By Frank Collins

Each month, there are literally over 20,000 ESL teaching jobs listed. As a result, there is no better time to teach English abroad. Most schools will require a prospect to be certified to teach English. You can teach in international cities from Madrid to Bangkok, from Paris to Prague, and from Lima to Seoul.

Teaching English abroad has numerous benefits such as the opportunity to learn about different cultures; the exposure to interesting lifestyles; the chance to make money while enjoying traveling overseas; a clear and better perception of your own culture and tendencies; the reward of creating dialogue for your students; and establishing great friendships with international people. It doesn’t matter if you are still attending college, have just completed college and are undecided of your career choice, or have been working already for a number of years and are seeking a change, the experience of teaching English abroad will raise your communication skills, self-confidence, and international knowledge.

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The industry acronyms used most are EFL, ESL, TEFL, TESL and TESOL. They can be confusing, especially when they are commonly used as substitutes for one another. They are defined as follows: English as a Foreign Language (EFL), English as a Second Language (ESL), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). All of these terms essentially mean the same thing, the main difference being what part of the world the term is used in (i.e. in Europe, English is commonly referred to as a foreign language whereas in the US and Canada, English is commonly referred to as a second language). Once the teacher completes the in-classroom course or online course which consists of 45 to 60 hours, they will get a certificate which is recognized and accepted internationally.

Upon completion you will be a step ahead of the others as you have now increased your qualifications to make your ESL teaching job prospects much easier. The course will increase your teaching skills, self-esteem, and provide you with methods on how to teach English grammar, reading, writing, listening, comprehension and pronunciation. Proper training in teaching ESL can go very far for job satisfaction.

It is true there are some countries where a TESOL/TEFL certificate is not required, but these are often at schools which pay very low and offer exploitive working conditions and demands. It is better to fully prepared to offer the best. After all, you are the teacher and will be representing your country.

About the Author

Frank offers information on international jobs, working abroad, and teaching english overseas. To find out about becoming certified with TESOL or TEFL, english language resources, and job listings visit his site: exploringabroad.com. Get tips and resources to teach english abroad for a positive experience.