Teach English Online & Abroad: Best TEFL Courses & Jobs

Why Choose to Teach English?

Anybody can have their own reasons for why she or he would like to start teaching English. The simple answer would be that it brings you many new opportunities. Reasons to teach English can be to:

• Learn a new skill to add your resume
• Gain work experience
• Experience living in a new country
• Learn a new culture
• Travel around the world and make money by teaching
• Freedom to work from anywhere

Ready to explore the world and teach English abroad? There are plenty of amazing options, whether it’s a pre-organized program in Hong Kong or teaching online from your sun lounger in Thailand.

Requirements to Teach English

Even though teaching English can be done in many ways. There are some general requirements you should know about when you’re planning to teach English through a company.

• Native or near-native English speaker
• 18 years or older
• A reliable Internet connection
• A computer or device that has a webcam (selfie camera)
• A bachelor’s degree
• A TEFL certification

TEFL Certification

In order to teach English abroad and travel, the first thing you’ll need is a TEFL certification. To do this you’ll need to enroll in a TEFL course online or in person.

There are many affordable options for undertaking this qualification. However, if you want to gain as much practical teaching experience as possible it’s best to do a course at a university or school. Most courses like this will give you the opportunity to practice demo classes on real students who are learning English.

Bachelor’s Degree

Depending on where you are teaching, most English teaching jobs abroad will also require you to have a bachelor’s degree. They may also require you to undergo a background check.

Luckily, there are many options for you to teach English abroad without needing a degree. Have a look at this great infographic below made by The TEFL Academy where you can see the best countries to teach without a degree as well as which countries pay the most and have the lowest living costs when moving abroad.

Other options to Teach English

If you cannot do a TEFL course, there are other options. For example, there are excellent teaching assistant programs abroad. One of the most popular ones is with the British Council. All they require is that you:

1. Have been studying at university for 2 years
2. Are highly proficient in the English language
3. Have an EU passport

Tip: Not from Europe? Other programs also exist like this around the world, so check your government website for more information.

Best TEFL Courses

TEFL courses can be taken online and in-person worldwide and the price of a course varies depending on which destination you enroll in. Online TEFL courses provide the flexibility to study where and when it’s convenient for you. Below are a handful of popular TEFL courses:

1. TEFL Academy
2. Let’s TEFL
3. MyTEFL
4. PremierTEFL

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Teach English: How to Find a Job

Teaching Online and Abroad

A great way to teach English abroad and travel is to teach English online as a Digital Nomad. As long as you have a good wifi connection, you can teach from anywhere in the world, and you can make your own schedule to suit your travel plans.

Websites like Italki and Preply let you make your own profile and set your own rates. Other good options are websites like DaDa (teaching children in China) or iTutorGroup. Both of these companies will ask you to set your available hours and then assign students to you. The hourly rate is good, and the more students you are allocated, the more money you can earn weekly!

Teach at academies or schools while traveling

If you’re traveling more spontaneously, it is also possible to send your resume around to different academies and schools. Make sure you have all the documents you need printed out before you go traveling (degree certificate, TEFL certificate, resume) or that you have access to them digitally.

Where can I teach English online & abroad?

If you’re not applying via a specific program, like the British council or the JET program (Japan exchange and teaching program), then consider looking for a job before you arrive. Look at popular websites such as:

• The TEFL Jobs Centre
• Dave’s ESL Cafe
• ESL Job Feed
• TEFL Jobs World

Another great way to search for jobs is through Facebook groups in your chosen country. There are many Facebook communities for teachers, where you can post an advert or search for jobs.

How much do I make by teaching English?

In addition to this, teaching English can pay well too. Those that teach in places like South Korea or Vietnam can save a lot of money! This can then be put towards your travels while you teach English Abroad.

Cost of Living and Salary

Make sure to research the average salary rate for an English teacher, and how far your money will go in that country. For instance, countries like Vietnam pay very well for English teachers and the cost of living is extremely low. Because of this, it’s a favorite among TEFL teachers. Additionally, it’s in a great location to explore the rest of Asia!

On the other hand, in countries like Japan, the pay may be good but the cost of living is very expensive. In these situations, look for other job perks like free accommodation.