Teach English Abroad – Everything You Need to Know

For those who want to teach English abroad, you should know that it’s really a mixed bag. Depending on who you ask, it can be the most rewarding and fun experience in life, or the most monotonous and demeaning.

If you only refer to websites that help you find English teaching jobs or certifications to teach English, you might not hear about the downsides. They all seem to have a similar message: don’t miss out on the best time of your life!

I’m here to help shed some light on things so you can make an informed decision. Professionally, I’ve taught English in 3 different countries, and for more than 10 years.

Let me break things down for you. In the following post, we’ll go over the who, what, where, why, and how as well as the good and the bad.

Teaching English abroad might not be for you!

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Why Do People Teach English Abroad?

There seem to be a few key reasons someone decides to teach English in a foreign country. Someone who studied language or enjoys language, and wants to help others with it might go this route. It’s a great way to gain experience on a path to becoming a high school teacher, professor, or even a writer or editor.

Being an English teacher in a foreign country can also be great for someone who wants flexible work. Maybe your main purpose abroad isn’t teaching English, but rather studying, being a parent, or any number of things that might take priority.

I don’t really care about that stuff

There’s another camp, and this is where things get murky. Teaching English abroad can be an easy way for someone, especially native English speakers, to get a visa in a foreign country.

If you’re dying to move abroad and your degree isn’t in demand, or you don’t even have one, there’s still the possibility of teaching English.

Here’s an example scenario: You’re about 26 years old, you graduated with a degree in Human Resources, you worked at a couple of different companies, but you’re bored. You feel this urge to move to Southeast Asia, so start looking at jobs and visas. Plenty of job opportunities, but the countries won’t give you a visa because you’re not “highly qualified”.

After doing everything in your power to find a way to move to a tropical island and enjoy an Instagram lifestyle, you come across teaching English. You check the visa requirements and see that you qualify. Before you know it, you’re on your way to Thailand!

For a lot of people, teaching English is a means to an end. It’s a ticket abroad. It’s an escape vehicle for whatever you’re running away from. For some, it’s a way to stay someplace they don’t want to leave.

A good number of English teachers abroad are people who went on vacation and never went home.

Do You Need Qualifications to Teach English Abroad?

It’s definitely easier if you have some.

As a rule of thumb, most English schools around the world require, or at least highly prefer, a bachelor’s degree (any major) and a certification to teach English. The easiest, cheapest, and most common certification is TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language). A more advanced certification is CELTA.

Both can be done online from the comfort of your home. To complete the CELTA certification, you will have to teach while someone observes you.

If you eventually intend to teach in a classroom and not online, I’d recommend doing this course in person. There are valuable classroom management skills that are easier to practice in an actual classroom.

You may also come across TESOL and TESL, but these two are mainly for teaching English in an English-speaking country.

Attributes that will help you get hired faster, or get a visa more easily:

• Native English speaker 
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (related to language is extra points)
• Experience teaching English
• TEFL or CELTA certification
• Experience teaching (anything) in classroom settings
• Professional work experience
• Extended experience using English with non-native English speakers
• Knowledge of the local language
• Already in the country

If you don’t have any of the above, there’s little chance of getting a job as an English teacher in a foreign country.

If you don’t have all of the above, that’s OK! Don’t lose hope. I got my first job as an English teacher without a degree or any classroom teaching experience.

In the end, the requirements will depend on the country you’re going to and the company you want to work for. Some countries are rather strict and demand serious credentials. Other countries welcome you to just kind of go for it. Take a look at the next section for some examples.

Where to Teach English Abroad Without a Degree?

This is one of the most searched questions on Google with regard to teaching English abroad. The answer to the question is quite easy; there are a lot of countries you can teach English in without a degree.

This is especially true when you take other factors into consideration, for example, work experience, working off the books, or working without a proper visa (illegal).

However, I imagine that when most people ask which countries they can teach English in without a degree, they also want legal permission to work in that country. In other words, in which country they can get a job and a visa without a degree.

Countries you can teach in without a degree and get a visa (2023): Mexico, Georgia, Peru, Korea, Cambodia, Slovakia, Poland, Argentina, Nicaragua, Kazakhstan, Lebanon

Some countries to be careful about:

In addition to the above countries, you’ll find lots of lists online that typically include Spain, Egypt, Greece, Brazil, and Jordan. These are countries where it’s likely you can teach English without a degree, but it’s often done without a work visa. In plain English, working illegally.

I don’t condone working off of the books in any country, regardless of how common it is. Besides you and your employer not paying the fair share in taxes to society, you put yourself in danger.

It’s easier for a company to take advantage of you when working black, especially as a foreigner. Your technically illegal status can be used as leverage when someone is trying to exploit you.

Additionally, if you plan on staying in the country long-term, it’s typically a nightmare to become “legal”, if even possible. Some countries will deport you, fine you, or just deny your visa application once they understand the situation.

None of this is legal advice. I just ask that you try to consider all angles and consequences, before jumping in!

Any other countries I can teach English in without a degree?

As I mentioned at the start of this section, there are a lot. Costa Rica should get special mention because, for some nationalities, neither a work visa nor a degree is required. You just need to get a tax number after arriving in the country.

If you qualify for a different type of work permission, like a working holiday visa or spouse visa, you’ll find that you can work in many countries as an English teacher without a degree. A TEFL certificate, CELTA certificate, or work experience and a native level of English can be just as valuable.

Who Do I Teach English to?

Who you teach English to will largely depend on the type of job you apply for. It can be any age from infants to seniors with all types of backgrounds. As you start searching for jobs as an English teacher abroad, you’ll find that there are many different styles of work.

We’ll start with the youngest and work our way up.

Young children (infant to grade-schooler):

In large cities, and international, medium size cities, you’ll find job opportunities at places like daycares, kindergartens, and nursery schools. Some of these places are for international families and the schools operate in English.

Others are mainly in the local language, with a couple of employees that speak English. A lot of parents around the world want their children exposed to English at an early age.

Another job opportunity with young children is au-pair. You’re basically a babysitter that lives with a family and helps out around the house.

There are also summer camps that look for English teachers or rather, English speakers.

In the above-mentioned jobs, it’s a lot less teaching and more taking care of the kids, but in English. You’ll be reading books, giving instructions, helping them, and playing with them in English.

Teens:

For this age range, you’ll find jobs like classroom-assistant in public schools. In a number of countries, the government and private schools hire native English speakers to work in the classroom with local English teachers.

Your job is to help students with questions, pronounce things clearly, read aloud, and be a reference. Some of the teachers may ask you to lead a lesson.

At this age, camp counselor is still a common option, too.

And last, private lessons. You won’t be able to get a visa for this, but it’s a great way to earn some extra money. Through networking or advertising yourself, parents will hire you to tutor their kids or help them with homework.

Young adults and older:

It’s with this age range you will probably find most of the job opportunities. There are thousands of English schools around the world set up to teach university students, business people, and people learning as a hobby.

Depending on the school you work for, classes could be one-on-one or group lessons. You may also be dispatched to teach at local businesses. Some schools provide you with a set curriculum, and others will ask you to create lesson plans.

You’ll find schools operated by an individual owner, as well as large chains of English schools that run like “English factories”. Every country or region has its own companies, but there are a few global ones, too. Here’s a list to help get you started:

• Berlitz
• British Council
• Shane English School
• EF – Education First
• Wall Street English

Many universities also hire English teachers for extracurricular classes. These are classes that students don’t receive credits for, so you can’t call yourself a professor!

Additionally, it’s easiest to find freelance work for this age range. You can market yourself as anything from an English conversation partner, to a homework helper, or even a business English consultant.

Make sure you know the rules for earning money on the side. Look into the tax situation as it varies from country to country.

Are There Companies That Teach English Abroad?

Apparently, this is also a top question asked on Google, but it’s not particularly clear. I imagine people who ask this are looking to join a program where logistics are taken care of.

For example, you’re from Ontario, Canada and you want to teach English in Vietnam. Maybe you don’t feel like looking at job openings and comparing schools in Vietnam. You’re not interested in finding an apartment or handling too much visa paperwork.

In this case, I guess you would search for a program that places you in a school and helps you with all of the other stuff.

Good news! Such companies exist! Many TEFL certification companies have partners that help with placing teachers around the world. It’s very convenient if you’re totally open-minded and maybe not looking for a permanent relocation.

It’s also great for someone who is moving abroad for the first time and might be nervous. A lot of the companies provide emergency contacts as well as guarantee that you work and get paid.

They also organize events in the city or country for all of the English teachers in the programs. It’s great for those who are worried about meeting new people.

Can Teaching English Abroad Be a Career?

Definitely! It depends on your definition of “career” and your career goals, but there are many avenues in this field.

For example, if you take a job at one of the big English school companies I had previously mentioned, you start out as a teacher. You can then grow into a shift manager or the manager of one of the schools.

The bigger English school companies also have area managers, and the international ones have regional managers. Naturally, the higher up the ladder you go, the fewer positions there are.

You could also try something else in one of the English schools. I worked in sales for a while (knowledge of the local language might be important). There is also reception staff and administration that needs to be done (I tried my hand at that, too!)

Some large English schools even have trainers to provide further education for the English teachers. Again, all of this depends on the type of company you work for. Should you decide to go into a big company, you’ll have more options in terms of the type of work.

If you take a job at a small, privately owned English school, you may be limited to teaching or some simple admin work. But, if you (and maybe the owner) are motivated enough, you could try to convince them to open another school that you could run. This brings us to another path worth mentioning.

You can also eventually start your own business. Depending on how long you stay in the country, visa options, and funds to invest, opening your own school is a real option. I’ve met people who have branched off and gone this route.

If that sounds like too much responsibility, you can just try freelance. Find your own clients, do lessons in co-working spaces, hotel lobbies, cafés, or their offices.

I also know a guy who started as an English teacher abroad with minimal experience and qualifications. While teaching, he studied language at a university, did extra certifications, and became an English professor!

Many people will tell you teaching English abroad is a dead-end job, you won’t make money, or it’s just some fun experience in a foreign country. It can be more than that if you want it to.

Is It Possible to Teach Abroad Without Knowing the Local Language?

Yes, it is! In all honesty, a majority of the people I met who teach English in Spain, Germany, Italy, and Japan didn’t speak the local language.

Although it’s possible to teach abroad without knowing the local language, I strongly recommend making an effort to learn it. Not only will it help you feel more comfortable in your adopted home country, it will also help you become a better teacher.

Learning a language is difficult, frustrating, and often embarrassing. Understanding these emotions will make you a much more relatable instructor.

Additionally, knowing the language will better help you recognize common mistakes of your students.

If you decide to stay in the country or pursue a career, the language will become more necessary. With English alone, your options are much more limited.

What If I’m Not a Native English Speaker?

It’s still possible to teach English to non-native English speakers.

The demand for English teachers along with the general population’s level of English varies from country to country. Because of that, a non-native English speaker will have a more difficult time finding work in say Germany or Denmark than in Japan.

That’s not to say it’s impossible, it’s just that much harder. Unfortunately.

In Japan, I know many non-native English speakers who teach English professionally. Some of them are very successful. Teaching is much more than just being able to use the language.

A common example of why some English learners might prefer a “non-native English-speaking teacher” is that the student has to do business in the teacher’s home country and therefore wants to become familiar with the accent and way of using English. It’s all about finding your niche!

Is Teaching English Abroad a Bad Job?

In general, no. I’ve been doing it for more than 10 years and rather enjoy it.

However, I’ve met a lot of people along the way who hate it. There are a few typical reasons for this.

Unrealistic expectations

This is one of the biggest causes of negative feelings toward teaching English abroad.

If you’re going to teach English abroad because it’s the ONLY WAY you can go abroad, be careful. A lot of people tell themselves that they will love being in a new city so much that the type of work they do won’t matter. This is not true.

You spend most of your week at your job. Don’t forget that! If your job is something you don’t like doing, you’re not going to be a happy person.

Imagine you agree to work for a company for 25 to 45 hours a week. After you start working, maybe you realize that you don’t like the job, but your visa limits you to teaching English. You’re going to feel trapped! Now, you’re trapped and unhappy. It only gets worse from there.

So, before you decide to teach English abroad, take a moment and clear your mind.

Think about the job, the responsibilities, the preparation, and the type of people you’ll be working with. Do you want to help people? Are you interested in language? Do you know about language, or at least want to learn about it? Can you work with kids? Can you work in a business environment? Are you comfortable talking to groups? Do you like giving instructions? Can you handle making a mistake in front of people? Can you handle criticism? Are you OK with people speaking negatively about your home country? Are you patient?

Think long and hard about these questions!

Money

Maybe this is closely related to unrealistic expectations. You are not going to get rich in your first couple of years teaching English in a new country.

In fact, I find that a lot of people end up spending much more than they earn because they’re excited to be in a new place.

There’s a lot of new food and restaurants to try, places to visit, and people to meet and party with. Moving is also expensive. Finding an affordable apartment in a city you’ve never been to can be difficult. Daily products cost different amounts of money than you might be familiar with.

There is a lot happening in a short amount of time. People who have never moved to another country before, let alone moved anywhere, quickly find themselves with an empty bank account. The complaints about not earning enough money usually start then!

It takes some time to understand your earnings, taxes and social obligations (insurance, pension, etc.), cost of living, and entertainment.

In general, language schools do not pay so much money. However, they typically pay enough for you to live a decent lifestyle. Especially if it’s just for a year or so and you want the experience of living abroad.

In general, you’ll make the most money working at universities, public schools, in business settings, or freelance.

Status

This one is a blow to the ego. Among expat groups, English teachers are, unfortunately, usually looked down upon. In many places, the industry has a reputation for low wages and employees that don’t care about their job.

The job isn’t taken seriously by outsiders because so many who do work in the field don’t actually take it seriously.

As I previously mentioned, teaching English is often a last-ditch effort to get a visa for another country. Someone desperate to move abroad, but has no interest in languages or teaching. Those types of people ruin it for the professionals.

If you know you want to teach English and you know that you want to move abroad, you’ll overcome the above-mentioned problems. Try to avoid the negativity and take responsibility for your actions and decisions. The locals will respect that.

You can have a lot of fun teaching English. If you set yourself up right and work hard, you can also make decent money.

How do I teach English abroad?

Great that you’re still interested!

If you’re applying from your home country, start by making a list of some countries you might be interested in living in. If you need help with that, take a look at my article about moving abroad.

After you’ve got your list, begin some preliminary research. Try googling for English schools in that country and see if any “big” ones come up. Check out their requirements and what they offer.

Take a quick look at any blog posts you might find, too. There might be something that turns you off about working in one of the countries on your list, or, maybe you’re not qualified.

Hopefully, you have at least one country that’s a fit after your preliminary research. This is a good time to start a TEFL course and learn your English. Try to take this seriously, because you may be asked questions about English in an interview, and you’ll definitely be asked questions by your future students!

During the duration of the TEFL course, you should be researching life in the country you want to move to, saving money if possible, and looking at jobs.

Do you want to teach kids? Are you looking to work at a language school or a public school? Do you want to join a program that places you at a school? Decide what’s best for you.

Once the TEFL is completed, it’s time to start applying for jobs. You should be prepared for online interviews and lots of emails.

I would also begin getting important documents in order for a visa application. Make sure your passport expiration date is far in the future. Here are some other tips to follow before moving to another country.

If you get a job offer, the company will hopefully guide you through the next stages of visa application and give you instructions on what to do when you arrive in the country.

You’re going to be busy your first few weeks! There’s a lot to get used to. A new job, new surroundings, new products, new language, and more. Enjoy the journey and do your best at the new job!