Has anyone ever gone abroad to teach English?
I’m planning on doing this and found several companies who claim to certify people with a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate, guarantee job placement, and help you get set up in terms of living arrangements, etc. The cost for all of this is about $1100. I like the idea of having a company to back you up and help you out, but it seems like it could be a lot of money for nothing. The other option is free, which is to go on your own and try to find a job directly through the schools themselves, but then of course you have no backing from a company. Has anyone gone either route? In what countries? How was your experience? Thanks!
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If you plan on staying for more than a few months, I would advise going with a company that can bring you to a country and certify you. I only say that because in a few months you should be able to get back your money and then some. However, if it is only for a month, you are pretty much spending your money for nothing; it would be better for you to find a job while you were there.
I lived in Spain for nine months, and I got a pretty penny without needing formal training. I worked in an after-school program in Madrid teaching conversational English (I had three levels), and I also privately tutored at the house of one family. I found the first job by word-of-mouth and the other by advertising on a local-Spanish website.
In terms of housing, I assume you would have to save up some for the first month or two of rent before even heading to the country because money won´t come in right away. Also, not having a certificate means it will be more or less hard to find work if you don´t already have background experience in the language.
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I taught English in Moscow for a year and a half. I went entirely on my own. Many people actually study to the level of a master’s degree to teach English as a second language. I did not have any formal training as a teacher. I did all right, but I do recommend the formal training, especially if it comes with the guarantee of job placement. Get good references for the school, though, and check them out!
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