How to Teach English to Spanish Abroad With a Bachelor's

Teaching Engish in a Spanish-speaking country requires extensive preparation.

Finding an English teaching position in a Spanish-speaking country requires planning and flexibility. Overall, demand to learn English remains high, because the language is useful for international business, culture and politics. Nevertheless, as a result of competition and economic conditions, many English teaching positions in the Spanish-speaking world are more competitive than ever. Job-seekers holding a bachelor's degree (B.A.), relevant experience and favorable recommendation letters should fair well.

Things You'll Need

• B.A. (English, literature or a related field)
• Resume or CV
• TEFL certification

Instructions

Target Countries, Focus Seach, Send Applications

1. Get certified via the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) test. Passing this standardized test assures employers that the candidate is knowledgeable and competent.

2. Identify countries of interest. Consider the cities, cultures and regions you would like to experience or the places in which you want to make a practical or humanitarian contribution. In addition, countries differ in terms of crime, health and other concerns, so check out the U.S. Department of State's country summaries for reliable information. Also note that there are fewer available English teaching positions in Spain than in many Latin American countries.

3. Decide whether you would like to teach children, teenagers or adults. Opportunities may differ, depending upon which level of instruction you favor. Alternatively, if you have no preference, there will be more options available to you.

4. Seek out a career-placement counselor, an international programs counselor or, if you are still a college or university student, a Spanish language faculty member. These individuals will be familiar with programs relevant to teaching abroad.

5. Search for programs on major Internet search engines. Look at some programs and websites that arise to get a sense of the options available. Narrow your search by including specific countries or regions, as well as humanitarian, private or religious groups that facilitate English teaching. Research the local classifieds, such as Craigslist, that often list openings for teaching English.

6. Pick a few options that seem to fit most of your criteria. Determine the application requirements for each, such as a resume (CV) and recommendation letters, and assemble them.

7. Submit your applications. Make yourself available for interviews or to address any additional questions (probably via e-mail or phone) possible employers might have.

Tips & Warnings

• Adult English language programs can differ significantly from more-traditional classroom settings. For instance, they may exclusively involve tutoring sessions or one-on-one work. Often, these jobs focus on training business professionals.

• Volunteering or taking a low wage may open more opportunities for teaching abroad.

• Watch out for scams and unreliable employers. Many websites charge fees for TEFL preparation or for locating overseas teaching jobs. While some of these offerings may be legitimate, determine whether a given service is available for a reasonable fee or for free before committing any of your own cash. Similarly, try to speak with a potential employer by phone, interview current employees (if possible) and secure written employment offers before accepting a position. Finally, legitimate employers will provide or help you locate affordable, safe lodging.

References

• Languagecorps.com: Teaching English in Latin America
• Oxford Seminars: Finding an ESL Job
• U.S. Department of State: A-Z List of Country and Other Area Pages