Introduction
The world is a big place, and there are many places where you can teach English. You can choose to teach in China, Japan or even Europe. But if you want to teach abroad in 2022, then your best bet would be Asia or even South America because these areas are growing at an exponential rate right now and there’s no shortage of jobs either!
Choose the Destination
It’s important to choose a place where you want to live, but also one that offers good education and career opportunities. You can’t just pick anywhere! If you don’t like the weather or the culture, it’s going to be difficult for you as an international teacher. Try looking at some websites of cities in your country or region and see what kind of information they provide about their schools. Look up reviews from teachers who are currently teaching abroad; this will give you insight into how comfortable other teachers feel during their teaching abroad experience!
Decide on the Type of School
It is important to decide on the type of school before you start looking for opportunities. The following are some common types:
- Elementary School
- High School
- University (International)
- Private School
One important point to consider is the location of your school. For instance, if you’re planning on teaching English abroad in Asia, it can be tempting to pick a city based solely on what city you want to visit and what type of food there is to eat. While this may work out for some people, it’s important to remember that you will be living here for the duration of your contract.
Learn about the Education System and Culture in Your Target Country
The first thing you need to do is learn about the education system, culture and expectations of your target country. You should also evaluate if there are any similarities between the education system in your home country and those in your target country. If so, this can help provide some insight into what teaching styles are most effective in different places.
Prepare Your Resume
Your resume should be a compilation of the things you’ve done, your skills and your accomplishments. It can be as short or lengthy as you like depending on how much information you want to include in each section.
Here are some tips for making your resume stand out:
- Include any relevant experience from past jobs or internships that show how you would be an asset in the position being sought. This will help demonstrate that you have what it takes to succeed at this new job and make sure recruiters remember your name.
- Use words that are specific to the job description being sought (e.g., “Elementary Curriculum coordinator” rather than “Primary English Teacher”), but also try not to go overboard by using too many buzzwords; instead.
- List out your teaching credentials/certificate in teaching (e.g. Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (PgCTL)) that evidently reflects your skills and qualifications to teach in their school.
Get Your English Language Proficiency Test Scores Ready
Your English language proficiency test scores can be a deciding factor in whether or not you will be accepted into an international teaching position. If your score is below the threshold required by the school, then they may decline your application.
To ensure that you have a high score on your exam, it’s important that you prepare well ahead of time. The earlier in the year that you take this test, the better chance there is for success.
Ensure your Qualification/Credentials meet the regulatory requirements
The best qualification is the one that meets all regulatory requirements & verifies your existing pedagogy skills and knowledge. Some of the recognised qualifications are B. Ed, D. Ed, D. El. Ed, PGCE, PgCTL and many others.
Qualification required to teach abroad also depends on the curriculum that one wants to teach. Not to mention the various rules and regulations in the country, which may mean certain places are stricter than others at hiring teachers. The most in-demand certification, PgCTL (Professional Certificate in Teaching and Learning), also happens to meet all legal specifications and is recognised internationally across all curricula.
Look for Internships or Volunteering Opportunities
In addition to the above, you should also consider finding an internship or volunteering opportunity that will help you get used to the local culture and language. You can also get a feel for the local teaching environment, which is important if you are considering teaching abroad. And lastly, it will give you an idea of whether or not teaching abroad is really what you want in your life!
Start Teaching Practice Class
The first step to preparing for teaching in schools is to find a good teaching practice class. This can be done by searching the internet or by asking your school’s guidance counsellor.
Most schools will have at least one or two classes that are offered every semester where students can volunteer to teach their peers in order to get feedback on their teaching abilities, as well as practice skills such as communication and organisation.
There are many things to consider when you want to begin teaching in schools abroad.
There are many things to consider when you want to begin teaching abroad. The first thing you need to do is choose a destination and then decide on the type of school that will be best for your career. You also need to learn about the education system, culture and language in your target country.
After all this work has been done, it’s time for you to start teaching in schools!
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you to prepare for a teaching opportunity abroad. You can check out some amazing opportunities to teach abroad here. To make your dream of teaching abroad a reality and execute it step by step, connect with our expert academic mentors here at Suraasa.
