A teacher should have maximal authority, and minimal power. - Thomas Szaz

Do I need a TEFL certification?

Yes and no. Some teaching positions do require TEFL certification while others do not. The correct answer really comes from evaluating your own goals and doing whatever is necessary to meet them. For a more detailed answer to this question read Getting TEFL Certification.

Do I need to know a second language?

No, you do not need to know a second language to teach English abroad. In fact, many schools enforce a strict English-only emerson policy in the classroom that prohibits you from speaking the local language even if you do know it. Having said that, it is definitely advised to take language classes outside the classroom. Even knowing a few extra words will go a long way as you adjust to living abroad.

Do I have to teach for the entire year?

While it is true that the vast majority of teaching positions abroad do require a year commitment, short-term opportunities do exist. First try searching our database for short-term teaching contracts, but be sure to follow up with the organization in order to clearly understand how long you are expected to stay. You may also want to explore our GO! Volunteer Abroad database. Volunteer opportunities to teach abroad tend to be shorter in length. Be aware that many schools will try to enforce penalties should you break your contract early.

Why is the pay usually so little?

When negotiating your rate of pay try and remember the economies of scale. While you may think that the amount offered is small compared to what you may be used to, often times you will be making significantly more money than the local population. In many cases your salary may be higher than your bosses!! Also remember that everything is relative, if you are earning a low rate of pay it should also mean that the costs of living in that country are also low. In the end, many teachers are able to live a comfortable lifestyle and still save quite a bit of money while teaching abroad.

Where is the best place to teach abroad?

Ask this question to ten different people and surely you will get ten different answers. Everyone has their own opinions and biases as to where the best place to teach English abroad is, but the plain truth is there is no right answer. A better question to ask yourself is, "Where is the best place for me to teach abroad?", and the answer to that comes from evaluating your own personally goals.

Do I need an education degree in order to teach abroad?

No, you do not need an education degree in order to teach abroad. Generally all that is required is a full degree from an accredited university. You can study anything from Math to Sociology and still qualify to teach abroad. However, some teaching positions do require that you have a TEFL certification (see above).

What happens if I don't like teaching abroad?

This does happen. Teaching abroad is not for everyone and you may discover that this was not the experience you were looking for. Before you pack up and head back home though, give yourself ample time to adjust to your new surroundings and teaching responsibilities. It is common for people to feel overwhelmed at first so don't hit that panic button after just a few short weeks. If, after a few months you still feel unhappy teaching abroad, the first thing you should do is notify your school. Hopefully they will take your problems seriously and provide what assistance they can to help you overcome them. In the end should you decide to leave, letting your school know early could help you avoid any penalties incurred for breaking your contract.

Common Terms

ESL: English as a second language
This term usually refers to contexts where the majority first language is English. Examples of ESL students would be immigrants, or visa students studying English in an English speaking country (e.g. Canada). Reasons for learning English in this context may be for settlement purposes, academic study or to fulfill a language policy requirement.

EFL: English as a foreign language
This term usually refers to contexts where the majority first language is NOT English (i.e. Japan). Students in these contexts often speak the same first language and only encounter English in their classroom. Reasons for learning English in this context may be for business travel, academic requirements, holiday travel, etc.

TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language
A general term that refers to many things. A TESL program means a program where students learn how to teach English as a second language. A TESL organization means a professional organization that represents teachers of English as a second language, for example, TESL Canada (national organization), TESL Ontario (provincial) and TESL Toronto (city). TESL may also refer to the teaching English as second language field in general (e.g. “I work in TESL.”).

TESOL: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
This term is used in the United States and is the name of the professional organization that represents teachers of English as a second language in the United States.

CELTA: Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults
This is a British (Cambridge) teacher training certificate that is offered worldwide. The program trains people to teach English as a second language.