Trained as an ESL teacher, you are now ready to take up an assignment by finding TEFL jobs to start teaching English jobs abroad. This, of course, is easier said than done. There is undoubtedly a high demand for ESL teachers across the world. However, the fact remains that teaching abroad is a much sought-after career move in the industry—most ESL teachers are looking to combine their love for their profession with their passion for traveling.
Teaching abroad is the perfect way to spend a gap year for young graduates with a TEFL jobs certification or similar. What could be better than having a culturally immersive experience in faraway countries like teaching English in Japan or teaching English in Morocco during your gap year? Most ESL-trained youngsters who look for jobs abroad agree that their aim is not just to teach but also to learn and educate themselves about different cultures and lifestyles.
The tough competition for ESL teaching jobs abroad is just one of the hurdles you have to cross. Several countries are also tightening their visa rules, thus shrinking the market. A few decades back, if you were fluent in English, it was easy to get an ESL teaching job abroad. Not anymore. Nations across the globe are indigenizing and giving preference to local talent. This means that you have to search more intensely and across wider regions to get a job teaching abroad.
Certifications like TEFL certainly help to establish your credentials in a world where jobs are going increasingly local. It is also important to have access to information about where the best opportunities exist in the market. If you are in a rush and want to see the top 10 best sites to search for TEFL jobs, ESL & international English teaching jobs abroad, use the table below to see the results. If you want more insight into the current ESL & TEFL jobs market, keep on reading.
Looking for ESL/TEFL Jobs Abroad?
So, once you have your TEFL certification and are confident of your ESL skills, how do you go about getting a job teaching abroad? Well, Plan A is to move to the country where you would like to teach on a short-term visa. Visit the local schools and submit your application. If you have any friends there, you can do some networking too.
Once you get employed as an ESL teacher, you can convert your tourist/visitor visa into a work visa. But this plan will not work for everybody, as it involves a substantial financial investment. There is a risk that you may not get a job, even after spending $2000-$2,500 on traveling, boarding, lodging, and job hunting.
If you do not have the financial resources for the above strategy, it’s time to consider Plan B. This is basically scouring the online job sites. Unlike our Plan A, this can be done at a minimal cost from the comfort of your home. Our advice is to give the go-by to general job search sites. It is more productive to focus on sites that specialize in ESL/TEFL jobs. They are the best option if you are looking for teaching jobs abroad.
What Information do the Websites for TEFL Jobs, ESL & International English Teaching Jobs Abroad Provide?
Country Profiles:
The websites that made our list have been well designed to a certain degree and provide a lot of information. If you are a newbie ESL/TEFL teacher searching for teaching abroad opportunities, a quick overview of the sites can be very illuminating. Most sites have good content in countries where ESL/TEFL teachers are in demand. You get a backgrounder about the country, the work environment, pay scales, visa conditions, qualifications required, and the cost of living.
These sites have basically done all your background work for you. For example, if you are wavering between looking for TEFL jobs in Europe (say Spain) or Asia (say Korea), a quick reading of the country profiles on the site will give you all the key details you need to make a decision. You get to know the advantages of living and working in different countries and can make a more informed decision.
Information on TEFL/Similar Courses:
If you do not have a TEFL or similar certification, do not worry. The ESL job sites often have tie-ups with companies or agencies that provide the certification. You might even get a discount if you apply via the sites! Even if they have not tied up with TEFL providers, the sites often guide you on why and how important it is to get your credentials burnished.
Anecdotes/Narratives/Blogs:
One of the biggest advantages of the ESL/TEFL job sites is that they publish blogs by experienced ESL teachers. These blogs contain a wealth of information. From how to conduct your job search to how to make friends in your new country, from traveling while teaching to the cultural adjustments you may have to make, from the difficulties of relocation to how to save money in a foreign land, these blogs by teachers who are (or were) living and working abroad will give you all the little details that you wanted to know, but didn’t know whom to ask! Some of them have forums or chat rooms where you can connect with other teachers and share experiences.
Other Resources:
Several ESL job sites provide valuable teaching aids. This includes lesson plans, classroom activities, tips on how to conduct classes. Some of the sites even include specific topics like grammar, verbal quizzes, and phrases. These tips/resources can be handy to first-time teachers.
How to Shortlist the Websites for TEFL, ESL & International English Teaching Jobs Abroad?
Like all things on the net, there is an overload of information. There are innumerable sites for TEFL, ESL, and international English teaching jobs abroad. However, it makes sense to filter and select the most informative and productive sites. Here are some important parameters:
- Select the sites that post new jobs frequently and regularly
- The sites should provide you with a good overview of the job market in different countries
- The content should include background information that can help you make a call on which country might suit you the best
- The site should be interactive, letting you contact/chat/exchange views with veteran ESL teachers
But you really do not have to go through all the bother of weeding out non-useful or non-accurate sites. We have done it for you! Just go through our shortlist of ten sites for TEFL jobs, ESL & international English teaching jobs abroad. They will provide you with just the right guidance, tips, information, and leads to make your job search successful.
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