Since 1992 Oxford Seminars has been offering the TESOL/TEFL Certification Course for students interested in going overseas to teach English. Our highly skilled instructors and our Teacher Placement Department have a wealth of knowledge and experience to assist you in the process of preparing to teach abroad. Our qualified and friendly Teacher Placement Department has compiled a comprehensive list of how to go about finding a teaching job overseas!

Step 1. Motivation

Ask yourself what your motivation is for teaching overseas.
Are you going for the right reasons?
Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Do go if:

• You enjoy teaching!
• You want to learn about a new culture.
• You want to learn a new language.
• You want to share your culture and language with others.
• You want to enhance your teaching skills.
• You are excited at the opportunity of meeting new people.
• You are eager to travel and explore different parts of the world.
• You want to gain a new perspective of yourself and your homeland.
• You want to save some money and/or pay off your debts.
• You’ve been curious about entering the teaching profession.

Step 2. Selecting a country

After taking the Oxford Seminars’ TESOL/TEFL Certification Course you need to decide where in the world you want to teach. In order to begin your job search with the assistance of our Teacher Placement Department you should do some research on your own to narrow down your choices to a few select countries. It is imperative to decide what your priorities are, as different countries offer drastically different things. Here are some things you should consider: Do you want to save money? Do you want to learn a particular language? Do you want to visit cultural attractions or explore rainforests? What type of climate do you prefer? Some points to consider when choosing your destination include the necessary requirements for obtaining a work visa, the salary, the cost of living, and the cost of airfare. Do you prefer to live in a large city or in a small town? Is the country politically and economically stable? What are the working conditions and hours? What inoculation and health requirements will you need to meet? Upon completing our TESOL/TEFL course we encourage you to call and speak with our friendly and experienced staff in the Teacher Placement Department to initiate your 6-month Teacher Placement Service. You can contact us at 1-800-779-1779 (L.A. local: 310-820-2359, N.Y. local: 212-213-8978).

Step 3. Searching the Web

Each week over 20,000 job openings for TESOL/TEFL teachers are advertised worldwide. Many of these jobs are advertised on the Internet. However, you should keep in mind that any company or school can make their website look professional, so be wary of signing a contract without doing some preliminary research, as some schools may not be reputable. Another added bonus of our Teacher Placement Department is that we have the experience and the connections to secure you a great job teaching overseas! Since everyone has different preferences when it comes to teaching, it is important that you let us know yours so we can find a job that is right for you. Do you like to work with adults? With children? With business professionals? Where do your strengths lie? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your job search. In the meantime, surf the net and see what’s out there!

Check these websites for ESL teaching job postings:

www.eltnews.com	www.tefl.net
www.englishclub.net	www.jobsinjapan.com
www.jobs.edufind.com	www.europa-pages.com
www.eslcareer.com	www.ohayosensei.com
www.eslemployment.com	www.tesol.net
www.eslpartyland.com	www.tefl.com
www.eslworldwide.com
www.esljobfind.com
www.jobsabroad.com

Step 4. Job Search Strategies

You have exhausted the Internet and perhaps found something interesting. But what if you didn’t? Keep in mind that many TESOL/TEFL job postings are not listed anywhere on the Internet. There are many other avenues to finding an overseas teaching job besides searching the net. Try the following:

1. Oxford Seminars’ Teacher Placement Department should be your first call after you complete our course, as we are ready to assist you in finding a teaching job overseas! Remember you have the 6-month recruitment service that is included in your course cost, and it can be started anytime after you complete the course. Contact us at placement@oxfordseminars.com

2. Chain Schools: These tend to have a central/head office and dozens (or even hundreds) of branches around the world. While some require teachers to have extensive ESL and/or other teaching experience, others require only a university or college degree and a TESOL/TEFL certificate.

• AEON, 1960 E Grand Avenue 550, El Segundo, CA 90245. Tel: (310) 414-1515, Fax: (310) 414-1616. (Japan). Website: www.aeonet.com

• Berlitz Inc, 400 Alexander Park Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel: (609) 514-9650, Fax: (609) 514-9672. (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, South Korea, and Latin America). Website: www.berlitz.com

• Cambridge Schools, Av de Linerdade173, 1250 Lisbon, Portugal. (France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Poland). Website: www.cambridgeschools.com

• GEOS, Global Educational Opportunities and Services, 415 Yonge St. Suite 1205, Toronto, ON M5B 2E7, Canada. Tel: (416) 599-2120. (Japan) Website: www.geos.net

• HESS Educational Organization, No. 419, Chung Shan Rd., Sec. 2, Chung Ho City, Taipei County, 235 Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: (886-2)3234-6188 ext. 1052/1053. (Taiwan) Website: www.hess.com.tw

• Nord-Anglia International, Overseas Recruitment Department, 10 Eden Place, Cheadle, Stockport, Cheshire SK8 1AT, UK. Tel: 0161491 8415. Fax: 0161491 4410. (Vacation courses throughout the UK; year-round vacancies worldwide).
Website: www.nordanglia-intl.com

• NOVA Intercultural Institute, 1881 Yonge St., Suite 700, Toronto, ON M4S 3C4, Canada. Tel: (416) 481-6000. Fax: (416) 481-1362. (Japan) Website: www.nova.ne.jp/global

3. Education, and Government: These programs tend to place teachers in public sector schools at the primary, secondary and university level.

• International Organization for Migration, Latin American Programs, 1752 N Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: (202) 862-1826. Fax: (202) 862-1879. Website: www.iom.int

• The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), Embassy of Japan, 255 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9E6, Canada. Tel: (613) 241-8541. Website: www.jet.org or www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/jet/

4. Volunteer Programs: Some organizations operate programs for countries (usually in Africa, South America and the Asia Pacific region) that are keen to develop their educational infrastructures.

• Skillshare Africa, 3 Belvoir Rd., Leicester LE1 6SL, UK. Tel: 0116 254 0517.

5. International Media: There are numerous newspapers and newsletters that regularly carry ads for ESL teachers, some of which you may be able to subscribe to or read online (i.e. Prague Post, Korean Herald, Ohayo Sensei, Japan Times).

6. Student Exchange Programs and Agencies: For a fee, these agencies will help you obtain a work visa and offer assistance, through offices abroad, with job listings to help you secure employment. Unlike the Oxford Seminars’ Teacher Placement Department, not all agencies will help you find a job, but some will help you with the paperwork.

• Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), 633 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017- 6706. Tel: (212) 822-2600. Fax: (212) 822-2699.

• InterExchange Inc, 161 Sixth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10013.
Tel: (212) 924-0446. Fax: (212) 924-0575.

• USIA (United States Information Agency), English Language Programs Division, 301 4th St. W., Washington, DC 20547. Tel: (202) 485-2869.

• SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program), a program of the Canadian Federation of Students. Contact: Travel CUTS, 2235 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4S 2B4, Canada. Tel: (416) 322-6623. Website: www.swap.ca

7. Additional Resources: Many books, guides, pamphlets, and official government publications are available that provide detailed information to assist you in your job search. Check your local library and/or bookstores. One particularly good book is Teaching English Abroad: Talk Your Way Around The World, Griffith, Susan, 11th edition, Oxford: Vacation Work 2003.
Website: www.vacationwork.co.uk

8. Word of Mouth: Teaching ESL has become so popular that you are bound to know someone who has taught abroad. A great resource is your fellow students in your Oxford Seminars class! Our students usually have friends who have already taken our class and who are currently teaching overseas. Ask around, you’ll be surprised at the connections you are able to make.

Step 5. Resume and Cover Letter

Resume and cover letter tips are covered in the Oxford Seminars' TESOL/TEFL course. After your TESOL/TEFL course is completed the Teacher Placement Department is on hand to assess your resume and make any appropriate revisions. After carefully consulting with you to ensure accuracy and precision we will send your resume and cover letter to the schools of your choosing. Remember the more open you are to traveling to different destinations the easier it will be to find you a teaching placement!

Step 6. Telephone Interview

You have sent your resume out and are beginning to hear back from schools. The school’s director will now ask you for a telephone interview, which we will cover in the Oxford Seminars’ TESOL/TEFL course. The phone interview is where you prove that you are a native-English speaker or possess the skills of a native-English speaker. You will be asked to express your desire to live and teach in the host country. Much like the role-playing activities we go over in class, you may also be given a classroom management situation to address over the phone. You might be asked to give ideas about lesson plans for specific topics such as grammar, reading comprehension, or pronunciation skills. Be prepared to talk about your experience and academic background. This is your opportunity to sell yourself! If you are offered a position, ask the employer to give you time to think about it. It is always better to have several offers and then choose the offer you like best.

Step 7. Contract

Now that you have had some time to think about it, it is time to review and sign a contract. The contract negotiations can be tricky, and it is a good idea to call our Teacher Placement Department so we may guide you through the process. If you have prior teaching experience or are an accredited teacher, don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary and hours - you deserve to be compensated for your credentials. If this is your first teaching experience, make sure you know what the standard of pay is for that particular country and that your contract adheres to it. Read over your contract thoroughly. Ask detailed questions to ensure that you are clear on every aspect of the contract. Get a second opinion. Ask to speak to current teachers at the school and get their opinion before signing.

Step 8. Contacting the Embassy

Congratulations on signing a contract! Now it’s time to contact the embassy and secure visa and residence permits. Your school should help you with the paperwork, but it is still useful to contact the embassy for tips on health care, vaccinations, and climate. Find out where the American embassy is in your host country. Sometimes consulates will provide maps, brochures, and helpful hints for preparing you for your life abroad. It is wise to register with the American embassy abroad. You should leave a copy of your passport details with them, in case it gets lost or stolen. To find an embassy go to: http://travel.state.gov.

Step 9. Researching, Preparing and Purchasing

You are now in the final stages of preparing to teach abroad. You should visit a local health clinic and have the appropriate vaccinations. Also purchase all the medications that you need. Buy additional health insurance (even if your school provides it, it is wise to purchase it in America). Buy a plane ticket. Buy a Lonely Planet or a Let’s Go travel book; you should also take your student manual from class and the textbooks, as they will be helpful in assisting you in your lesson planning. Find out what tax category you will fit into at home and abroad. Contact an accountant for details. You must thoroughly research the country that you will be visiting. Researching customs and etiquette will help you to more easily adjust to another way of life. Study a map of the city you are going to and learn the area surrounding your place of employment. You should also try to familiarize yourself with subway routes. Learn basic phrases such as “Hello” and “Thank you” in combination with general rules of etiquette. This will show that you are genuinely interested in your host country and will make people more willing to help you. Find out what the dress code is at your school. Pack light and for all seasons. Don’t forget to pack items that will make you feel more at home (i.e. photos, CD’s, a journal, etc.). It is a good idea to visit your local dollar store and stock up on little souvenir gifts from the States. They are a nice thank you for times when you are taken out for dinner, etc. You can also visit your local Senator and receive American flag pins. Take several passport photos with you - they are necessary for visas and other paperwork. Congratulations on gaining ESL teaching employment. Have a wonderful time and keep in touch!

Step 10: Tutoring*

Upon reaching your teaching destination, you may want to consider private tutoring as a means of supplementing your income. Whether you want to save money or pay off your student loans, tutoring is a fantastic way of making a substantial amount of additional money. You can expect to make $17-85 per hour by private tutoring. Thus it is not uncommon for ESL teachers in Japan to make $68,000 or more a year ($34,000 in teaching and an additional $34,000 in tutoring). But how does one get tutoring clients? The best way is through word of mouth. Get to know other ESL teachers and acquire connections through them. Usually teachers who are leaving the country will pass on their tutoring students to new teachers. One of our teachers had 5 tutoring students within 6 hours of landing in the country – all through her co-workers. Get to know the community you are living in by meeting people in the library, bank, post office, gym and/or grocery store. Before you know it they will be asking you to tutor their son, daughter, cousin, nephew and/or friends. Don’t be surprised if strangers ask you about tutoring - they probably know someone who needs a tutor and want to ask for your help.

*Please note that in some countries it is illegal to offer private tutoring! You may be deported from the country if they find out you are tutoring without their approval. Please check your contract before you tutor!