Teaching English in other countries

Teaching English in other Countries Dr. Linda Martinez California State University, Long Beach

Teaching English in other countries If you love traveling, new foods, cultures, people, and life experience, then teaching abroad is one of the best and easiest ways to do so. Teaching abroad is an exciting experience. Over the past few years, teaching English abroad has become a career choice for many university graduates who speak English. Teaching English abroad offers an opportunity to not only see the world, but to also get to know different cultures and customs. It is very popular nowadays to teach abroad as it is

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open to almost anybody who has a bachelors degree or is in the process of receiving one. These teaching opportunities are available in countries in Asia and South America along with Canada, UK, and Australia. Receiving a masters degree in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is not necessary but it is important to acquire a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) certificate when teaching English abroad. As the competition for desirable ESL teaching jobs has increased, language schools around the world are becoming more selective when hiring new teachers. They are looking for individuals who have the training and skills to be successful at teaching English to their students. As a result, a higher proportion of job seekers than ever before, have formal TESOL, TESL, TEFL certifications. These certificates usually offer a basic month long course that teaches the ropes of teaching abroad. Since teaching ESL takes place in a very interactive environment, where one is constantly engaging and interacting with students, the certification course will not only teach the theoretical approaches to teaching ESL but will also provide with the practical techniques that can only be learned from a

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hands-on, in-class course. Courses for most certificates are available on the Internet and at colleges, universities, and private schools around the world. Some programs even offer the chance to get a certificate abroad and later teach for the company that gave the training. So those lacking certification are often at a disadvantage since the jobs they are likely to find will be lower paying positions with schools at the low end of the market. Those schools are more likely to offer exploitative working conditions. Once a teaching certificate is received, one must carefully chose a country as each offer different pay, housing, transportation and even the job placement. Different areas of the world have different requirements for people who come to teach English. Some countries require a medical exam and/or a criminal background check. Many countries verify degrees before hiring and require English teachers to be native speakers. Though some schools prefer that you have a degree in English, many schools in China, Japan and South Korea hire English teachers with a bachelors degree in any subject. Colleges and universities in specific countries usually require a masters degree or higher. However, in some countries, such as South Korea, one can get experience as a teacher first and then be accepted for a college or university teaching position based on the previous experience. China and South Korea require that you have a medical examination after you arrive in the country and South Korea also requires a criminal background check as well. Teaching English in Europe is legally restricted to holders of European Union passports. However in some countries, such as Poland, English teachers who do not have these passports are hired. Most countries in Europe also require one to have a

Teaching English in other countries TESOL or TEFL certificate to teach English. Countries such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen hire English teachers on a regular basis.

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Competition for these jobs is high. Most teaching jobs in the Middle East require two or more years of experience. Latin America has fewer requirements for teaching English than other regions. It is possible to work on a tourist visa in Latin America, rather than having to obtain a work visa. It is also possible to work without a degree although the job does not give a person the benefits that come with having a job with a degree. It is important to decide which country one wants to go to and then thoroughly check the requirements for that country or for a specific job. Nearly all countries require that one have a work visa in order to teach English there, though some countries allow to work as an English teacher with a simple tourist visa. Many developing countries will allow one to apply for a work visa. And some employers may even ask to work under the table and use tourist visas instead of work visas because they are much easier to obtain. Requirements for visas vary from country to country. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly research requirements before making plans to go. Visa preparations include getting a passport, copies of diplomas, and official transcripts from attended colleges. In some cases, criminal background check is also needed. The vast majority of those who teach do fulfill their contract and approximately half renew to stay longer and teach. Just like a contract for job positions in the United States, a contract is written or spoken between the employer and the potential employee. Sometimes a recruiter connects foreign teachers with job placements overseas as they explain the procedure. But any kind of concerns

Teaching English in other countries one has over the working and living conditions, its best to be confirmed by a current or former teacher via correspondence over the phone or by email as the recruiter is unfamiliar with the specific work. They are often the bridge that connects foreign teachers with job placements overseas and nothing more. In Latin

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America or Europe, many contracts exist to determine the number of hours one will work per week and the rate of pay for teaching English on hourly basis. Because most teachers are on hourly wage rather than a salary, they are not obligated to the school or the employer for anything other than teaching the hours one is scheduled to work. In Asia and the Middle East, teachers work on full-time contracts that provide benefits such as a salary, paid vacation, flights and housing. For these jobs, a written contract that outlines all of the details of employment, pay, benefits and consequences is signed for breach of contract. Some advantages of teaching abroad are meeting new people, learn a new language, and see new places. Even if those who do not speak your language surround you, it is possible to make new friends and find people to communicate with. Teaching English abroad most likely means you will not be living in an Englishspeaking country. It can be intimidating, but picking up a new language might be very rewarding in the end. Most people dont have the time to travel as they work, but teaching abroad will allow time for travel even if its a local park as one gets to know about the culture and become more aware of the world theyre living in. Teaching English abroad is never regarded as a top-paying job. In fact, when it comes to the communities in many cities throughout the world, ESL teachers are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to wage. Dubai takes number one when it

Teaching English in other countries comes to the highest paying salaries for ESL teachers. The phenomena of learning English amongst those living in Dubai are a rather recent trend that has soared in the past decade. Many residents of Dubai have been spurred on to improve their English skills by the number of international corporations that have set up bases there. Teachers get paid between $3,200 and $5,000 per month according to experience. Because ESL setting in Dubai is quite competitive, many teachers that are hired in Dubai generally come with years of experience in other countries. Taiwan comes in at number two on the list for salary as the pay is between $3,000 and $4,000 a month but benefits are slim with no insurance and no bonus. And South Korea comes in at number three as the highest paying ESL program country. The pay between $2,000 and $3,000 a month pay be lower than Dubai and Taiwan but the usual ESL job in Korea comes with insurance, apartment, and bonus.

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Being away from home, living in a different culture, and being surrounded by the unfamiliar things can take its toll. When one feels uneasy and homesick, it might be from culture shock. Culture shock can be called an occupational disease of those potential teachers who suffers physical and emotional discomfort because they have been suddenly transplanted abroad, in this case. One starts to have problems in the new country and may start to criticize the culture. This usually happens when a person is trying to adapt to a new culture. Things become no longer new and exciting. It is a normal part of adjusting to new foods, customs, language, people and activities. A person with culture shock may experience some of these symptoms: irritability, headaches, loneliness, hopelessness, withdrawal from people and activities, and lowered work performance. Negative feelings reach a climax and

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working become very difficult as one doesnt want to be involved. Then one realizes the good and the bad about the culture and becomes more comfortable and make friends. Depending on the person, these stages can occur for four or five months after moving. Although culture shock is uncomfortable, it is a normal part of the adjustment process. Teaching English is an automatic ticket to meeting local people. Regardless of age, the students will be excited to see a foreigner take an interest in their culture. Young students can teach one a lot about pop culture or local slang, and simple conversations will give one an insight into their family lives and customs. Most will even gladly offer tips about local foods to eat, places to go, and things to try. As well the students, one will get to know other English teachers who are doing the same. Regardless of their level of expertise, theyll likely be keen to practice their English conversation skills. Not only will co-workers become friends but they can also help one navigate to the new place and customs. So even if one doesnt get paid as much, its beneficial because ESL teaching may give networking connections. Theres no doubt that a decision to make the move to another country is scary. Every country offers different salaries, living situations, and types of kids. One could end up teaching highly educated elementary kids that practically speak better English or could end up teaching high school kids who hardly know any English at all. One could find themself living in a nice apartment or could be taking cold showers for months in a studio. Leaving behind everything behind that is familiar such as living conditions, friends, family, and going to a place where those things are no longer in ones life, one is given the opportunity to redefine oneself. And the

Teaching English in other countries stresses and successes of teaching children and living in a new country will definitely help redefine. In a high-speed world, people can cross continents with a click of a mouse. The challenge for many becomes finding a way to travel with purpose. Teaching English abroad gives the chance to see the world and return home with the satisfaction of having contributed to a local community.

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Teaching English in other countries References

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Beare, K. (2013) Teaching English abroad. About.com. Retrieved from http://esl.about.com/od/esleflteachingtechnique/a/teaching_english_abroad.htm

Beare, K. (2013) Teaching English abroad advice on the industry. About.com. Retrieved from http://esl.about.com/od/teachingenglish/a/Advice-Teaching-English-Abroad.htm

Hansen, E. (2008) Insiders guide to teaching English in Asia. matadornetwork.com. Retrieved from http://matadornetwork.com/change/the-insiders-guide-toteaching-english-in-asia/

How much will it cost me to teach English abroad? (2013). Internationalteflacademy.com. Retrieved from http://www.internationalteflacademy.com/blog/bid/112400/What-Are-BasicStart-up-Costs-for-Teaching-English-Abroad

Teacher Recruitment Agencies. teachaway.com. Retrieved from http://www.teachaway.com/teacher-recruitment-agencies/

Teaching English abroad. dept.washington.edu. Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/engl/advising/teaching/tchabroad.php