed slacks, shirt and (definitely) a tie for guys; skirt, pressed blouse, nylons and dress shoes for gals. You are applying for a teaching job, so dress like a teacher.

3. You need to bring documentation of all your teaching credentials to each meeting. These will include copies of all your college degrees, and ESL or TEFL certificates if you have them. In Korea, you’ll need your original college transcripts.

4. Having the ESL and TEFL certificates is absolutely essential if you want your choice of the best ESL/EFL teaching jobs. They are not difficult to get; the most respected is the CELTA–Certificate in Teaching English Language to Adults–a month-long course offered through Cambridge University at over two hundred and thirty locations worldwide.

5. Be sure to stress any teaching experience you’ve had, especially that which involved children. Even if you’ve only been the scoutmaster or den mother for the local Cub Scout or Brownie troop it will be surprisingly important, especially if you are applying for a job teaching ESL to middle schoolers.

6. Finally, familiarize yourself with the idiosyncrasies of the local culture, so that you do not unwittingly do anything which will upset your students or their parents. And always remember that your fellow ESL teachers who have been at it for awhile are your best resource for advice on how to be effective in the classroom!

English as a Second Language, or ESL, has many similarities to English as a Foreign Language, or EFL. In fact, the two types of learning may seem the same to some observers. However, there are some notable differences between these two approaches to learning English. The terms are often used interchangeably, but understanding the differences can help you to be clear when you speak of them. Also, the term Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is sometimes used in place of ESL or EFL, depending on the situation.

What Is ESL?

English as a Second Language, or ESL, is a term typically used in Canada, Australia, and the United States to refer to people who come to the country with another primary language and learn to speak English secondarily. It is also sometimes used to speak of people who live in a country where English is the official language, but the vast majority of the population speak another native tongue. Thus, English is the second (or third or fourth in many cases) language learned by the individual.

The goal of teaching ESL is to teach the individual to speak enough of the language to function within society. In other words, the goal is to help the individual function in their new country, attend school if applicable, and get a job. The goal is not to make the individual as fluent in English as he or she is in the native tongue.

What Is EFL?

English as a Foreign Language, or EFL, refers to learning English in a country where English is not the spoken language. This is in contrast to ESL, where the individual is learning the language in a country that has English as its primary language. In many countries, EFL is taught in the public school system, as English is quickly becoming an internationally important language. Sometimes the term EFL can be used to describe the learning of English in an English-speaking country when just visiting for a short period of time with the intention of learning the language.

Most people who learn EFL do so in order to graduate from their school program. Some will learn the language in their home country in order to help them succeed in their line of work if they are working for a company that has an international scope. For instance, someone living in India who learns English in order to work at a call center could be described as learning EFL.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Sometimes the term Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is used to describe both ESL and EFL. It is used in England, for instance, to replace the term ESL, as this term assumes English is the second, not third or fourth, language of the student. It is typically used when teaching immigrants, usually adults, as other terms are used within the school system when teaching non-native English speaking students. In the United States, however, the term TESOL has become an umbrella term used by people who teach non-native English speakers, regardless of whether they are teaching ESL or EFL.

As more and more people are immigrating to English-speaking countries and English continues to become the language of international commerce and trade, the need for both ESL and EFL programs that do a good job of teaching English to non-native speakers will continue to increase. The Internet is making it even easier for people to learn English as an additional language. The demand for these programs is not likely to decrease any time in the near future, so teachers who can teach English to speakers of other languages are going to have job security for many years.

With the growing popularity and importance of TEFL training around the globe, courses have become more and more accessible. TEFL specific training institutes and language schools are no longer the only places to get qualified, shorter options such as weekend and online courses are now available from both TEFL schools and travel companies. TEFL is also a growing presence in higher education, many universities offer language teaching and speaking certification courses for use both within degrees and as a separate qualification. With so many different ways to get a TEFL qualification you might feel spoilt for choice, you’ll also have the opportunity to choose the type of course that will suit you best!

Online courses

Due to a high demand for both English and teaching qualifications, courses have also become more flexible. Online courses come in all shapes and sizes; anything from 40 hours to 120 hours depending on how in depth you’d like your course to be. Online courses offer the chance to work at your own pace and make it possible to get your qualification anywhere you can plug in, one of the best elements of distance learning. Courses can be more cost effective too; if you’re planning on teaching for just a few weeks then a short online course may be all you need to see you through.

Most courses offer a combination of video tutorials and the support of online tutors, but it is largely a more independent option, it’s best to find out just how much support you can expect from the provider to ensure it’s enough for you. It’s also a good idea to check out the company’s credentials and make sure the course is internationally accredited; some schools can be quite strict and will only accept certificates endorsed by certain bodies; mainly the ODLQC (the Open Distance Learning Quality Council), the SQMS (Scottish Quality Management System) and ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training).

Weekend courses

A weekend course will give you that face to face experience that it’s hard to have with your computer screen. Minimal courses will give you the chance to get TEFL qualified is just two days, as well as the opportunity to practice teaching in a classroom environment. Working with experienced tutors and other TEFL learners is a more sociable as well as more structured way of doing things. Longer courses of 100 hours or more will give you a higher level of detail; there is still a great deal of emphasis on theory but the main focus of a weekend course is how this will be translated into teaching. Knowing your subject is a great quality in a teacher, but it’s not the only one necessary to make a really good teacher. Delivery and teaching performance are developed further in weekend sessions as tutors are on hand to offer advice and show you how it’s done, giving you the chance to develop your own teaching style before you get there. There are more TEFL organisations than you can shake a certificate at world wide so choosing can be tricky. Larger, well known and long established companies are a better bet as they will have a wider and better knowledge of the TEFL market, and they’re more likely to have better international credentials! Training centres will be dotted all over your country of residence so finding one close to you shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Longer courses

If you’re planning on making teaching English abroad your career it’s highly advisable that you look at doing a much more in depth course. Though weekend courses will be sufficient it is true that the longer the course, the more you will have time to cover. A career as an English teacher abroad could span several years and is certainly worth the investment of a course that will give you the maximum preparation. Courses spanning 4 weeks or longer certainly seem a lot tougher than 120 hours but are a great way of perfecting the central points of English teaching. You’ll have the chance to practice over a longer period of time and build up some real classroom confidence and to gain experience working with other TEFL teachers.

The most widely recognised qualifications, both nationally and internationally, are the Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults) and Trinity CertTESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). These are available not only from their host universities but at several other universities and academic institutions. Eslbase has a comprehensive list of worldwide locations to study for both CELTA and TESOL qualifications, a degree is not necessary to be eligible to do either though it may be an additional requirement depending on the school and the visa regulations of the country you’re going to.

Further education

Some institutions, especially those in America will require a full teaching qualification. Part of the gradual professionalization of the ESL market, a year long teaching course will prepare you for a lifelong career as a fully fledged teacher. You’ll be taught the ins and outs of theory, classroom methods and lesson planning in a combination of placements and coursework as you would for any other subject. This is a great opportunity to get completely qualified and get some experience of being a teacher for a full term. It will also open up a lot more doors for you overseas; some countries have stricter entry requirements and a shinning CV will put you in good stead.

Generally you’ll only need a further education teaching qualification such as a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) if you want to teach in the USA or at upper secondary school and university level. As it is a post graduate qualification you will need a degree first and you will need to study for it at a university. The main language specific teaching qualification is the PGCE ESOL (it becomes TESOL when you’re done), available around the world. Cambridge and Trinity certified courses are also available at a wide range of academic institutions.

While it is possible to get a decent job without a CELTA I would highly recommended you get one if you are planning on teaching overseas. It is administrated by Cambridge University and is an intensive 4 week course which can also be done part time. Apart from the name value of the qualification which shows you know what you are doing you will also receive at least 6 hours supervised teaching with genuine English language students at least two different levels.

This experience before going into a classroom is as invaluable as being able to write lesson plans from scratch which you will also learn to do. As the course is standardized future employers will know exactly what level your teaching is and what to expect from you. This also means that you can take the CELTA course anywhere in the world without worrying what quality the instruction you receive will be. It is worth considering doing the CELTA course in the country you wish to teach in.

Many local course providers are able to find their students jobs on completion, give you contacts there and finding a job once you are in the country is infinitely easier than finding one from abroad no matter what the country. The schools, even if they are unable to guarantee you a job, are in a much better position to suggest schools you can teach in, locations that may need teachers, where former students taught etc. CELTA courses generally cost about £1,500 no matter where they are taken worldwide.

“Why not give the prospective CELTA trainee some advice right from a proven source?”

Having such teaching certification opens doors internationally for English teaching positions, enabling certificate holders to work in scores if not hundreds of countries worldwide. But the more reputable and highly-regarded 120+ hour programs are intensive, stressful and difficult regardless of the experience and amount of preparation trainees may have.

So, I contacted Nathan Jones, a CELTA graduate I knew and asked, “Look, can you do something for me? I’m tutoring someone to enter the CELTA training course like the one you did. Would you please give him some insight as to course requirements, the schedule, themes, difficulties, etc.? You’ll be able to provide this prospective CELTA trainee with some idea of what he’s in for this summer if he takes the CELTA.”

Sure enough, Nathan, the CELTA grad, offered some insights as to what might be in store for a CELTA trainee during the five-week intensive regimen. With my insight also included, here’s what our advice consisted of:

We offer you these tips for preparing to take the CELTA or other TESOL certification program. Try to remember these valuable key points:

1. Read everything you are given thoroughly.
This includes handouts, course outlines and requirements, etc.

2. Use your peers to assist you in every aspect of your
training. Get to know your directors, teachers,
administrators, and other personnel on the course
program

3. Complete every course program project on time – or early, if
possible.

4. Be open to being challenged and mentally exasperated, take
copious notes, and share them freely with other trainees.

5. Find another trainee or a small study group you can gel and
work well with.

6. Seek out the person(s) who have had friends or family
previously in the course, because they will likely have a
head start in completing course program tasks.

7. Get lots of sleep. You’ll need it. Don’t fall asleep in
class or get “burned out from stress and exhaustion. Take
some “relax” time daily.

8. Practice your teaching techniques regularly, whether
assigned or not.

9. Try to learn from the students you will be teaching.

10. Follow the required texts, books and materials explicitly -
ask questions if you doubt or don’t fully understand
anything. Make sure you understand the processes of what
you will be learning. This is crucial to your success.

11. Do everything in organized steps or stages and be
consistently persistent.

12. A few final Key Points:

• Ask questions – even the “stupid” ones

• pay rapt attention – everything is important

• follow directions explicitly

• listen carefully at all times

• study regularly, plan your time well – resist the urge
to “goof off”

• prepare well daily for each class or input session

• practice what you learn – that’s what your partner / study
group is for

• get help wherever and whenever you can – don’t allow yourself
to fall behind

Be sure to enjoy the experience and have fun. These people will be your friends for life. Remember that a course alone, while preparing you to enter an EFL / ESL (English as a Foreign Language / English as a Second Language) teaching career, does not in itself make you a teacher. Continue to grow, develop and learn throughout your TEFL teaching career.

Good Luck