Teaching English as a Second Language

What You Need to Know Before Starting Your Teaching Journey

If you’re a native English speaker, teaching ESL (English as a second language) abroad can be a great way to live and work in another country. English teachers are in demand in places like Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and beyond, with many roles offering strong salaries and benefits, including visa support, housing, and insurance. Here’s what you need to know about teaching English abroad and getting hired overseas.

Choosing the Right Path to Teaching ESL

Before you decide to teach English overseas, it’s important to think through your options. Do you want to apply through an official government program, a private company, or search for jobs independently?

Your qualifications also matter, as some employers prefer native English speakers from countries where English is the primary language, along with a bachelor’s degree and a clean criminal record. A TEFL certification can also improve your chances of getting hired.

People of all ages teach English in countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and China, using the opportunity to earn income while traveling and experiencing new cultures. Many also build lasting international connections along the way.

Where Can You Teach ESL?

One of the most exciting things about planning to teach English abroad is deciding where you want to go.

Many countries have residents who want to learn English because it will boost their careers or make it easier to travel abroad.

Here are some of the most popular countries for teaching English:

• China
• Costa Rica
• Japan
• Spain
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• The United Arab Emirates

Keep in mind that many teacher placements are made at the discretion of a coordinating organization or employer. You may end up in a small seaside town or a tranquil suburb instead of a city with endless options for amusement.

You’ll usually have to apply for a visa before heading to your country of choice. The visa process can involve a background check and a medical exam.

Your pay might range from US$1,000 a month to $5,000 and up, depending on your location and the number of hours you’ll be working.

You should also remember that your teaching situation can change quickly. The COVID-19 pandemic saw many language schools close down as people stayed home to avoid infection.

And many English instructors in China were affected when the Chinese government banned after-school and weekend tutoring on subjects taught in Chinese schools, including English. 

However, good English teachers are always in demand. Should the country you’re working in change its rules, your teaching skills and experience will help you find another job.

Types of ESL Teaching Jobs

If you decide to teach English in South Korea via the government-associated English Program in Korea (EPIK), you’ll have assistance with everything from getting a visa to housing.

On the downside, you may be assigned to teach in a location that’s not your first choice. The JET Program is a similar way to teach English in Japan.

This program offers relatively high salaries and assistance with finding a place to live, but there’s no guarantee you’ll end up living where you desire.

If you prefer the flexibility of searching for your own teaching job vs. the stability of going to a government-connected organization, you’ll likely be working for a private employer.

Some private companies assign you to public schools, and you can opt not to take a job if you don’t like the location. There are also jobs in private schools.

Many jobs in the private sector are at tutoring academies. You could be tutoring children, or even adults, but you’ll have to work around their schedules.

This means you’ll be teaching in the afternoons when children aren’t at school, as well as in the evenings and on weekends. Finding these positions may require you to sift through and evaluate various offers on job boards.

Requirements for ESL Teachers

ESL teacher requirements can vary, but in general, you need to have no criminal record. This will help you obtain the proper visa. You may get into legal trouble if you start working while holding a tourist visa.

Most countries want English teachers to be native English speakers. Some require not only English proficiency but also that you be a citizen of a primarily English-speaking country.

For example, South Korea’s EPIK program only accepts citizens of Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

There are teaching jobs that do not require you to have a university degree, but you’ll find it easier to get a job with a bachelor’s degree.

Holding this qualification may be a condition of receiving your work visa. Your degree does not have to be in a subject like English or education.

You may also face age requirements. Some organizations prefer teachers aged 20 to 40.

Do You Need TEFL Certification?

Receiving certification in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is not always necessary. For example, if you teach English in Japan via the JET Program, you don’t need to have TEFL certification.

Yet it’s difficult to step into a classroom and command students’ attention, so techniques learned in a TEFL course can be a big help. Plus, this qualification can help you find English teaching jobs.

And getting certified doesn’t have to be difficult or very expensive. There are online programs with 100 hours of training that cost around US$200. This 100-hour training is a minimum; teaching English in China requires 120 hours.

TEFL certification options include classes from TEFL.org. Another highly respected course is Cambridge English’s Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).

You can go through CELTA training online or in person. Costs for a CELTA course range from around $2,450 to $4,000. The certification is expensive but highly regarded, and it is usually required for high-paying English teacher jobs in the Middle East.

Another option is to take accredited TEFL courses and secure a TEFL job through the TEFL Institute, which allows many digital nomads to create a stable, location-independent income while living overseas.

What Do ESL Jobs Pay?

There is a wide pay range for English-teaching jobs abroad, so think about your goals. If you want to live somewhere like France, your pay may at most let you break even.

If you want to save money while living in a new country, you can find teaching jobs with good salaries that will allow you to build up your bank account.

Even if your salary is lower, some of the costs of living abroad may be covered by your job. There are organizations that pay for your housing and transportation expenses, leaving you with more money in your pocket.

You may also have low-cost medical insurance. Consider all these items while calculating your budget.

Here are monthly English teacher salaries, in U.S. dollars, for several countries:

• The U.A.E.: $3,500 to $5,500
• Saudi Arabia: $3,000 to $4,000
• Hong Kong: $3,000 to $6,500
• Kuwait: $2,600 to $4,000
• Taiwan: $2,000 per month
• Oman: $2,000 to $3,500
• South Korea: $1,800 to $2,200
• China: $1,400 to $2,200
• France: $890 (as an assistante de langue)
• Thailand: $740
• Japan: $1,600 to $3,000

You should also think about your work schedule when calculating your salary. For example, English teachers in Japan don’t have to work on 23 national holidays, in addition to their annual leave.

Private Japanese companies often pay their teachers lower salaries, but may expect you to work fewer days.

Finding ESL Teaching Jobs

You can apply to programs like EPIK and the JET Program if you’re interested in teaching English in Japan or South Korea.

The TEFL Jobs Centre helps connect graduates with teaching placements across the globe. You can use this database to connect with others and learn more about available jobs. Other online job boards include Dave’s ESL Café.

Living and Working Conditions

If your contract says you’ll be provided with an apartment, it’s okay to ask for details about this housing. If flights or health insurance are advertised or promised verbally, make sure those perks are included in your contract.

You can ask how many hours you’ll be in the classroom, and if you’ll be paid for lesson preparation. You should not have to hand over your passport to your contracting organization.

Schools in Spain have sometimes underpaid or failed to make social security contributions for their English teachers. If that should happen to you, you will end up with fewer benefits (e.g., less sick leave than you otherwise would have been entitled to).

You may be excited about a 29-hour workweek, but in some countries, schools operate on that schedule, so you will not be considered a full-time employee. A 29-hour workweek in Japan means your employer does not have to contribute to social programs on your behalf.

When those responsibilities fall on your shoulders, your shorter workweek can end up being quite expensive. Teaching abroad may mean working without speaking the local language or understanding the cultural norms.

For those who sign up as English teachers via a government program or private employer, you should be able to turn to this organization when you have concerns.

If you are not associated with any organization, you may want to reach out to local expat groups or fellow English teachers for support should you need it. 

The Reality of Teaching ESL

Teaching English abroad is a great way to earn money while experiencing a new country and culture. But consider that you’re usually signing up to live in a new place for at least a year.

You may want to learn some of the native language of your new country so you can do everything from going to the movies to buying groceries. 

As you’ll be separated from friends and family back home, how will you keep in touch? And consider what to do if you’re assigned a spot in an isolated village.

Will you thrive on your own, or should you try to build a local support network? Some teachers learn new skills and make new friends by taking language classes or courses in other areas, such as cooking, flower arranging, and photography.

The Challenges and Rewards of Teaching Abroad

Teaching is challenging work, no matter the subject. You may have to spend hours coming up with classroom activities.

As an English teacher abroad, you’ll face additional challenges, such as communicating with students and navigating unfamiliar cultural norms.

Yet the challenges do not erase the benefits and opportunities of teaching English abroad. Many teachers are delighted they had the opportunity to enjoy new experiences, face fears and challenges, and even cope with culture shock when living abroad.

And at the end of their teaching jobs, they were proud of the work they did with their students. If this sounds compelling to you, the world of teaching English abroad awaits!