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Most foreign ESL teachers working in South Korea are employed by government run public schools or private language academies known as hagwons. Both of these employers typically offer a good salary and a range of extra benefits, but there are some differences between the two that might lead you to choose one over the other. Both types of employers hire the majority of their teachers in advance from within their own country. Public school recruitment follows a set timetable that has two start dates each year. Applications for the start date in August/September need to be filed online beginning in April. The application process for the February/March start date begins in October. A large percentage of teachers who work in public schools are recruited via a government program known as...  [Read more]

As online TESOL training has become so popular in recent years you will find some people suggesting that in-class courses are no longer relevant. The truth is somewhat different. Online courses offer a great deal of flexibility and convenience and are therefore here to stay. However, in-class TESOL courses provide a range of unique benefits that online options just can't match. On top of all the main benefits mentioned below, our in-class TESOL course can be taken in one of many fantastic locations around the world. Probably the biggest advantage that in-class TESOL courses have over online courses is the fact that they include several hours of Observed Teaching Practice (OTP). OTP involves planning and delivering your own lessons for real language learners in an authentic classroom...  [Read more]

After completing a TESOL course you will be ready to start looking for that all important first teaching job, but how long do employers expect you to commit to them for? Below we outline what you might find when signing contracts in different parts of the world. When working in Europe the most common contract length is for an academic year that generally runs from September to June in most countries. This can be ideal for many teachers as it allows you to take a couple of months off during the summer to travel around the continent, or you can continue earning in a different environment such as a summer camp. English language summer camps run for between four and eight weeks and can be found in many European countries. Contracts for six or even three months are also possible in some...  [Read more]

Every year thousands of foreign ESL teachers head to Japan as jobs are widespread in towns and cities across the country. The average salary is enough to live well and still save and the cultural and social aspects of the country are unlike anywhere else on Earth. If you have already decided that Japan is for you, it might not be quite so easy to decide on exactly which part of it to call home. Every city will have plenty of potential options and quieter areas will also offer a change from the normal hectic pace of city life. Although it would be hard to make a bad choice of destination in Japan, we recommend the following options based on the local job market and the experiences of our previous course graduates. It is no surprise that Japan’s largest urban area is at the top of...  [Read more]

There are many different locations available to anyone who is looking to teach English abroad. Some people make their decision based on the potential salaries on offer, while others might be more focused on cultural aspects or lifestyle. There are pros and cons to be considered for every region and individual country, so below we have outlined the most popular options to help you towards your final decision. In terms of job numbers, Asia is by far the most popular region for ESL teachers. This huge continent offers a wide variety of opportunities across all kinds of environments. Jobs are plentiful in major modern cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing, while those looking for a slower pace of life are equally spoilt for choice in parts of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, to mention...  [Read more]

Whether you are planning a gap year abroad or looking for something more permanent, teaching English in Europe is certainly an idea that is well worth exploring. Every year thousands of ordinary people just like you pack their bags and head off to this extraordinary continent in search of fun, adventure, and a cultural experience that will stay with them for life. As long as you have a solid understanding of the English language you are eligible, although most employers will expect you to also complete a TESOL certification course before you start teaching. Across the continent there are many countries to choose from, all which have their own benefits to offer. However, to give you a head start we have put together the following list of countries that we think are the best for...  [Read more]

Latin America is a large and diverse region that covers over 20 million square kilometers and around 20 countries. It also provides a huge number of opportunities for ESL teachers in large bustling cities, popular tourist resorts, small country towns, and everywhere else in between. Due to its wide choice of destinations there are countless options for adventure, exploration, entertainment, and relaxation, and the development of lifelong memories is almost guaranteed. However, as this is such a big region, how do you know which countries are the best for teaching ESL? We highly recommend you complete your own research to ensure you cover all the things that are important to you, but we can also offer the following list of destinations that we think offer the best opportunities right...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best online TESOL certification course you need to consider all the main options, what you want the qualification for, and what you hope to achieve with it once certified. First we will look at all the main online course options. The different types of online courses are easily separated by the average number of hours they require to complete them. Weekend courses: These are often marketed as “taster courses” and are done mainly at weekends to give those who are already employed a chance to see what TESOL is about. Due to time constraints (they usually last about 10 hours in total) there is limited material covered in terms of teaching and learning, but they can be useful to help you decide if doing a full course would be worthwhile for you. Short...  [Read more]

We will take a roughly historical perspective as we look through the different methodologies for teaching English, from ancient past to current day. Named after the method used to teach the “classical languages” of ancient Greek and Latin and is often called grammar translation. There is a heavy focus on grammar such as verb conjugations and language rules. Also called the “natural approach” which is intended to copy the way we learn our native language naturally. As such, only the target language is used and the emphasis is on speaking and listening. As the name implies the two major components of this methodology are; audio (listen) and lingual (speak), so the method makes use of different types of drills to reinforce language structures. The focus is on using the target...  [Read more]

There is a very large market for ESL teaching books and all the major publishers have some amount of involvement in their production. These books fall into a number of different categories and here we will look at the three main categories. Every teacher will have come across a few different book series that have been specifically written for the ESL teaching market. This type of resource generally comes in five different levels: starter/beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, and upper-intermediate. Each series will also contain three types of book: the teacher book, the student book, and the resource book (or something similar). The teacher book is key as it outlines the syllabus covered and it also breaks each subject up into individual lessons. Each of the lessons...  [Read more]

The TAPIF Program stands for Teaching Assistant Program in France. It is a government run initiative that places foreign applicants into state schools to work in the classroom as teaching assistants. Considering that France is often a difficult country for non-EU citizens to get a work visa for, this program is a good option for many people. If you are able to meet the requirements of the program, it could be the perfect way to live your dream of living and working in France. The age range for applicants on this program is between 20 and 35. If accepted, you will work 12 hours per week in up to three different elementary or secondary schools between October 1st and April 30th. You can state your preferences on where you would like to teach on the application form, but there is no...  [Read more]

The Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program began in 2010 as a way to promote foreign language skills and increase ties with the global community. Sponsored by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science, the TLG program looks to recruit native English, French and German speakers to work as volunteers in public schools across the country. Although language teaching within a school environment is the main goal of the scheme, it also has a strong focus on cultural exchange. The TLG program is aimed at all native speakers of English, French and German who are motivated to make a positive difference to young lives in an unfamiliar environment. Applicants will work alongside a local teacher in primary level schools on a one academic year contract. An average week includes 30 hours...  [Read more]

Depending on their chosen location, ESL teachers can find jobs working in a wide range of settings, including schools, institutes, academies, colleges, and universities. The largest number of positions, particularly in Europe and Latin America, are found in private language schools. Government run public schools are also a good choice in some countries, particularly in Asia. Private language schools provide the largest percentage of all ESL teaching jobs worldwide. This type of school can vary in size from a single classroom with one teacher, right through to large chains that operate in several countries and employ hundreds of teachers. Some will offer classes to all age groups and language abilities, while others might specialize in young learners or business related English....  [Read more]

No matter where you plan to teach English, the chances are that there will be a wide range of potential age groups to choose from in your chosen destination. So how do you know which one is best? Put simply, there is no best age group for teaching English as every teacher has their own preference. Many ESL teachers choose to only work with young children as they suit the high energy level and focus on fun that often accompanies this age group. Others prefer to teach adults as the calmer and more academic approach is more to their liking. As we have already seen, English is commonly taught to people of all ages, from as young as 18 months, all the way up to the oldest members of society. This wide range of students is typically broken down into three main groups of learners: Teaching...  [Read more]

Whether your overseas teaching adventure is part of a gap year abroad or you are planning to leave your old life behind and start a new career in the classroom, the huge continent of Asia is hard to ignore. A large percentage of people who decide to teach English outside of their home country choose this region due to the countless potential jobs on offer and the wide range of cultures there are to explore. The requirements needed to teach in Asia vary considerably, but all you definitely need is a strong understanding of the English language and a TESOL certification from a respected course provider such as ITTT. Although there are nearly 50 countries spread across Asia, these are the ones that we think offer the very best options for teaching English right now. South Korea has...  [Read more]

Opportunities for teaching English in Spain are varied and widespread, with potential job options available in almost every small, medium and large city in the country. However, deciding which one of these is the right choice for you can be difficult without actually visiting the country first. If you have the time and funds it can be a great idea to head to Spain and then decide on a location once you are on the ground, but for most teachers this is not a realistic option. Instead, have a read through the following list to see if anywhere of these popular spots fits the bill. The Spanish capital is home to over 3 million people and there are enough of them learning English right now to ensure that ESL teaching jobs are not hard to find. Public schools and private language centers...  [Read more]

If you want to join the tens of thousands of people who are teaching ESL in China right now, the first decision to make is which location would suit you best. The largest markets for foreign teachers are in the two big cities of Beijing and Shanghai. However, there are another 150 other cities with a population of over one million people, where ESL jobs can also be found. Shanghai is a truly vast city with a population of over 20 million people. Across the city there are countless potential employers, particularly in the field of business related English. As jobs are so widespread and the salaries are generally very competitive, Shanghai is one of the most popular teaching destinations anywhere in Asia. The city?s population is swelled by a huge number of expats from all over the...  [Read more]

The simple reason why some countries or schools offer higher salaries is to attract the very best candidates for their vacant positions. What is considered to be the best candidates does vary considerably from one country to the next, but there are a few common factors regarding teaching qualifications and classroom experience that appear when looking at jobs that pay the most. These common factors are: being a native English speaker, with a degree in education or a related field, and a TESOL certificate (although higher qualifications such as a Diploma in TESOL are sometimes needed). A minimum of two years previous teaching experience is also often asked for. If you are lucky enough to tick all the boxes stated above you will be in with a very good chance of securing a top teaching...  [Read more]

If you Google TESOL courses in Thailand you will probably find multiple pages of results showing a range of courses offered by many different providers. With so many to choose from, how do you know which is the right course for you? ITTT has been operating TESOL courses in Thailand for many years and we are confident that they are the very best available. One of the main features of our TESOL courses in Thailand is the high quality of the instruction provided. All our centers only employ trainers who have a high level of teaching qualifications and many years of practical experience of teaching in international environments. The main goal of our teacher trainers is to help every single trainee to reach their full potential in the classroom. Thanks to their dedication, most of our...  [Read more]

Teaching English in a voluntary role is a very popular choice with TESOL course graduates. There are a wide variety of different options available, located across many countries worldwide. Below we take a closer look at some of the main questions you might have about volunteer teaching, in order to help you decide where the best places to teach English as a volunteer might be. There are plenty of great reasons to volunteer as an ESL teacher and everyone who does it has their own motivations. Some of the most common reasons include: The bottom line is that volunteer teaching programs are available on almost every continent and within dozens of individual countries. As there are too many different options to mention, the best advice is to do an online search of the countries that...  [Read more]