If English is your first language, teaching English to other people around the world might seem like a great opportunity for you. The thought of traveling to foreign countries and experiencing what they have to offer could just be a dream come true.
Teaching your own language to natives of another country can be done in a number of ways. With the advent of the internet, video calls are very easy and cheap. Meaning you can make face-to-face contact without ever leaving your home.
However, the most lucrative ways of teaching English abroad are to go to schools and private residents of these countries and teach them in person.
How To Travel The World Teaching English Abroad
The possibility to travel the world…
Countries like Mexico, Japan, Germany, and many more, are full of people who want to learn to speak English. But not by listening to a recording or pressing buttons on a website. Nothing immerses a student into a language more than interacting with a native speaker. Africa, Asia, South America, and other places too. There are thousands of people all over the world looking for your experience, and for something that comes naturally to you.
Expanding your horizons by visiting a country abroad may be something that really excites you. Being able to pass on your knowledge of the language is an added bonus. Plus, you’ll be able to travel and visit all those places you’ve always wanted to see. Imagine the Great Wall of China, The Brandenburg Gate, The Pyramids. All of these sights could be right on your doorstep.
As teaching English is a job, you will, of course, be paid for your endeavours. An extended stay in a foreign country will help you brush up on your second language skills too. As you’ll be spending all your time directly immersed in a different language. Learning can be a two-way street! However, it’s not necessary at all to be able to speak a foreign language. After all, you’re there to teach others how to speak English.
English can be a difficult language to master, and while your students may know some of the basics, nobody can explain the nuances like a native speaker. From odd spellings to traditional sayings. English is a language that can be over-complicated by those who speak it natively. Leaving people who speak it as a second language out in the cold trying to understand what could possibly be meant.
New lands, new cuisines, new cultures
Along with all the sites and sounds, you’ll get to experience the cuisine of a new land. And don’t forget that in many countries the cost of living can be much lower than you are used to at home. So what might be an average salary in your own country could see you living very comfortably in a foreign land.
In order to teach in a foreign country, you’ll need to fulfil some requirements. An English teaching certificate (for Teaching English as a Foreign Language – TEFL Certification) is a good start. But in many cases, you will also need to apply for a work visa. As someone who will be providing a benefit to the country in question. This should be a process that is not too fraught with difficulty.
Aside from having the necessary professional qualifications, you may also need to pass tests and an interview to be an English teacher in another country. Many countries have rigorous hiring processes, which include several rounds of interviews, qualification tests, and medical exams and preemployment drug testing that you need to pass. These requirements are pretty standard when you’re applying for a new job, so many people are familiar with the steps.
Having these two items in your possession will literally open up a world of possibilities.
Aside from all this, you will gain the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a tremendous difference in the lives of many people. While some may want to learn for fun. Most will want to learn to improve their chances of gainful employment and furthering their position in the world.
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That alone is enough to inspire many people into building a career teaching English as a foreign language.