Sprechen Sie Englisch?

By Gloria Walker

Many people around the world would be interested in living abroad. Some would like to permanently emigrate, whereas others would only like to live abroad for a short time, possibly as students or to take part in a work abroad program, as more and more employers place value on having employees who have international experience. When one would like to stay in a foreign country for longer than a few weeks, there’s normally the question of how to support oneself in the country. People from English-speaking countries might have the possibility of supporting themselves as English teachers.

Teaching English offers many advantages. For starters, English teachers are often well-paid. They can also often find part-time positions, and flexible hours, which might make it an option for students who are studying abroad. However, although native English speakers are always sought after by language schools abroad, there are a number of factors to consider.

The first factor is the qualtifications which are required. A student should consider the fact that the first bachelor’s degree is required by most language schools. Therefore, teaching English probably won’t be an option while one’s still studying for the first.I understand that the Berlitz schools don’t require a bachelor’s degree, as they train their teachers with their own teaching method. However, this is an exception to the rule. Also, most schools require a TEFL or TESOL certificate.There are many schools which provide this certificate located around the world, and there are also distance learning programs which offer this course. And it’s not tremendously expensive. One online course is offered for $190(US).

Also, there’s another thing to consider if one wants to teach basic

Although English language teachers often have a good income, it’s worth considering the fact that the income is paid in the currency of the host country. According to tefldaddy.com, the amount of money is often much less when it’s converted into the currency of the teacher’s native country. In countries like China and Taiwan, the cost of living is much lower than it is in Western countries.