How to Travel the World as an ESL Teacher
So you want to travel the world. Your options are:
- Work for months and save really hard
- Hope to win the lottery
- Find a job that actually pays you to travel
In my opinion, option #3 is the best. 12 years ago, I set off for South Korea (flights paid by my school) and have been travelling ever since. All I had was an MA in literature - hardly a desirable qualification for most employers. I didn't know the first thing about teaching.
Now, years later, I have visited dozens of countries. Yes, dozens. As an ESL teacher, I make good money, work few hours, and get up to four months' paid holidays per year. It's a pretty sweet deal. Now, let's be fair: I'm not about become a millionaire any time soon, but I do quite like spending months on a beach in Thailand, knowing that I'm getting paid to be there.
So what's this all about?
I'm talking about teaching ESL - which stands for English as a Second Language. You might also hear the term EFL - English as a Foreign Language. Essentially, they are the same thing.
Around the world, people want to learn English. I'm talking about kids, teens, uni students, working folks, and people of all ages and walks of life. Knowing English makes a huge difference; it can be a massive boost to a person's career or quality of life. As such, teaching English is a big business.
The biggest markets are in China and South Korea, although some countries in the Middle East and Europe are hot destinations, too. But almost anywhere you will find people teaching English. If you want to see the world, there are few better options than getting into the ESL industry and hopping from place to place.
In terms of qualifications, it really varies a lot from country to country (and even from year to year). Generally speaking, most jobs will ask for native speakers with BA degrees as a minimum; however, non-native speakers and people without degrees do have options, too.
You can find out more about ESL teaching here: http://ielts-teaching.com/how-to-become-an-esl-teacher/
Or check out this guide:
Getting a TEFL certificate is a great way into the industry, although not all TEFL programs are equal. (TEFL, by the way, stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.) If you really want to impress, go for a CELTA course, run by Cambridge. That's intended for people who want to teach adults, but it still looks impressive to the bosses of schools for kids.
Some people view ESL as a dead-end, but if you are willing to work hard, as with any other job, there are countless possibilities for advancement. Build your skills with experience and qualifications over time, and you can travel the world, make good money, and live a rewarding life.
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