Jobs That Teachers Can Do

If you have discussed teaching English abroad with friends and family, it is likely that you have heard remarks such as ?that sounds like fun, but what will you do when you get back?? Unfortunately, teaching English as a foreign/second language is seen by some as not really a ?proper job?, just something that young people do for a bit of adventure before settling down to a real job. Although many ESL teachers do only teach in the short term and some are only in it for fun, there are many others who take it seriously and go on to enjoy a long and lucrative career as an English language teacher. YES, you can certainly choose to make a long-term career out of teaching English. Most people?s TESOL journey begins with the idea of seeing a bit of the world while earning some money in the...  [Read more]

ITTT is dedicated to assisting you throughout your TESOL training and to providing you with a means of support during your ensuing teaching career. If you have any questions regarding our courses, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section below. Our TESOL FAQs should be able to answer most of your questions, but if you have any other queries do not hesitate to contact us by submitting them using the form at the bottom of this page. What does TESOL mean?   The acronym TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The term is commonly used when referring to certification courses that provide the skills necessary to teach the English language to non-native speakers in your own country or abroad. Read more What is the difference between TESOL...  [Read more]

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is also commonly used to refer to the qualification that teachers need in order to be eligible for most good quality teaching jobs in countries all over the world. If you want to take advantage of the huge worldwide boom in English language learning, you will certainly want to have this certification on your CV/resume. Equally, if you are learning the English language you will also want your teacher to have a TESOL qualification to ensure they have the knowledge needed to provide a good standard of tuition. As mentioned, a TESOL certificate is the standard qualification required by employers for anyone who intends to work as an English language teacher at home, overseas, or online. The main benefit is that as a...  [Read more]

The simple and straightforward answer to this question is: No, you do not need a degree to take a TESOL course or to land a teaching position abroad. While it is true that having a degree means you will have a wider choice of job options, those without one still have plenty of great options available in a wide range of countries across the world. Whatever your academic background, teaching English in your home country, overseas, or online is still a very realistic option. Whether a degree is required to teach English is usually determined by the authorities of each individual country. Some countries where ESL teaching is very popular have imposed restrictions on foreign teachers that insist they have a degree in order to qualify for an official work permit. In these situations,...  [Read more]

The worldwide demand for English language skills is rapidly growing, which means there are always plenty of job options out there in a variety of different teaching environments. However, it should be pointed out that being a native English speaker is no longer the only qualification you need to be offered a good teaching position. The continuous increase in demand for foreign English teachers has led many countries to introduce certain restrictions on who is eligible for a work visa. Many individual employers have also raised their expectations when it comes to employing foreign English teachers. On top of this, the rise in popularity of teaching English overseas and online means there is an ever growing level of competition for the best positions. The main thing to remember is...  [Read more]

There are many reasons why fully certified teachers decide to leave their home country to teach overseas. It can often be difficult for newly qualified teachers to find a suitable job and teaching abroad is a great way to gain valuable classroom experience. More experienced teachers often feel like they need a new challenge and teaching in a new country can certainly provide that. Whatever the reason, the teaching profession is unique as it offers you the chance to develop your skills and knowledge and increase your experience and employability, while travelling and exploring the world. If you start searching online for English teaching jobs around the world you will quickly see that many employers expect their job applicants to possess a TESOL certificate. This applies to all...  [Read more]

This is one of the most common questions asked by our TESOL course trainees and the answer is quite simple. Yes, you can teach ESL without a bachelor’s degree. Anyone who is TESOL qualified will have a wide array of destinations to choose from all over the world, regardless of their previous educational record. If you have a degree in any subject you will certainly have a few more options, but non-degree holders are in no way excluded from ESL teaching in many parts of the world. In recent years some countries have made it compulsory for foreign teachers to have a degree if they want to obtain a work visa that allows them to work legally as an ESL teacher. This is most noticeable in Asia where some of the biggest markets for teachers such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan...  [Read more]

Due to the ever-increasing numbers of people learning English throughout the world there is now a global shortage of ESL qualified teachers. This is true in most parts of the world, including in the US where sustained levels of high immigration have caused a shortage of trained and experienced ESL teachers. This shortage is particularly acute in states with especially high levels of immigrants and refugees. One report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) suggests that around one-third of all schools in the US offering bilingual or ESL teaching have trouble filling their vacant positions. The overall demand for TESOL qualified teachers is only likely to increase in the coming years, which is great news for teachers but not so great for schools. There is a shortage...  [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]

India is currently undergoing an economic boom in many areas including information technology and customer service outsourcing, which are two areas that provide opportunities for TESOL qualified teachers. Despite English being an official language in India, the level at which it is taught in mainstream schools is generally very poor. Because of this, there is a strong demand for ESL teachers in many areas of business across the country. Unlike many other countries in Asia, good salaries are thin on the ground in India. Many people opt for volunteer positions that often provide accommodation and meals and the chance to gain some classroom experience, while also providing some much needed English language skills that help people get into better jobs. Paid positions do exist, although...  [Read more]

An interview for an ESL position is much the same as any other interview situation. It can be a scary prospect for many people, but if you have prepared for the most likely questions you should have little to worry about. Although it is impossible to predict exactly how an interview will unfold, most will be based on a similar range of questions that are designed to assess whether you would fit into the existing workforce. One of the main purposes of any job interview is to get some understanding of you as an individual person, so you should expect questions such as: What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years? If, like many ESL teachers, you are applying for jobs outside of your home country you should...  [Read more]

Do you want to teach English, but are not sure if a TESOL certificate will be enough to get you where you want to go? The good news is, most countries do not require a teaching license to teach English, a TESOL certificate is usually enough. In some cases, a bachelor's degree might also be a requirement, but there are many places where this is not an issue. With a quality TESOL certificate from ITTT, you will be able to get ESL teaching jobs in most places around the world. While year-long training and a teaching license is typically required to become a standard teacher in most countries, it is incredibly easy to become a teacher for English as a foreign language in many countries around the world. With a TESOL certificate you can start a career in teaching English in many places,...  [Read more]

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere it is likely that you have endured many years of cold, dark winters. If you would like the opportunity to experience living in a climate that is warm all year round, why not complete a TESOL certification course and start a new life living and working as an English teacher in the exotic tropical zone? Thousands of people every year take advantage of this opportunity and very few end up regretting their decision. All you need to do is decide which tropical country is right for you. Costa Rica is small in size, but it has a very large market for TESOL qualified teachers. Most teaching jobs are found in private language centers that are located in most of the larger towns and cities. Private tutoring of English students is also a popular way to...  [Read more]

Turkey occupies a unique position at the junction between Europe and Asia and it is rapidly becoming one of the region?s boom destinations for ESL teachers. Jobs are easily found in major cities and popular tourist areas as the English language is becoming more and more vital in many types of employment. While it is still possible to land a job without any specific qualifications or experience, these positions are not likely to pay very well or offer the best working conditions. To ensure you are eligible for the most sought after jobs, a TESOL qualification is usually required. Some positions will also specify a degree and/or previous classroom experience. Many employers will give preference to teachers whose TESOL course included teaching practice over those who only have an online...  [Read more]

Demand for TESOL qualified teachers in Hungary has grown steadily since the country joined the EU in 2004. Today there are a large number of jobs available across a diverse range of employers. Although many employers are keen on native English speakers, there are also plenty of opportunities for non-native speakers who have a good standard of language skills. Big cities such as Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc, Szolnok, and Szeged are where the majority of jobs are located. Monthly salaries in Hungary range from $700 to $900, although teachers at college or university level might be able to earn significantly more. Classroom time averages around 20 to 25 hours per week, which provides enough free time for many teachers to take on a few private students to bump up their income. In many...  [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]

During any research regarding teaching English abroad you are sure to come across the Middle East as it has a very vibrant job market for TESOL qualified teachers. Jobs are abundant in many areas, mainly due to the huge number of immigrants from all over the world who flock here to find work in a wide variety of industries. English language skills are highly prized in many countries and employers are happy to pay some of the highest salaries on offer anywhere in the world in order to secure your services. However, as the benefits are so attractive, the requirements for teachers are usually much higher than in many other parts of the world. If you can meet the criteria expected, the following are some of the most popular countries for teaching ESL in the Middle East. The most...  [Read more]

People have many different reasons for wanting to teach English abroad. For some it is the adventure, while others are looking to experience a new culture, or even just to escape the daily 9 to 5 grind. Whatever your reasons, the financial side of heading overseas as a TESOL qualified teacher is also likely to be of some importance. Although the majority of teachers have no problem finding a job that pays them enough to live a comfortable lifestyle, for some it is also essential that they are able to save some of their income to put towards future travel or to pay off student loans etc. Despite being an automatic first choice destination for a large number of TESOL qualified teachers, Europe is often one of the hardest places to save money while teaching English. If you decide on...  [Read more]

Becoming an ESL teacher provides a one-of-a-kind multi-cultural experience. International travel opportunities, multi-cultural training, and job satisfaction are all job benefits. One of the most significant benefits of obtaining a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification is the opportunity to work abroad in an exciting new country and culture. However, there are also some things you should consider before making the move. ESL is a term that is commonly used to refer to teaching English as a second language. It can also refer to the training required to teach English as a second language. Teachers with such credentials are in high demand all over the world. In today's world, English is one of the most widely spoken languages. It has the third-highest...  [Read more]

If you are TESOL certified and have worked as an English language teacher for sometime, you might be thinking about branching out into another area of the ESL teaching profession. One possible option is to become a TESOL trainer who is responsible for guiding the next generation of teachers through their certification courses. This can be a very rewarding job that is often well paid, and it can even be a route into higher management positions or even a step on the way to setting up your own language school. First and foremost you will need to have completed a TESOL certification course as this will give you an insight into what the job involves. You will also need all the skills and knowledge that the course covers in order to pass that on to your future trainees. While successful...  [Read more]