Getting Started Teaching English Abroad: The Complete Guide To ESL Instruction For Newcomers

by Otto Baynes

There are literally thousands of jobs available throughout the Asian countries for English teachers at any given time, and most of them don’t require you to speak the local language. The minimum requirement for many of these jobs is to be a native English speaker, have a clean criminal record and to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in any subject. A teaching certificate certainly helps your case, but it isn’t completely necessary. The schools generally will pay for your airfare to and from the country as well as paying for your housing along with a competitive salary.

Though these jobs are plentiful, it can take some time to be hired. Since the job is in another country, the process is a bit longer and more convoluted than being hired for a local job, with a few extra considerations to work through. This guide will first cover the visa requirements for the various countries that have jobs, and then provide leads for job opportunities in these countries and some information on teaching certifications to look into.

Visa Requirements

Generally speaking, visa arrangements are made by the company that hires you, and they aren’t much trouble to arrange. You’ll need to visit that country’s closest consulate to obtain a letter of approval, however. Each country generally has a consulate office in the largest cities, so this may require a bit of travel. For example, those who live in midwestern states may have to make a trip to Chicago to do this, depending on where they live. Other cities that have consulates for all of the applicable countries include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Honolulu, Anchorage, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Houston and Washington. Be aware that the consulate treats this as an interview, and may expect you to be dressed appropriately — check ahead to see if a suit and tie are standard for these appointments.

Also be aware that since the company is spending a significant amount of money on your salary, housing and airfare, they will expect a substantial minimum time commitment. Six months is usually the absolute minimum, but a number of companies ask for a commitment of at least one year.

Below are specific visa requirements for each of the countries that hires a significant amount of ESL instructors.

Japan

Japan does not require teachers to have a job lined up before arriving, as it is fairly easy to get a 90-day tourist visa and then change it to a working visa after being hired. Companies will generally arrange the working visa in advance if you are hired before arriving, however. Most of the documentation required for this visa simply shows that the business is licensed properly in the country, and thus will be provided by them. You will need to supply a copy of your college diploma and any relevant teaching credentials to obtain this visa, however. This process will generally take one to two months to complete.

South Korea

South Korea specifically requires ESL teachers to hold a bachelor’s degree of some sort to apply for the E2 visa. Visa applicants have to submit a copy of their degree or transcripts with an apostille, or an official authentication provided by the Office of the Secretary of State. This is easy to get, but requires a fee and adds a little extra processing time. There is no age limit to apply for such a visa, but the consulate will discourage applicants who are 55 or older as that is the age cap for public school teachers in the country.

China

China requires what is called a “Z visa” for anyone outside the country seeking to work there. Some of the shadier private educational companies may attempt to arrange a business or tourist visa instead because it is simpler and cheaper, but these are not adequate to legally work and can subject the violator to fines or even imprisonment.

Basic documentation required to obtain this visa includes a passport that is more than six months from expiring and a fee of $50 (which the employer will usually pay). China also formally requires two years of related teaching experience, or alternately a TOEFL certificate. There are numerous anecdotal reports of schools being able to work out “arrangements” with the government to get this requirement overlooked for a candidate that they desire, however.

Taiwan

Taiwan requires foreign ESL teachers to be college graduates with a bachelor’s degree, have some sort of formal teaching credential, and be at least 20 years old.

Thailand

For the “B-visa” that is required to work legally, you basically only need a bachelor’s degree and the sponsorship of an employer. Schools very commonly require a TEFL certification in this country, however, but they’ll generally waive this if you can demonstrate prior teaching experience in Asian classrooms or if you have a degree in English with a teaching credential.

Vietnam

Vietnam previously allowed visitors to work with only a business visa, but in recent years the government has become increasingly strict about requiring a work permit. These permits require a pre-arranged contract with a school and proof of a bachelor’s degree. Vietnam also requires applicants to submit a fairly thorough health check, three passport photos and a curriculum vitae (CV).

Job Opportunities

Japan

The JET Program is often the first stop for teaching hopefuls in Japan. It’s one of the safest bets if you can get in, as it is run by the Japanese government. It is formally a “cultural exchange” program rather than a program specific to teaching, however, so the requirements and structure are slightly different from most private schools and companies and the program only accepts people once per year. The program actually has a variety of different job types available, but those who are looking to teach and don’t speak Japanese well will be limited to being an Assistant Language Teacher and will work in a school setting.

If you are interested in a position in a government-run school but JET does not work out for some reason, there are also private companies that have the ability to place Assistant Language Teachers in elementary, junior high and high schools. One of the largest of these companies is Interac.

Outside of the school setting, teachers are generally hired for conversational classes called “eikaiwa.” These are supplemental classes held in private schools that are mostly aimed at children, but there are some adult eikaiwa classes as well. Some of the biggest eikaiwa companies in Japan are Aeon, Berlitz and ECC.

South Korea

South Korea runs a cultural exchange program to facilitate English teaching by foreigners that is very similar to Japan’s JET program. South Korea’s program is called EPIK and it requires a commitment of one year and that instructors either have some sort of teaching credential or have a degree in a type of education. You must also be younger than 62 to apply for this program. Instructors are accepted each year for the fall and spring semesters and are placed in a school. In addition to a rent-free apartment and good pay, instructors also get a moving allowance, a contract completion bonus, three weeks of vacation and health insurance for the duration of the program in return for 22 hours of work per week.

As with Japan, there are also private companies that recruit teachers and offer an alternative to going through the government program. Some of the biggest companies of this nature are Korean Horizons and Footprints Recruiting.

The private school route is also very viable in South Korea. These schools are called “hagwons” and are effectively cram schools for children who need outside support for their English studies in primary school. There are over 70,000 hagwon in South Korea, and given this there are also countless recruiters looking to fill positions.

China

Teaching in China virtually requires getting a job at a private school, unless you are able to meet the higher requirements for a university professor or high school position (most readily done through the High School International Program). Fortunately, there are a metric ton of these schools in the country, since demand for supplemental English classes has been increasing by tens of thousands of students per year and is not showing signs of slowing down in the near future.

Some of the largest supplemental school chains of this nature are Wall Street English, Disney English, Astor English and EnglishFirst, though there are many more. These chains operate all throughout China, and an important thing to know is that they are franchised, so the management and overall experience may be very different from one location to the next. Unfortunately, it is fairly difficult to change jobs as a foreign temporary resident, so it is important to thoroughly research your employer before agreeing to a contract.

Taiwan

The main source of ESL teaching jobs in Taiwan is the chain “buxiban” cram schools. Hess, Giraffe, Joy, Sesame Street and Kojen are among the biggest of the chains. There are numerous recruiters who seek applicants for these schools, but the market is weaker than some other countries in the region due to a declining birth rate.

It is also possible to get jobs at public high schools, but there are no government-sponsored programs that ease the process. Under Taiwanese law, only high schools can hire foreigners to teach.

Thailand

Thailand has both public and private teaching jobs open to foreigners throughout the country, but the greatest concentration of these jobs will be found in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Government work tends to pay less, but offers regular business hours on weekdays. Private schools will be oriented to people studying after business hours or on weekends but generally pay a little better.

Vietnam

Teachers in Vietnam generally go the private school route due to various challenges in getting positions in universities or government-run schools. Three of the larger private school chains that have locations throughout the country are Cleverlearn, Compass Education and ILA Vietnam.

Teaching Certificates

TEFL / TOEFL / TESOL

Lots of different organizations offer these certifications in the form of a relatively short training program. There’s really no industry standardization, and a lack of regulation means the quality of these programs can vary greatly and advance research is definitely required. Generally speaking, the thing to look at is the time of the program overall, and especially how much is spent in a classroom. Schools generally want to see programs that consist of at least 100 hours of training and with at minimum 20 of that done in an actual classroom. The more classroom training time the better, of course.

CELTA

This is a form of TEFL certification, but it’s one that’s sometimes specifically required by employers. The course is administered by the Cambridge University, and fairly rigorous standards mean it’s held in high regard by employers. It’s also more expensive and time-consuming than many other course options, however. Expect it to take two to three months if you’re taking it part-time, and the tuition runs between $2,000 to $4,000 depending on where you take it and which attendance option you choose.