Frequently Asked Questions: International ESL/TEFL Jobs
What
are the required skills for working abroad?
Can
I just travel to another country and get a job?
Are
overseas jobs difficult to find?
Where
do people find jobs overseas?
Do
I need to be a university graduate to get a job abroad?
What
is a work visa? What are the documents required to work abroad?
Does
an overseas posting help your career?
Will
my airfare be paid by my employer?
What
about accommodation?
Do
I need to know the local language?
After
completing the TEFL course what are the prospects of getting jobs in the
international market?
What
are the countries that recognize TEFL Certification?
How
is TESOL different from other Certification courses regarding Language teaching?
Does
the course teach us about School management?
What
are the qualifications of the TEFL trainer/s?
How
does this course cover in three weeks what the other courses take at least a
year or 6 months?
Does
this course come with job assurance or job assistance?
What
can be the minimum expected salary after course completion?
What
are the best countries to start ESL teaching? / How do I choose between ASIA and
Europe in terms of teaching ESL?
I
have heard a lot of Native teachers are required in Asia, what about the non
natives?
I
have completed a 2 yrs degree (Associate degree) what are my chances of getting
an ESL job? I have no degree, do i still have a chance to get a job as a
teacher?
How
long are the contracts in Asia and Europe for ESL jobs?
Is
TEFL Certificate Course necessary to teach ESL ?
Will
the employers provide accommodation/transport?
Are
we going to be bound by any legal contract with the employers?
Will
I be allowed to pursue higher education while on the job?
What are the required skills for working abroad?
This depends on; the nature of work, the industry the job is in and which country you’d like to work in. It goes without saying that the skills and relevant experience will be required for whatever role in whatever country. For working abroad knowing a global like English language is an added advantage. Interpersonal, industry-specific and cross-cultural skills are all very important in landing an international placement.
Can I just travel to another country and get a job?
Unfortunately, starting an international career isn’t that easy. It is mandatory to have all the necessary legal documents before you are allowed to work or even enter a foreign country. The most important document you will need is the work visa, which allows you not only to work in a foreign country but also to live in it for a specific period of time.
Are overseas jobs difficult to find?
Jobs abroad can be difficult to access, especially for industries which are not in demand within your specified location. Another factor to consider is the legal and immigration requirements which can make your relocation a bit more complicated than simply finding a job or buying a flight ticket.
Therefore, it’s vital to be aware of all the necessary information such as immigration and labour laws before you land, the cost of living expenses, working environment, and culture of the nation. This information will prepare you in your next course of action and in your expectations in getting a job overseas.
Where do people find jobs overseas?
Just like the normal job hunting process, there are many ways to identify international opportunities and as usual, Google is the easiest. There are online job postings for most countries. Some countries also conduct international job fairs or contact local placement agencies to inform them of vacancies abroad.
One of the best ways to find an overseas opportunity is to already be working for an international or multinational firm which has the capability of transferring you overseas sometime in the future. Large corporations will ask you if you will be interested in future overseas assignments.
Another convenient way is to enroll in a course for a specific domain and then let the company or institution recommend you for a job overseas.
If you are already living in a country you want to work in then you need to network with the local employers and recruiters, immerse yourself in the culture, learn the local language, and get to know of the opportunities first hand.
Do I need to be a university graduate to get a job abroad?
Having a college degree definitely has its advantages in the international job market. However, there are certain countries where they are not so strict about it. Experience, a diploma and sometimes a certification also works. However make sure you have a certified copy of your degree or other certificate as well as the contact information of the institution/university in case the company does a background check on you.
What is a work visa? What are the documents required to work abroad?
The first document that one needs to have before he/she can enter a country is the passport and visa. A traveler’s visa is a tourist visa and is for a limited period of time. However one cannot be employed on a tourist visa. In order to work abroad one has to have a work visa. The requirements of a work visa may vary from country to country and may depend upon the desired length of stay. It is the most tedious process.
It is always best to contact the consulate or embassy of the country and get to know the specific requirements for obtaining a work visa.
Does an overseas posting help your career?
With greater international trade and commerce having had an experience of working abroad does add value to your resume with regards to future prospects. International careers often helps one to experience other cultures and become sensitive and adaptable to various situations. This degree of versatility especially in accepting other cultures, patience in handling different working environments, and teamwork with different nationalities makes the person a team worker and productive contributor at the workplace.
How can I get information about the country I want to work in?
Researching the country you are interested in is important as you conduct an international job search. The internet is great place to start. The country’s geographical location pertaining to weather, climate and temperature will help you to be well prepared. Being aware of the local culture and food is also important in order to adjust well and be accepted in the work environment. The most important thing is to be sensitive to the foreign language and culture and never to make fun of it.
Will my airfare be paid by my employer?
Usually it is not. One has to travel to the destination on his own. However in certain countries they do a pay one return fare to the employee’s hometown once in a year depending on the length of the job.
What about accommodation?
This will depend solely on the company and what they offer. Some companies will provide fixed accommodation, while others will reimburse the cost. You need to speak clearly to the employer regarding housing and what it includes.
Do I need to know the local language?
Not necessarily unless your job demands it. Usually when native English speakers are offered overseas job it is expected that they will be working and communicating with others in English. However it is always better to make an effort to learn the local language to make day to day living easier in the foreign land.
After completing the TEFL course what are the prospects of getting jobs in the international market?
No learning goes to waste and that is true. Though there is a great demand for English teachers in non native English speaking countries but just being proficient in the language does not qualify one to be accepted as an English teacher. Teaching is a skill and there is a lot more involved in just knowing the content therefore schools are becoming a lot more demanding regarding their teacher’s qualifications. A TEFL or TESOL qualification is definitely a pre requisite for landing the best teaching jobs in the international market.
What are the countries that recognize TEFL Certification?
This certificate is accepted all over the world wherever there is a need for English teachers.
How is TESOL different from other Certification courses regarding Language teaching?
Teacher training courses for English teachers go by various acronyms – TEFL, TESL, ESL, EFL, EAL etc. What they all mean is teaching English either as a second language or a foreign language. But we call it TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other languages because we do not want to limit it as a second language or a foreign language. It means the course trains teachers to teach anyone whose first language is not English. Apart from this the advantage of our course is that it is very practical and interactive, giving the teachers the confidence to enter a classroom and make the lessons most effective.
Does the course teach us about School management?
Our TEFL TESOL Course includes an intensive classroom management session during which location specific school systems and management is dealt with.
What are the qualifications of the TEFL trainer/s?
The TESOL Trainers are all well qualified in their fields. Most of them have a masters degree in the respective subject. Beside their qualifications they have a minimum of 5 years of practical experience of teaching in schools before becoming TESOL trainers. Their jobs go much beyond just training. They are the first contact persons that the trainee teachers turn to for both academic and personal problems if any. The trainers are most patient, sensitive and helpful to all.
How does this course cover in three weeks what the other courses take at least a year or 6 months?
Ask any active teacher what he or she applies form their academic background in their actual classroom teaching? And the answer is very little. Lectures on theories and principles are relegated to the background when one is faced with a room full of 50 boisterous 12 year olds. Our three week course prepares you just for this. You are not left on your own trying to figure out how to handle your class and make your teaching effective at the same time. We show you how to do it and you practically experience it in an actual classroom before you join your school. However becoming a teacher is a lifelong experience and a good teacher learns every day. No course is tailor made to suit your classroom but what the course does is prepares you for the initial encounter.
Does this course come with job assurance or job assistance?
Yes, certain programs come with a package like the special projects which include the training and paid internship. But otherwise the help desk works tirelessly to try and place you wherever there is a requirement. They assist in contacting schools and setting up appointments but the final call rests with the school and you.
What can be the minimum expected salary after course completion?
This depends on a lot of factors. The country, the type of school and funds available, the teacher’s qualification and experience are all important points of consideration. All this varies from country to country. However foreign teachers do get paid a lot more than local teachers.
What kind of practical exposure/ experience does the course provide?
Despite the short duration of the course it is mostly practical work that the trainees are exposed to. Right from the first day they are given tasks to feel comfortable facing a class and interacting with others. Beside the interactive sessions they have ample scope for teaching peers and various levels of students in local schools. At the end of the program the trainees are unanimous in their opinion in gaining confidence and are really excited about teaching.
What are the best countries to start ESL teaching? / How do I choose between ASIA and Europe in terms of teaching ESL?
For westerners South East Asia is the best place to start especially Thailand. They are hospitable to foreigners and it is a good place to be introduced to Asia. Other places that employ foreign teachers are China, Korea and Japan. The Middle East has lucrative job offers however the laws and culture of this region is different from the rest of Asia. In South America, Brazil and Costa Rica also have a demand for English Teachers. Eastern Europe is opening up as a favorable market for ESL teachers.
I have heard a lot of Native teachers are required in Asia, what about the non natives?
Though the schools prefer Native English teachers but at the same time one must be aware of the fact that native teachers are a lot more expensive to employ and secondly they stay for a short duration of time affecting the students’ learning. So a lot of schools are now employing and categorically asking for non native teachers.
I have completed a 2 yrs degree (Associate degree) what are my chances of getting an ESL job? I have no degree, do i still have a chance to get a job as a teacher?
Not all schools are very demanding about a degree as a pre requisite qualification either a TEFL training or previous teaching experience is readily accepted. Once again this will depend on the country and the school one is applying to.
How long are the contracts in Asia and Europe for ESL jobs?
It is very difficult to ascertain a fixed length of time for teaching contracts. This depends on the labour laws, the legal contracts, the schools, the length of terms and semesters of the countries one is applying to.
Is TEFL Certificate Course necessary to teach ESL ?
Though there is a great demand for English teachers in non native English speaking countries but just being proficient in the language does not qualify one to be accepted as an English teacher. Teaching is a skill and there is a lot more involved in just knowing the content therefore schools are becoming a lot more demanding regarding their teacher’s qualifications. A TEFL or TESOL qualification is definitely a pre requisite for landing the best teaching jobs in the international market.
What would be the approximate remuneration? Is it negotiable?
Just like any other job it will depend on the qualification, experience, the funds available to the schools, the economic condition of the country. However whenever an organization employs a foreigner the remuneration is always higher than what the locals are paid.
Will the employers provide accommodation/transport?
Sometimes the jobs come with accommodation and other times the employers reimburse housing cost. But this is not the same everywhere. There are countries where accommodation is something that the employee has to scout and pay for himself. Transport to and from workplace is not usually paid for but travel allowance is covered if you have to travel on behalf of the organization.
Are we going to be bound by any legal contract with the employers?
Yes most international jobs have a legal contract between the employer and the employee. One needs to read the terms and conditions very carefully before signing especially those regarding hours of work, holidays, leaves, medical coverage, taxation etc. to avoid future complications.
Will I be allowed to pursue higher education while on the job?
As long as your academic pursuits do not hamper your work schedule or interfere with your performance no organization will object to it.
