How to Teach English Overseas in the Summer
Teaching English overseas during the summer is an excellent way to see the world while gaining teaching experience and making some money. There are organizations in many different countries that welcome summer instructors with programs in place to make the transition as easy as possible. Whether you choose to teach in Asia, Africa, Europe or South America, there are different requirements for teaching English.
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Things You'll Need
- TESL or TEFL certification
- Some teaching experience
- Return plane ticket
- Applicable work visa
Instructions
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Choose a country to teach in. Each country offers a different set of possible experiences, obstacles, challenges and rewards. You must decide on the type of experience you want to have. For example, if you want to work with underprivileged children, you may not want to teach in Japan, as it is a highly developed country. If you are looking for all of the conveniences you have at home, rural Nicaragua may not be the perfect fit for you.
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Research the qualifications for that country. Every country has different rules and regulations that you must consider prior to searching for employment. In some countries, you will not be eligible to teach without a bachelor’s degree. In others, you may need to obtain a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate. In a few countries, simply being a native speaker of English is enough to find work.
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Obtain the appropriate education. In most cases a TESL or TEFL certificate is the minimum requirement. These certificates can be earned online by enrolling in an accredited course. Some colleges and universities offer weekend courses where you can earn your certification over a three-day period. Both the TESL and TEFL websites provide information on where you can obtain certification.
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Gain applicable experience. Along with being certified to teach English, many companies and organizations require that you possess some teaching experience. Most major cities in English-speaking countries have free community English classes that are constantly looking for volunteers to help teach conversational English to the participants. If you are required to have teaching experience, gain it by volunteering at a community English program.
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Search for employment in your desired country. There are many sites online that contain information and job postings for English teachers around the globe. Begin your search by checking with these sites. You may also check with your school if they offer job placement assistance.
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Prepare and submit your resume. Once you have found a position that matches your employment needs and qualifications, you must prepare your resume to reflect your competency as an English teacher. Prepare your resume with a cover letter stating your desire and capacity to teach English overseas. Include your certification and teaching experience on your resume.
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Sign your contract and prepare to leave. After you have received notification that you have been accepted to teach for an organization, you must sign a teaching contract stating the terms and duration of your position. Once this has been completed, you must prepare to leave. You may need to visit your destination country’s consulate or embassy to obtain a work visa or other documentation to allow you to work. Check with your company or organization for visa requirements, as they guide you through this process.
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Tips & Warnings
There are many volunteer opportunities available overseas. If you are not interested in making money while teaching, the qualifications are less stringent for volunteer English teachers.
Most summer contracts will require that you purchase a return ticket to your destination country.
References
- Photo Credit airplane image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
