By Michiel Van Kets

If you’re thinking about a career in teaching English you are choosing a great profession. Not only do you give your valuable expertise to others but it is also possible to teach English in other countries not just at home. You can do this as a long term option or just take on some short term training for others when you are traveling in various countries for periods of time. Teaching overseas does require a little forward planning but if you have the qualifications you are pretty much able to find positions where ever you want to head.

There are places where the payments are much higher and you can obtain positions before you leave but there are many countries where you can look for work when you arrive. You need to make sure you have the finances to try this option but it is possible. Some teaching positions will include all expenses for you. Like accommodation and visa requirements etc but these are usually longer term positions so if you are interested in a longer term position you should check these options out before you leave home as you can find some jobs where all you have to do is get on the plane, arrive and teach.

Other positions that perhaps do not include the accommodation and visa or immigration expenses can prove to be a good way to make some money if you want to travel around so at least you need have an idea of what your rough plan might be. This way you are not restricted to set periods or contracts that keep you in one place for a year or more depending on what the other contract teaching positions will offer you.

It is not always simple and there are various countries where the rules and regulations make it more difficult but all you need to do is search for other teachers comments online about teaching and you will find there is a lot of information out there about what you can do and the better places to go. In various countries just having a teaching education in your own country is not enough and you may be required to obtain further certifications that are recognized in the other countries. The more common and internationally recognized courses are those such as the TEFL or TESOL courses.

There are some countries where it is a minimum requirement that you hold these specific certificates and you can also train for these specific certifications in those countries. However if you are not already a certified teacher who holds a degree then you may also find that the TEFL or TESOL courses are not enough to obtain the positions you want.

As a teacher you will also find that as some areas are better than others for teaching you need to make sure you do your home work before agreeing to any long term contracts. In many countries the schools are required to offer English as a language but there is not always the emphasis placed on ensuring that the students actually learn and while your education may have been a strict event in a controlled and regimented environment some other countries do not follow this format of teaching. From experience these are some of the Asian countries where English is taught but the whole schooling process is such a jump from what you are used to in your own country that the event can be a daunting one.

To get started on your overseas teaching experience make sure that you do all the homework you can regarding the locations you might consider and try to talk or communicate with other teachers who are teaching or have taught in those countries to get as much information as you can. You can of course always try the private teaching option and work in your own time and at your own rates however these jobs are a little harder to come by and while they may pay well they are again usually with the rich kids who may or may not show any respect for their teachers and then again you have a big change from what you expect and the reality of what it will be when you arrive. Whatever you decide make sure you keep funds in reserve for your ticket home just in case you really can’t deal with the differences that are out there.

About the Author

Michiel Van Kets submits articles for Abso-bloody-Lutely, a general web directory. The publications are about education and teaching.

By Ron Edwards

So you believe you have what it takes to be one of the many English language teachers around? You should know that English language teachers are not all of one type – there are differences between English language teachers (just like in other occupations).

Types of English language teachers

1. EFL – EFL teachers are English language teachers who teach English as a Foreign Language.

2. ESL – Teachers under this category teach English as a Second Language.

3. ESOL – ESOL teachers teach English for Speakers of Other Languages

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As you may have observed, these three types of teachers have one thing in common: they are all concerned with helping people trained in other languages (usually their mother tongue) become educated in English. This field of teaching may also be known by other acronyms (and terms) namely:

1. TESL – Teaching of English as a Second Language.

2. TEFL – Teaching of English as a Foreign Language.

3. ELT – English language teaching.

4. TESOL – Teaching of English for Speakers of Other Languages.

You can see that the first three types of English language teachers are just called by the other 4 names and acronyms – but their function is the same: to teach the English language to people who have a mother tongue different from English. The field populated by English language teachers has grown in so many ways. For one thing, English language teachers may choose to get international accreditation to boost their credentials – particularly if they are planning to migrate to another country. One country that officially demands this, for instance, is Australia which requires potential English language teachers to present the results of their TOEFL exams (yet another acronym to describe English language teachers – it stands for Teaching of English as a Foreign Language.) At present, there are two umbrella terms to subdivide the field of English language teachers. For those English language teachers concentrating on American English, they rely on the TESOL system. English language teachers who are well versed in British English opt for the ELT system. Countries which used to be territories of the US (such as the Philippines) generally use American English, while countries that may have been under the British in the past (like India) will usually use British English. An English teacher should be aware of the traits of the English language so that he or she may be better at teaching it.

1. The phonemes of vowels

2. The phonemes of consonants

3. The structure of syllables

4. Vowels which are not stressed

5. The timing of stress

6. Connected speech.

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In grammar, the points to take note of are:

1. Articles.

2. Tenses

3. Modal verbs

4. Functions of auxiliaries

5. Idiomatic usage

In vocabulary, a teacher should be honed in:

1. Word derivation

2. Phrasal verbs

3. Size of lexicon.

Some teachers specialize in either written or spoken English. By being aware of all this concerning the English language, one may become a more effective teacher.

About the Author

The author runs an online portal to english language jobs. Check out this website to find out more about english language teachers, and worldwide employer contact information.