Upon completing your TESOL qualification, you will be fully qualified to teach English abroad. The demand for learning English is continuing to grow so there will be plenty of available positions for native level speaking teachers that are appropriately qualified.

The demand to learn English is still increasing and in nearly every country in the world you will find an ESL teacher. At the moment, the biggest opportunity to teach English abroad is, not surprisingly, in Asia and in particular China. If you are just starting out or you are a seasoned pro, there will always be work for you and the opportunity to teach English abroad. This is one job in which your job will allow you to truly can see the world.

When looking for vacancies to teach English abroad you should find out as much information as possible about the country, it’s culture, the city or town, and particularly the school. There are plenty of horror stories out there in the TEFL community as you can imagine. Don’t be the next victim! However, with the advent of the internet, it has made it a lot easier for teachers to do their research. Join groups and forums so you can ask questions about particularly countries, cities and schools; someone will always have been there before you.

Make sure you know what is expected of you before you go so you don’t end up being forced into making a mistake such as handing your passport over to the school for “safe-keeping”.

However, we don’t want to put you off, and as long as you are thorough in your research you will be fine. If you are new to the industry, we recommend going with a well known school chain where there are lots of other teachers who you can meet and talk with when you get there. We’re a friendly bunch and not afraid to share our thoughts and advice.

There is a growing demand to teach English for specific purposes so if you have a degree or specialist qualification, don’t be afraid to tell any new employer about it. Do you have a degree in business, finance, marketing, nursing, tourism, hospitality, etc. If so, you will always be able to find a good amount of jobs teaching a subject that you enjoy.

Salaries, conditions and benefits vary greatly from country to country. We won’t go into the detail of what you can earn here but make sure you understand the true cost of living before you go. Some schools will pay for your flights (and even a few trips home during the year), your accommodation, health insurance, and even the opportunity for you to take a TEFL course so that you can get qualified!

Let’s be honest, the salaries are never great in most parts of the world but for most of us that’s not the driving force for wanting to teach English abroad. For many it is an opportunity to see the world, experience new cultures, and earn enough to cover the costs. For the more experienced teachers who have pursued further academic qualifications, there are good opportunities to secure permanent roles at universities or in private schools which can be decent earners and provide a nice life style.

Whether you decide to travel and teach English abroad for a few years or pursue a longer term career in the industry, you will find plenty of opportunities. It is a great experience and you tend to find like minded individuals wherever you go. Enjoy the experience as it will have an impact on you that will stay with you for the rest of your life and finally ….. good luck!