Frequently Asked Questions

Locating Employment Abroad

How does Oxford Seminars’ Teacher Placement Service work?

If my six month Teacher Placement Service expires and I still have not found a position, will my Job Search Advisor still work with me?

How specific can my location choice be?

In which countries does the Teacher Placement Service have contacts?

I want to teach in the European Union (EU). Do I need an EU passport?

What counts as teaching experience?

Will my age affect my ability to be placed?

What is the easiest way to start teaching in the European Union (EU)?

I am not a native speaker. Can I still teach TESOL?

I do not have a university degree. Will this affect finding a teaching position abroad?

When do overseas schools usually hire?

I have a criminal record; will this affect my ability to be placed overseas?

What is the easiest way to start teaching in the European Union (EU)?

• For ESL teachers holding EU passports, it is recommended that you travel to the area in which you hope to work and start contacting schools with your application. Some teachers find that with persistence they are able to obtain a teaching position when applying from the United States.
• Non-EU ESL teachers will likely have to travel to the area in question and apply in person for positions, trying to secure employment “under the table”; work on a tourist visa that may in time lead to a work visa. It should be noted that this is a short term solution, and Oxford Seminars does not condone working in this manner.
• Contact the nearest embassy of the country in which you or your parents (in some cases, grandparents) were born and inquire as to whether you qualify for an EU passport. You can obtain a passport by completing a form online or in person, having it signed by a Notary Public, and paying a processing fee. Please be patient when applying as passports can take a month or longer to obtain.