3 of 13

Write now Article Tools

How to Teach English Abroad

There is a great demand for English teachers in the former Eastern bloc countries, countries where English was not widely known for the forty years following World War II. With the rise in multi-national corporations, many of which have English as the company's "official" language, many employees in their twenties, thirties and forties are offered English classes. I have been teaching English in Bratislava (the capital of the Slovak Republic, one-third of the former Czechoslovakia) for three years, and it has been exciting, demanding, worthwhile, stimulating, challenging and sometimes it has been all of these things at once.

Some things to be aware of, however: the teaching of English as a Second Language (also called "ESL") is dominated by the Brits, which is only to be expected. To get jobs with reputable schools and indeed, to get a handle on just what it means to be an ESL teacher it is necessary to get a certificate that qualifies you to teach English. Fortunately, this is easy (if pricey, more about that later) to do. There are language schools all over Europe Prague, Barcelona, Seville, Budapest, Warsaw, and so on that offer training for ESL teachers. Usually the course is an intensive, one-month program. When looking for a school, be sure to look for one that is validated by either Cambridge University or Trinity College. Certificates from schools without the imprimatur of either one of these institutions are less valuable; the Cambridge or Trinity validation (think of it as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for ESL teachers) provides potential employers with a sort of guarantee and makes you more employable as a result.

About price: the current price tag for training at the school I attended in Prague in 2005 is about $3400. This includes housing and meal vouchers (breakfast and lunch), as well as the classroom training. (The dollar is weak, the Czech crown strong; the result is the cost is a bit higher than it was three years ago.) For less money, you can find your own accommodations and still get the training. And of course, you've got to consider the price of an air fare to get you to your chosen destination.

Another, but to me less attractive, option is to get your certificate on line. A quick search of "TEFL online" produced 430,000 results with names like "online TEFL" and "TEFL online." A quick review shows that the price is quite reasonable under $300 but again, I'd want to make sure that the programs were validated

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about How to get a job teaching ESL?
We want to hear your view. Write now!