How soon can I teach abroad?

How soon can I teach abroad?

You’ve decided to teach abroad… let the adventure begin! But hold on before packing your life into a suitcase and booking a flight, because the process is not always as straightforward as it might seem. Preparing to teach abroad can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months and even over a year if you want to secure the job you really want. How long it will take you to prepare to teach abroad depends on your answers to the following questions:

Do you have the right qualifications to teach abroad?

If not, you will have to allow some time to take a course, which could take anywhere from a few months to a few years depending on the kind of teaching career you’d like. To get a high paying job with a good school, you’ll need to set yourself apart from hundreds of other teachers. The best way to do this is with a qualification that makes you stand out issued from a reputable institution. The kinds of teaching jobs available abroad can be divided into two categories which require different kinds of qualifications:

  • ESL jobs: These are positions teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to students in language academies and schools. Although you don’t need experience, many institutions will require teachers to have some teacher training under their belt in the form of a TEFL certification. A TEFL certification is considered the standard for applying to teaching jobs overseas and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to complete. TEFL courses are available onsite and online. Online courses can be a more convenient (and often cheaper) option that allow you to earn your TEFL certification alongside your current work, school or family schedule and don’t require you to travel to attend weekly in-person classes.
  • Certified teacher jobs: Positions teaching children and young adults a variety of subjects in public and private schools. These kinds of jobs normally require a Bachelor’s degree in Education, or a degree in a specialist subject, and you must hold a teaching credential or license. It takes several years of study and practical teaching to become a fully certified teacher.

It is important to note that although you don’t need any teaching experience or formal teaching qualifications to teach English abroad, a lot of countries require you to have a Bachelor’s degree in order to work there legally. You should search the work visa requirements of the countries you would like to travel to.

What region are you interested in teaching?

Some countries are well known for having strict requirements that must be met to work as a teacher there. The Middle East is known for requiring a higher level of qualification, such as a Bachelor of Education or other formal teaching qualification, and requiring candidates to have more experience as a teacher. This has gained it a reputation for being a difficult region in which to find a teaching position. If you’re set on moving to Dubai for example, it might be worthwhile to gain teaching experience for a few years to improve your chances of employment. Asia tends to be more relaxed when it comes to teaching job requirements. Jobs with language schools and some public and private schools will happily welcome applicants with a basic TEFL certification. As an enormous country with a booming population, demand for English teachers is especially high in China, and therefore there is also less competition for jobs and a better chance of scoring a last minute position if you’re keen to start soon.

Want to find out your earning potential teaching anywhere in the world? Get a decent idea of what you can expect with the help of our free teach abroad salary calculator!

When do schools in your desired country hire teachers?

True, there are no shortage of opportunities out there to suit your time scale. However, you should take into consideration the time of year you’d like to find a teaching job abroad. If you’re hoping to work at a public or private school overseas, check when the school year starts in the country you’d like to live in. Prestigious international schools will follow a western school year, with most positions commencing in August. Local public and private schools in Korea and Japan, for example, begin classes in February and March each year. Language academies for children and adults may hire teachers year-round, but tend to concentrate their hiring at the start of the school year, and mid way through the school year.

How soon would you like to teach abroad?

If you fill qualification requirements, there is a good chance you’ll be able to find a good position at short notice. There is growing global demand for English teachers throughout the year and with some basic teacher training under your belt, you will be a desirable candidate for many schools. If you have a longer timeline – perhaps you need to save money or finish your studies – you can also make this work too. Plenty of schools hire for their next intake up to a year in advance. Registering with a teacher recruitment agency, such as Teach Away, is a good idea as they will notify you about any relevant opportunities that come up in the future.

12 comments

Hello Dozyline, thank you for your comment! You may enroll and begin the TEFL course at anytime. We currently have teachers completing the course from all over the world. You will have one year to complete your course, however the average completion time is 2-3 months. As the course is self-paced, you will find it very convenient to complete. If you have any more questions please respond here, or by email at teflonline@teachaway.com Best, Christie.
Christie Van Tol
Hi , I am Dozyline and am interested in teaching geography and English abroad . I live in Zimbabwe with 12 years teaching experience. How long and how do I get to teach abroad soon?middle east or morocco
Dozyline Rocha
Hi Farah, the maximum time you will have to complete the course is 1 year from the day you enroll. The average completion time, however, is 2-3 months. There are no prerequisites to enroll in the course and you may do so at any time by paying the course fee through our website, here: https://teflonline.teachaway.com/enroll/ If you have any questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at teflonline@teachaway.com. Best, Christie.
Christie Van Tol
One month or 1 year? Maximum time duration for the completion of course?

What is the eligibility criteria for this course?

Farah
Hello, Farah! All students have one year to complete the course. The course is entirely self-paced and you will complete it on your own schedule. The average completion time is 2-3 months. There are no prerequisites to enroll in the course and you may do so at any time and begin the course instantly by paying the course fee through our website here: https://teflonline.teachaway.com/enroll/ If you have any questions please feel free to reply to this comment or email us at teflnoline@teachaway.com Best, Christie.
Christie Van Tol

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