Do Teachers Usually Owe Taxes

We have all spent a lot of time in classrooms during our lives and we have probably all experienced what it is like to be taught by a good teacher and varying degrees of less than good ones. The good ones seem to make it all look very easy as everyone in the class is interested, engaged, and keen to learn, but how do they do it? In most cases experience is the main reason why they make it look so straightforward, as doing something over and over again allows a good teacher to develop their skills and the best methods for getting the best results. However, there are a few common skills that are generally present in good teachers no matter how long they have been in the job. It probably goes without saying that a good teacher needs to have exceptional communication skills. Successful...  [Read more]

The first thing to appreciate, regardless of which country you are talking about, is that within any country there are vast differences in job opportunities and pay and conditions. Within any single country there are distinct areas which we could divide into three categories: 1. Urban 2. Sub-Urban (or Provincial) 3. Rural As you may expect, the level of opportunity, typical salary, and benefits, all decrease as you go down the list. A first world city such as Tokyo will be a vastly different teaching experience to a rural hamlet on a hillside in Cambodia. Many economically challenged areas will not be able to afford English teachers at all and jobs in these areas tend to be for volunteer work. If we look at mainstream job opportunities in urban environments this will give you an idea...  [Read more]

It is important to remember when looking at the raw figures presented here for TESOL teacher pay that the figures are all relative to the cost of living in the country or region in question. A salary of US$2,000 a month in rural Cambodia is certainly not the equivalent of the same salary in Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, the raw salary does not indicate other financial and non-financial benefits, such as who pays for your permits and licenses, who pays for your accommodation, do you get holiday pay or free flights, etc? So do not just take the figures at face value. Do some of your own research on the general living costs in the country you are interested in and scan the job adverts for additional benefits. Five main factors related to TESOL teacher pay: Taking each of these in turn;...  [Read more]

Every teacher makes mistakes in the classroom, particularly at the start of their career. As we learn to identify these mistakes we actually become better at our job, unless we fail to recognize these mistakes at all of course. Here we look at some of the most common errors made by new teachers and how to avoid them as we gain experience. Talking too much during lessons is probably the most common mistake made by inexperienced ESL teachers. The bottom line is that ESL students need to take every opportunity possible to speak the language as this is how they make real progress. However, if the teacher dominates the conversation any progress will be cut considerably. Only say what you need to keep the lesson moving forward and avoid chat that is not connected to the point of the...  [Read more]

How much you can make as an online English teacher is dependent on several factors, such as your level of teaching qualifications, your previous teaching experience, and the individual platform that you work for. Although some online ESL teachers work on a freelance basis, most work through some type of agency and these typically pay an hourly rate of anything between $15 and $30 on average. It is worth remembering that many of these agencies will take a cut of your income in return for providing you with students and teaching materials. How much you actually work when teaching English online is generally up to you. Most employers are happy for you to decide your number of working hours and even the times you are online. Because of this flexibility, most online ESL teachers can...  [Read more]

Before we go any further with this question, we first need to make an important distinction. Your number of teaching hours (known as contact hours) will not be the same as the number of hours you will be expected to actually be in school (known as contract hours). Most teaching jobs include admin duties on top of the actual teaching time. We also need to make it clear that different types of ESL teaching jobs have different typical classroom hours. Here we look at the three most common types of jobs available. In the majority of cases, overseas schools work normal office hours. This means that you should expect to be in school, Monday to Friday, from around 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This rough timetable adds up to around 40 hours per week. Of course, not all those hours will be...  [Read more]

There is no doubt that South Korea is one of the most popular destinations in the world for teaching English overseas. Each year, many thousands of newly qualified and experienced teachers pour into this part of Asia as the salaries on offer are as good as any in the region and the typical working conditions are very comfortable. On top of this, the economy of South Korea is one of the strongest in Asia, which means that the infrastructure is generally excellent. Crime rates are very low by western standards and there is plenty of scope for exploring and enjoying this friendly and peace loving nation. How much you can realistically earn when teaching English in South Korea will vary depending on several factors such as the employer you work for, your teaching qualifications, and...  [Read more]

The typical salaries for teaching English abroad are determined by a number of factors, including your qualifications, previous experience, and the country you wish to teach in. Let's look at how much an average TESOL teacher can make in different regions around the world. The pay for teaching English in other countries varies, but you should usually be able to make a decent living. Teachers in high-paying countries may earn anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 USD per month. Many factors can influence your TESOL salary, including the type of employer, your qualifications, previous teaching experience, and the location of your school. Teaching English abroad can be an attractive career path, but salaries vary greatly by region. For example, first-time English teachers in several Asian and...  [Read more]

For many ESL teachers a standard-level course such as the 120-hour TESOL certification course from ITTT is the only official teaching qualification they ever take. This level of certification will allow you to apply for a wide range of teaching jobs in countries worldwide. Some teachers also add one or more specialized TESOL qualifications to their portfolio in order to further their own understanding and to add more options to their job search. The next step up is an advanced-level certificate such as the Diploma in TESOL that takes an in-depth look at the theory side of teaching. Finally, teachers who want to rise to the very top of the ESL industry often sign up for university-level courses such as a Degree or even a Master’s in TESOL. Depending on the country you are in, there...  [Read more]

Although a large percentage of ESL jobs are filled following face-to-face interviews, there are many countries where it is common practice for schools to recruit teachers from within their home country. This scenario can be a very convenient option for teachers without any previous experience and anyone who is new to international travel. All contact is usually done via email, with the actual interview taking place via phone or webcam. One big benefit of getting a job in advance is it usually means the employer will take care of the paperwork such as visas and work permits. In many cases they will also provide free or subsidized airfares, health insurance and accommodation. The one main downside of this recruitment method is the time it can take to complete the whole process. You...  [Read more]

As ESL jobs are found right across the world, it is inevitable that salaries and other benefits can vary enormously. The majority of teachers will receive a monthly salary or an hourly rate and nothing more, while others can expect to be provided with free accommodation for the duration of their stay. But in which countries do you need to work to get this very handy bonus? China and South Korea are two of the largest employers of foreign teachers in the world and schools in both these countries routinely provide paid accommodation. The Middle East region is another area where you can realistically expect to receive free housing with the majority of jobs. ESL teaching positions in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain typically pay...  [Read more]

Across the world over 250,000 teachers work in the ESL field each year, although their income and other benefits will vary enormously. In some countries it is common practice for employers to pay for their new teacher?s flights up front or to reimburse them once they start the job. Some schools will expect you to complete a short probationary period before paying up, but this is not usually the norm. In most cases, you will also receive a flight home once you complete the agreed contract length. China is the undoubted leader in the ESL teaching market in terms of job numbers. There are an estimated 50,000 foreign English teachers employed in the country at any one time and a large proportion of these will receive some extra benefits in their contract. It is common for employers to...  [Read more]

During our own school days we probably all encountered more than one teacher who didn’t appear to be in the right job. Some might have been keen to dish out heavy punishments for minor offenses, some were probably extremely dull and uninteresting, while others simply failed to listen to the feedback of their students. Despite these negative influences, most of us will also have better memories of teachers who actually had a positive impact on our learning. So what actually made these teachers stand out? We think there are several skills and traits that can be combined to ensure a teacher is remembered for positive and not negative reasons. If you can manage to develop most if not all of these yourself, you should find your future students will remember you as a great ESL teacher....  [Read more]

  English teachers can expect a wide range of different benefits that vary from region to region. Regions where you can expect to receive free housing when working as an English teacher include China, South Korea, and the Middle East. Are you ready to live and teach abroad? Click here and get started today: https://www.teflcourse.net/?cu=YTDESCRIPTION Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. I have studied it before, but now I could to understand some...  [Read more]

If you have decided to pursue a career teaching the English language, it is time to figure out what you will need to get started. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching ESL, the following are the most commonly required qualifications to become a TESOL teacher: Although it may appear obvious, English fluency is required for TESOL instructors. We recommend that you look for another job if you don't speak, read and write English well. Non-native English speakers who are fluent in the language can find work in a variety of locations, including South and Central America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Being a native English speaker, on the other hand, is almost a requirement in some parts of the world. Countries like China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are probably not...  [Read more]

There is a very strong market for TESOL qualified teachers right across Europe and there is never a shortage of people looking to fill any vacant positions that come up. Many people from all over the world like the idea of heading to the UK to work as an ESL teacher, however, there are several things to consider before you book your plane ticket to London. The UK is known to have relatively high levels of immigration and a significant refugee population, which in itself creates plenty of work for English language teachers. In many parts of the country teachers are employed to help newcomers get their language proficiency up to a level that is necessary to get by on a day to day basis. However, the vast majority of these positions are snapped up by local teachers, either newly...  [Read more]

  The popularity of China as a destination for English language teachers has steadily increased in recent years, and it is now right at the top of the list with an estimated 100,000 foreign teachers working in the country each year. As a result of an extraordinary economic boom, Chinese parents are more willing than ever to spend thousands of dollars on their children's English education to give them the best chance of success in the future. With over 300 million people learning English across the country, China's insatiable demand for English language teachers looks set to continue. As there are often more job opportunities than there are teachers to fill them, schools are willing to offer very good salaries and other benefits to attract teachers. Salaries vary depending on the...  [Read more]

Teaching English online generally requires all the same skills and knowledge as in-class teaching, although you will also need to be confident with the technology involved. Some online teaching platforms operate their lessons via their own software, while others operate using general communication programs such as Google Classroom or Zoom. If you choose to go down the online teaching route you will find that there are just as many different potential scenarios as there are in traditional classroom teaching. You might find yourself teaching only kindergarten children or only adults, or any other mix in between. Your lessons might be strictly one-to-one or you might have groups of various sizes. Specialized courses such as business English are also a common option. As online teaching...  [Read more]

It is not uncommon to find friends or couples enjoying the shared experience of living and working abroad as ESL teachers. Despite this, there are still a few things that you will both need to consider before you jump on the next plane. The most important thing to consider if you plan to head overseas to teach with a friend or partner, is that you need to choose a destination where you both have a realistic chance of securing a suitable job. Many people dream of relaxing in a hammock under the palm trees between lessons, but the limited number of jobs in these locations might make it difficult for both of you to earn a good income. In contrast, big cities in most parts of the world generally have a high demand for ESL teachers, which means that finding good jobs should be relatively...  [Read more]

  Japan has been a popular destination amongst English language teachers for many years due to its widespread job opportunities, good salaries and fascinating culture. Whilst there are other countries in the region where the cost of living may be lower and the wages a little higher, nowhere provides such an incredible mix of modern development and ancient traditions as you will find in this extraordinary country. If you are looking for excitement and adventure, look no further than Japan. In order to work legally you will need to be eligible for a work visa. The good news is the criteria is not as tough as many other countries as you simply need to possess a degree in any subject. The only other qualifications you need are a fluency in the English language, a professional approach...  [Read more]