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Teaching Abroad Without Certification

Authors: Sarah McNitt, Anthony Hand, and Bill Nolting

Introduction

Teaching abroad is one of the most accessible and popular options for paid or inexpensive long-term stays overseas. Considerable cultural immersion is possible, especially if you already have some knowledge of the host country's language. But proficiency in the local language is rarely a requirement for obtaining a position. This article focuses on the great number of possibilities for those without teaching credentials. The bulk of overseas teaching opportunities are for English teachers. As people worldwide rush to acquire the new lingua franca of international commerce, diplomacy and higher education, your “credential” is simply being a native speaker of the English language and that may be all you need to obtain a job and a work permit in areas such as Asia and Eastern Europe. In addition to native fluency in English, many programs are now requesting experience in Teaching English as a Foreign (or Second) Language, known by the acronyms TEFL, EFL, TESL, ESL, or even TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Formal credentials in TEFL can be gained in a one-month course. See the “Books” section of this article for more information. U-M's English Language Institute offers winter and summer courses in TESL. This could open doors in extremely competitive areas such as Western Europe. Those with a Master's in TEFL (available through a one-year program at Eastern Michigan University and elsewhere) can teach virtually anywhere. Qualified teachers have still another range of options. See our article entitled “Teaching Abroad for Qualified Teachers”. Other teaching possibilities, some of which we list here, exist for those with knowledge of special fields such as business, health, math or science (such as the Peace Corps and Teachers for Africa) or for graduate students in the social sciences (such as the Civic Education Project).

Earnings can be good in the relatively wealthy countries of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. In China, Eastern Europe, Russia and the Newly Independent States, pay may be high by local standards but not sufficient for savings. Africa and Latin America are primarily served by volunteer organizations. Western Europe presents dim prospects for Americans (with some notable exceptions, such as Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Spain for which there are official placement programs), because British and Irish teachers do not need work permits as members of the European Union. In general, if your main motivation is to make a lot of money, you will likely be disappointed. In some cases, the experience may even cost you more than what you can earn, but this will usually still be far less than the cost of studying or traveling abroad. Note: Educational loans can sometimes be deferred during volunteer work; inquire through your loan and program sponsors to see if you qualify for loan deferment.

Before You Begin

Before you begin searching for the right program for you, there are a few things you should do. First, sit down and determine what you hope to gain from your overseas experience. Are your goals to experience a different culture? Gain language proficiency? Try out teaching as a career? How important is money? Do you hope to make a lot of money, is it okay to break even, or can you spend more than you might make for the sake of the cross-cultural experience? Will you be able to defer your student loan repayment? The answers to your money questions may limit your choices. For example, the highest number of well-paid teaching jobs is in Asia.

Next, it may be helpful to narrow down your geographic preferences from the entire world to a few countries or regions. Would a cross-cultural experience in any country be okay? Or do you have some preferences for a certain region or set of countries (such as the Francophone world)? Do you hope to tie your experience to career objectives? How does this affect the money issue?

About a year before you would like to begin teaching abroad, think about getting TEFL experience or a certificate. Again, while not strictly required by many organizations listed here, you will be glad you did the first time you face a classroom thousands of miles from home. Opportunities are available as a literacy volunteer or through local ESL programs for international students or refugees offered by colleges, schools and religious organizations almost everywhere. In Ann Arbor, organizations which offer volunteer TEFL tutoring experience are:

How to Choose a Program

There are several strategies for finding an overseas teaching position.

  1. You may apply through a U.S.-based organization. These usually arrange the placement and provide for logistical matters, such as housing and a work permit.
  2. You may write directly to overseas schools. Keep in mind that chances of success are limited without going to that country for an in-person interview.
  3. You can go to the country where you would like to work and apply in person for a teaching position. The major downside to this is cost: airfare, housing (possibly paying up front the deposit of several months' rent), and the need to travel to a third country to get a work permit once you land a job. The total up-front investment required by this last approach could easily be $2-3,000 or more -- something to keep in mind when evaluating program fees. Generally, we recommend applying through U.S.-based organizations rather than seeking a job on-site due to the uncertainty and expense of the latter strategy.

Most U.S.-based teaching placement organizations are small non-profits, some staffed by volunteers. Government-funded programs such as the Peace Corps, the Fulbright Teaching Assistantships, and English teaching assistant programs sponsored by the Japanese, Korean, French and Spanish governments are major exceptions. However, all programs (except for private language schools) view their mission as one primarily of cultural exchange, not as a placement agency for well-paid overseas jobs.

Programs vary widely in the fees, services, and assistance they offer. When choosing a program, inquire about the following basic criteria: fees, salary, job placement, work permit, health insurance, housing, teacher training and materials, whether there is an orientation, and level of on-site support. It is better to be clear about these basics before you apply than, for example, to turn up on your first day and find out you do not have a legal work permit. The following is a deeper discussion of some of these criteria.

Fees. How much are the application and program fees, if any? What exactly do they include (for example, airfare, housing, work permit)?

Job placement. Find out who you will be teaching: elementary, high school, university students or adults? And where: a state school, private school, or for-profit language institute?

Salary. How much and how often will you be paid? Compare your salary with the cost of living. Large cities, for example, are much more expensive than towns or rural areas. Also, although the salary may not sound like much (in Eastern Europe and China, for example) when converted to U.S. dollars, it should be enough to cover your basic living expenses in-country.

Health insurance. Health insurance may not be provided by program fees, may be available for a separate fee, or you may be covered by socialized medicine available only in-country. Obtain an International Teachers' ID Card or ISIC Card for $22 from the International Center or STA Travel, which includes a minimal health insurance policy and provides access to student-rate airfare prices. Consider special comprehensive coverage for educators.

See the U-M International Center web page Health Insurance Abroad for specifics.

Teaching materials and training provided by the program. Determine just what teaching materials and training the program provides. If they do not provide teaching materials, can they recommend some to bring with you? Also, even if some training is provided, it would nevertheless be useful to get experience teaching or tutoring in the U.S.

This list provides a wide variety of options through U.S.-based organizations, but for comprehensive listings, see the list of recommended books and web sites. Most organizations prefer a commitment of one academic year, though some offer summer or semester possibilities. A bachelor's degree (BA or BS) is a minimum requirement for most positions. Unless otherwise indicated, participants are responsible for round-trip transportation and health insurance. We have attempted to include legitimate organizations but cannot guarantee the quality of those listed here. Please verify information directly with program providers.


“Programs for Teaching English Abroad”

Last reviewed: 5/07