{"id":2891,"date":"2016-09-13T15:58:27","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T19:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/?p=2891"},"modified":"2017-07-06T15:27:29","modified_gmt":"2017-07-06T19:27:29","slug":"6-questions-to-help-you-choose-where-to-teach-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/6-questions-to-help-you-choose-where-to-teach-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Questions to Help You Choose Where to Teach Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I talk to prospective ESL teachers interested in going abroad, some already know\u00a0exactly where they want to go. However, many others are not so sure where to teach abroad. Some are trying to pick between a few top destinations, and others have no idea where they want to go. They\u2019re just excited to travel and teach English abroad.<\/p>\n

\"6<\/a>

ESL Teacher poses in front of the Great Wall of China<\/p><\/div>\n

Regardless of which camp you find yourself in, it’s always a good idea to ask yourself some questions and find out what you want out of your experience. This will ultimately help you focus on your goals and choose where you want to go. Ask yourself the six questions below and\u00a0choose your ideal teaching destination.<\/p>\n

Questions to Ask When Researching Where to Teach Abroad<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Where can I find a job teaching ESL? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The answer to this question is typically determined by two factors:\u00a0\u00a0Size of the job market<\/strong>, and expected\u00a0qualifications<\/strong>.\u00a0 Some countries simply have more teaching jobs for native English speakers than others. \u00a0Many of these, unsurprisingly, are larger countries like\u00a0Japan<\/a>, Mexico<\/a>, and China<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet a large population does not ensure a large\u00a0job market.\u00a0Russia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0India<\/a>, despite high populations, have comparatively small ESL markets, while less populated\u00a0countries like South Korea<\/a> and Ecuador<\/a> have many available positions.<\/p>\n

Your level of experience (and level of education) may also determine where you will most easily find a job teaching abroad.\u00a0In\u00a0China<\/a>, for instance, plenty of jobs are available requiring no previous experience.\u00a0Positions in the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/a>, rather, tend to demand\u00a0higher qualifications along with past teaching experience. Yet no matter your qualifications, there is a country where you can find a rewarding job.\u00a0If you have a high school diploma and a TESOL certificate, you can start packing your bags.<\/p>\n

2. Can I save money while teaching English abroad<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In some locations, teaching abroad can be remarkably lucrative.\u00a0 Many people are discouraged from venturing out to teach abroad because of monetary burdens like student debt, but if you plan carefully, you might just be able to find a position where you can live well and meet your financial obligations.<\/p>\n

For example, South Korea<\/a>\u00a0is the perfect place for saving money.\u00a0 I was able to find a job there as a young college grad (with no previous experience), and after my first year, I had enough cash on hand to purchase a car.\u00a0 Other countries, like\u00a0Saudi Arabia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Taiwan<\/a>\u00a0are also fine choices if you want to have some funds to spare.<\/p>\n

\"6<\/a>

Save money while teaching English abroad<\/p><\/div>\n

In general, it\u2019s easiest to save money in wealthier countries with a relatively low cost of living that provide benefits like free housing and severance pay.\u00a0If saving is important to you,\u00a0carefully research local pay and recent exchange rates.<\/p>\n

3. Can I travel while teaching overseas<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"6

Beautiful sunset over Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy<\/p><\/div>\n

The desire to travel around a new region of the world is one of the most common motivations for teaching abroad.\u00a0 Consider the amount of vacation time you\u2019ll have.\u00a0 This varies by country, but your employer matters just as much.\u00a0 Be aware that public schools and universities on average provide employees with more vacation time, though often more modest salaries.\u00a0 Private language academies, rather, while generally higher paying, tend to offer fewer days off.<\/p>\n

Access to transportation may also determine your ability to travel.\u00a0 Those of us who have traveled in Europe know that getting between cities (and countries) is fast and easy.\u00a0 Not all countries have the infrastructure to facilitate speedy weekend getaways.\u00a0 If you are in a major city that serves as a transportation hub, expect to be able to go farther afield on weekends.\u00a0 Prefer a remote village to fully immerse yourself in local culture?\u00a0 Perhaps you\u2019ll spend more time exploring the surrounding cities and towns.<\/p>\n

No matter where you go, you\u2019ll find time to travel, both within your country and around your region.\u00a0 In some places, it might be easiest to travel after your contract is finished.\u00a0 I spent five weeks traveling around Asia after my first year of teaching overseas, but I traveled extensively in country on weekends, facilitated by the efficient intercity bus system.<\/p>\n

4. Who<\/strong> do I want to teach<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another factor in deciding where you want to go might be the type of students you would like to have in your classes.\u00a0 Most major teaching destinations have ample opportunities to work with children of elementary or middle-school age.<\/p>\n

\"6<\/a>

Enthusiastic students in an ESL classroom<\/p><\/div>\n

If you prefer to work with adults, however, you may have to choose your country more carefully, as many of these jobs (especially in a University setting) require previous experience.\u00a0 Nevertheless, even for new teachers, Costa Rica<\/a> and Chile<\/a> are prime destinations for adult-centered education, as are many of the emerging markets of Eastern Europe such as Poland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Is this country right\u2026 for me<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After considering the job market, pay, and work schedule, it\u2019s easy to forget that you aren\u2019t just going to a new country to work; you are going there to live.\u00a0 Professional satisfaction is important, but you must also be comfortable in your new home.\u00a0 You\u2019ll experience some discomfort in a new culture\u2014that\u2019s to be expected\u2014but you need to be able to get through your daily life without undue distress.<\/p>\n

\"6

ESL teacher embarks on another adventure<\/p><\/div>\n

Or put another way, you don\u2019t have to blend in with locals\u2014in some countries, you will stand out because of your appearance\u2014but you should have the desire to fit in by participating in local customs. Be sure to consider the lifestyle of your perspective hosts. \u00a0Would the cultural restraint of the Arabian Peninsula be difficult for you?\u00a0 Or would the late-night revelry of the Caribbean or Mediterranean (and afternoon siestas that follow) be more of an adjustment?\u00a0 Regardless, please remember that you might end up staying abroad longer than you planned, so it is essential to find a place where you will thrive both personally and professionally.<\/p>\n

6. So what are you waiting for?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This one is rhetorical.\u00a0 The answer should be \u201cnothing!\u201d\u00a0 Grab your passport and go!<\/p>\n

Want to learn more about teaching English overseas? Sign up for a free information session<\/a> near you, or download our free course guide<\/a> today!<\/p>\n

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Written by Jeremy White<\/p>\n

\"J.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jeremy White has lived and worked in several states and countries, most extensively as a TESOL instructor in South Korea<\/a>. He has a master’s degree in linguistics and has taught Oxford Seminars courses<\/a> in both New York<\/a> and Minneapolis<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I talk to prospective ESL teachers interested in going abroad, some already know\u00a0exactly where they want to go. However, many others are not so sure where to teach abroad. Some are trying to pick between a few top destinations, and others have no idea where they want to go. They\u2019re just excited to travel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":2906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[346,344,343],"tags":[9,127,179,90,102],"class_list":["post-2891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-saving-money","category-teaching-esl","category-travel","tag-education","tag-jobs","tag-life-abroad","tag-teaching-english-abroad","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2891"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3926,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2891\/revisions\/3926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oxfordseminars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}