5 Things To Consider Before Teaching English Abroad

Teaching English abroad will probably be the best life experience you ever have. From immersing yourself into a new culture to having the rewarding job of helping your students improve their English everyday, there really is no other experience like it – so of course you want to do it! But before you pack your bags, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

1. How will I get a job?

This is obviously the biggest question to ask yourself if you haven’t already figured it out yet. There are a number of programs in Spain that you can participate in which will secure a teaching job for you even before you arrive in the country. Other countries have similar programs or recruiters that can help you land a teaching position as well. Make sure you research the country you would like to teach in thoroughly and look into what the teaching market is like. Join country-specific expat Facebook groups and search in the search bar of the groups “TEFL” or “English Teacher” to see what other people have posted on this topic before in order to gain more intel.

I would advise any person interested in teaching abroad to first secure an online teaching position with a company that you can make your own schedule, such as VIPKID before they move abroad. Having an online job can act as a safety net in case you are unable to find an in-person teaching position.

2. How can I live and work abroad legally?

Visas. Visas. Visas. This will be your new favorite word. What type of visa do you need to legally live and work in the country of your dreams? For many European countries, such as Spain and Portugal, there aren’t many schools who are willing to fill out the paperwork for a work visa for non-European citizens (hence why those student visa programs are a great option). Other countries have different visa options with various requirements where you can apply for the visa even after you land in the country and secure a job. Research the visa options for the country you want to live in and find out when you should apply for the visa and what the requirements for the said visa.

3. What are the educational requirements to teach in this country?

First things first, you will likely need a TEFL certification. You can check out my post on all the reasons why you need a TEFL certification and can download a brochure here from the International TEFL Academy (where I got certified!) to find out more about their certification courses because yea – you will need to be TEFL certified.

Many countries will also require a four-year Bachelor’s degree, however not all do. For example, I know that Cambodia and Costa Rica typically don’t require a Bachelor’s degree from their teachers but they do require TEFL certifications. Depending on the age of students you want to teach as well as what type of institution you would like to teach in (a brick & mortar school or university) a Bachelor’s degree in Education or a Master’s in Education may even be required.

4. Will I be able to support myself?

Life abroad is expensive, don’t be fooled. Before I moved to Europe I thought I would live like a queen because I had always been told that things (rent, food, travel, etc.) are cheaper in Europe than America. And yes the cost of living is cheaper, but that is because the salaries here are cheaper (duh) – especially for English teachers.

I know that salaries for English teachers are much higher in Asia and that the cost of living is relatively cheap. But since I have only lived and taught in Europe my experiences are the only ones I can speak to, which is that Europe is very much a breakeven country. While I was living in Barcelona, my monthly salary was 1,100 Euros. I spent about half of my salary on rent and the rest on transportation, a gym membership, my phone bill, food, etc. I wasn’t able to save much with just my salary alone. I had to teach a number of private lessons and with VIPKID on the weekend in order to travel the amount I wanted.

So before you quit your job and book a flight, I would recommend having a savings account of at least $2,000 saved up before you cross the pond – especially if you don’t have a job secured just yet. This will help you while you find permanent accommodation (in case you may be renting an Airbnb when you first arrive) and can cover unexpected startup costs such as realtor fees for apartments.

5. How much of a culture shock will I experience?

When you live and work in another country, it is absolutely inevitable that you will experience culture shock. You are going to be fully immersed into another culture that is extremely different than your own – which can be both exciting and terrifying. Food, language, and social norms will likely be three of the biggest cultural differences you will experience.

If you are an extremely picky eater or have major dietary restrictions, than the food in another country may be a hurdle for you. Again, check out the country specific expat Facebook groups (just search on Facebook, for example, Barcelona Expats) and see if others with a similar diet have any tips for you.

Language is also a major hurdle for many people. If you don’t know the language before you move to the country you are teaching in, start practicing. I learned that living in a country where you don’t speak the language can be extremely frustrating at times. However, trusty Google Translate is always there to help.