By Michelle Simmons

In Israel, the need for English-speaking citizens has recently risen to epic proportions. With this increase in demand, finding a job teaching English in Israel is easier than ever for foreigners who wish to head abroad.

Are you considering teaching English in Israel? If so, there are a few key things you should know before you begin your job hunt. The information below is designed to make the process easier and ensure that you’re getting the best possible situation. Teaching English in Israel is an adventure… make sure it’s not a stressful one by following these simple tips.

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Getting certified

Many countries prefer their native-speaking English teachers to get certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) while still in their home countries. While this isn’t a requirement in Israel, it will certainly help you when it comes time to finding a job.

Another requirement for teaching English in Israel is to have a four-year college degree. The subject is really unimportant; what matters is the fact that you have graduated from a college.

You must also consider becoming teacher certified in Israel. The TESOL organization in Tel Aviv is one of the most highly regarded English-teaching organizations in the country, and provides training for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Approach the English Teacher Network in Israel (http://www.etni.org.il) for more helpful information. Once the Israeli teaching program is completed, you are almost guaranteed a teaching position.

Finding a position

The need for English speakers in Israel has grown so much in recent years that the language has become one of the most popular subjects taught in classrooms, from elementary level on up. You will find, however, that jobs are more prevalent in middle and upper class areas, where the level of education is higher and more students are expected to enter the business world.

In the same middle to upper-class areas, you will also discover that a large percentage of children are tutored privately in the art of speaking English. You may want to consider becoming a private tutor if working in the school system does not suit you. While pay may be lower and you won’t have the benefits provided by a school or university job, you will be able to work more flexible hours, and some people much prefer the freedom of such a position over working for a school board.

If neither of these opportunities appeals to you, you may want to consider teaching English in Israel to adults. Many businesses and corporations in Israel deal with the Western world on a frequent basis, and employees who speak English is an absolute necessity. A corporation may hire you on a job-by-job basis, or even as a staff consultant, where you’ll be expected to teach English to employees one-on-one or in a group setting.

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What to expect

The pay you will receive for teaching English in Israel is considered rather low compared to many other countries with opportunities for such positions. You will have the option, as a teacher, to attend numerous teaching conferences and workshops, and doing so can greatly increase your value as a teacher and result in pay raises down the road. A resourceful teacher will take any such opportunities that come along and will learn quickly how to increase his or her worth on the job.

Most schools that hire you as an English teacher will offer teacher’s housing, and you should take advantage of this situation particularly if you are located in a large city, where housing may be expensive and difficult to find.

Of course, you’ll also be given vacation time and paid holidays while teaching English in Israel, and you should use your time off exploring the country and learning more about your adopted culture. Israel is a beautiful place steeped in history, and teaching English to Israeli natives is a unique experience that should not be passed by.

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit Teaching English Jobs.

By Michelle Simmons

As the largest country in South America, Brazil is big on business. Their geographical proximity to the United States, as well as their trade agreement with North America, makes speaking English a very important asset for Brazilian citizens. English is taught to all levels of Brazilian students, from childhood on up. Some Brazilian companies will hire English teachers to train their employees to make foreign communication easier.

With that said, Brazil is naturally a major destination for those looking to teach English in a foreign country. Teaching English in Brazil is a unique and enriching experience that anyone who wishes to travel should consider.

What is required?

Some countries require English teachers to be certified in any number of teaching courses. TEFL, TESOL, and the Cambridge CELTA are all certifications that are often required for foreigners wishing to teach English in another country. Brazil, however, does not consider this a prerequisite.

If you do have a certification, it may very well help you in the classroom. But chances are good that if you are hired by a Brazilian company or school, they will require you to go through an in-house training program regardless of whether or not you are certified to teach.

What is recommended is a BA in some subject and a working knowledge of Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.

What about a visa?

This is where the information can get a little sketchy, and keep in mind we’re not advocating one course of action over another. The truth is, getting a work visa for teaching English in Brazil is going to be very, very difficult.

The vast majority of schools in Brazil that hire English teachers are unwilling to sponsor those teachers for work visas. Sponsorship by an employer is required to get a legitimate work visa. It is also extremely expensive and complicated, and many companies steer clear of doing so for those reasons.

With that said, if you are planning on remaining in Brazil to teach English for an extended period of time, you may be able to find an employer who is willing to sponsor you. The catch is that you will probably have to pay for the process yourself. This is something that you should actively research and discuss with your employer if you’re interested in pursuing a work visa.

So you might be wondering how so many English teachers manage to work in Brazil. The answer is, the majority of them are working on tourist visas. Technically, it is not legal for a foreigner to work on a tourist visa; however, chances are very slim that you will ever get into trouble for doing it.

Tourist visas are fairly simple to get, and require an application through the Brazilian Consulate as well as a valid passport and other documents. Tourist visas are valid for three months, which means if you are working in Brazil you will have to renew your visa at a Brazilian police office every three months. You are also not allowed to remain in Brazil on a tourist visa for more than six months every year.

It is possible to get a tourist visa changed over to a work visa, provided you can find a sponsor. Your best bet may be to begin a job on a tourist visa, get comfortable with your employers, and then bring up the subject of a work visa after they have decided they want to keep you. At that time, they may be willing to sponsor you.

It sounds like a lot of red tape, but the truth is that teaching English in Brazil isn’t as complicated as it sounds. The market for English teachers in Brazil is booming, and with that demand comes an increased possibility that you’ll be able to find the right job for you. With thousands of English teachers needed all over the country, Brazilians are for the most part eager to help. Do your research and be prepared, and you’re sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit English Teaching Jobs.

By Michelle Simmons

As of today, there are thousands of Americans living in Europe. The majority of them are there for job purposes, and one of the main jobs they hold is teaching English. Teaching English in Europe will always be a source of employment for those wishing to live abroad, since the value placed on native-speaking teachers in Europe is extremely high.

The information below is designed to help you start thinking along the lines of becoming an English teacher in Europe. Consider these facts before you begin your job search, and the process should go much more smoothly for you.

Choosing a country

Your first step after deciding to teach English in Europe should be to decide what country you’d like to teach in. This is a difficult decision and should involve a great deal of research on your part.

The fact is, every country in Europe has different requirements for their teachers, and it’s much easier to find a job in some countries than it is in others. For example:

Germany is in great need of native English teachers, and getting a residency permit for teaching English in Germany is a fairly simple process. You do need TEFL certification and a secured job before you can receive a permit.

France is very popular among TEFL graduates, and job competition is fairly tough. Surprisingly, knowledge of business will get you further in your job search in France than will a solid knowledge of teaching. The French tend to hire English teachers at a business or corporate level, and the more you know about international communication the easier it will be to find a job.

Greece is rather difficult to break into, because visa requirements and red tape can be somewhat complicated. You won’t find many TEFL teachers in Greece because the permits to work are so hard to obtain.

Italy is even harder to break into than Greece, unless you are an EU citizen. Americans are usually not hired for English teaching jobs in Italy, and if they are it must be proven that they can bring something to the job nobody else can. Few companies and schools are willing to hire Americans because the process can be costly and time consuming.

As you can see, the country where you choose to teach should be chosen carefully. Although ideally you should pick a country you love and wish to spend time in, your primary deciding factor should be whether or not you can obtain a job. Unless you have a job lead already, you should be prepared to do hours of research before settling on a course of action.

General Tips

Before you begin the process of finding a job teaching English in Europe, we highly recommend that you graduate from college and get TEFL certification. While these things are not considered requirements in every European country, the majority of countries count them as great advantages, and you’ll have a much easier time getting hired.

Your course of study doesn’t particularly matter; you simply must have graduated from a four-year college with a degree in some subject. As for TEFL certification, it can be earned in a number of ways. Most colleges and community schools offer TEFL programs. You may even be able to become certified through a mail-in schooling program or over the Internet. TEFL certification gives you the skills you will need to cope with teaching English to non-native speakers in a classroom setting. Whether or not it helps you land a job, the information you learn during TEFL certification will be invaluable in your classroom experience.

Our best advice for those wishing to teach English in Europe? Do your homework. Be prepared to analyze and compare various countries before making a decision. Once you’ve chosen a destination, you should have a working knowledge of the native language and a good idea of what life in that country will be like. After all, it will be your home for at least the next year.

Teaching English in Europe is a truly amazing experience, and one that every adventurous person should have. The trick to success is to be as prepared as you can… and then get ready to expect the unexpected.

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit English Teaching Jobs.

By Michelle Simmons

In Costa Rica, the skill of speaking English is an excellent way to advance in a career. As Costa Rica interacts more and more with the Western world in terms of business communication, knowing how to speak English is becoming a priority among businessmen and students alike.

If you’re interested in teaching English in Costa Rica, you can pretty much rest assured that you’ll have an intriguing and enlightening experience. The following tips are designed to help you locate and land a job.

How do I know if I’m qualified?

Costa Rica, unlike many countries, does not require native English-speaking teachers to be certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). In general, those interested in teaching in Costa Rica need only have a Bachelor’s degree, in any subject, from a four-year college.

The one exception to this is if you are planning on searching for and landing a job while still in your home country. Without the benefit of meeting you in person and interviewing you, many Costa Rican schools prefer their teachers to be certified. In this case, you should attend a certification program. Most colleges offer TEFL certification courses that last about a month.

The skills you learn from TEFL certification, regardless of whether or not they help you land a job, will be invaluable in a classroom setting, particularly if you’ve never taught before. If you can, get yourself certified before you begin your job hunt.

Should I head to Costa Rica to find a job?

The answer to this question is generally yes, if possible. The fact is that not many Costa Rican schools will hire you from overseas- and, as stated above, the requirements placed upon you may be stricter if they do so. If it all possible, you should plan a trip to Costa Rica for the sole purpose of job searching.

The good news is that many Costa Rican schools and businesses will hire you immediately if you interview in person. The effort involved in traveling to Costa Rica for these interviews shows that you are dedicated to teaching English, and also gives you a chance to make a good impression and display your English skills on the spot.

Where should I begin my job search in Costa Rica?

The real question here is when. If you’re interested in teaching English in Costa Rica, you should be familiar with the fact that the school year runs from January to December. The majority of schools will not be hiring in the middle of the year; on the other hand, as December rolls around and current teachers change jobs and put in resignations, the roster will begin to open up. The best time to begin your job search is the last few months of the year- October, November, and December.

Keep in mind that if your preference is to teach somewhere other than a typical school or college, then the time of the year won’t necessarily matter. Many large Costa Rican companies are hiring English teachers at any given time. If you’re looking for this type of job, your best bet is to seek out connections wherever you can find them. Many Costa Rican newspapers have classified ads that offer information on available English teaching jobs.

Regardless of what type of job you choose or how you go about landing it, you’re likely to fall in love with Costa Rica. It’s considered a comfortable, laid-back country with wonderful weather and friendly people. Chances are good you’ll spend much of your free time exploring the countryside and learning about the culture of which you’re a part. Teaching English in Costa Rica can be a true learning experience!

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit English Teaching Jobs.