Disclaimer

The information provided in this guide was understood to be accurate and true at the time of publication. Since the date of publication, the information may have changed or become obsolete. This guide is meant to supplement your own research on the subject and to help you make an informed decision. By using this guide or any of the information contained within it you agree not to hold me liable for any problems or complications that arise from your use of the material. All of this is just my opinion and information I gleaned from years working and travelling the world.

Copyright
This book is a product of my own research and writing but you may distribute it as you see fit so long as you give me credit. If possible, please provide a link back to my website "see below# so others can find me.

Links
There are a few links in here, none of which I guarantee or personally vouch for. The school links especially are likely to change so don t hold this eguide as truth when researching a school or a country for your ne!t adventure.

About Me
I come from a city called Winnipeg, situated in the middle of the Canadian prairies. It's not a very popular tourist destination but I still like to think of it as the Laos of Canada. It's from these beginnings that I began my working and travelling around the world. I've taught all age groups from South Korea to Cambodia to Ukraine. In South Korea I taught at an elementary school and had the opportunity to make a fictional short film titled Coffee and Milk. If you want to see a highly theatrical version of me as an SL teacher, you can view the movie on my website. It is highly fictionali!ed and shouldn't be construed as absolute truth about teaching SL abroad. "fter South Korea, I volunteered for a month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. #hat was an interesting e$perience mainly because of the change of settings% going from the fast&paced growth of South Korea to the poverty&stricken neighbourhoods of Cambodia. I took a break from teaching SL for a year or so

until I took a trip to my ancestral homelands of Ukraine where I taught SL to adults in Kharkiv. Since then I've continued to work and travel in various capacities, though not always as an SL teacher. I keep track of developments in the field mainly because I still have friends who teach and I'm always thinking about returning to the profession. If you have any 'uestions, concerns, comments, suggestions or simply want to share your e$perience teaching SL abroad, please get in touch with me through any one of the methods below% Website: http://www.stevensirski.com Emai : stevensirski!gmai .com "witter: !stevensirski

Preface
I aim to do a few things with this guide. First, I want to give you a general introduction to teaching ESL abroad, even though the guide is directed toward East Asia. I've done my best to make this guide as thorough as I could given the resources at my dis osal. I think it stands as a good introduction to the sub!ect. "e#t, this guide is written for eo le who want to go abroad but hesitate either because of money, safety concerns, or some other common concern amongst first$time travellers. Let me assure you, the most difficult art of the !ourney isn't teaching or ada ting to your new home. "o, it's giving yourself ermission to go abroad. Finally, I ho e this guide hel s you in making the decision to go abroad to teach ESL because I think it is a worthwhile ursuit. As our world becomes more interconnected with the internet, I believe it is im ortant to take yourself out of your comfort %one and take the time to travel, learn, understand and a reciate other cultures around the world. And make some money along the way to su ort yourself. &ey, food isn't free, right'

I suggest you go through the book (uickly at first !ust to see what's on offer, then go back and re$ read it for more information. )ry not to get caught u in having to make a decision right away since there are lots of o tions. *ou might even find that Asia doesn't even suit you+ ,ith that, good luck and have fun reading. If you have any (uestions or concerns, lease get in touch with me through email or )witter. All the best+ Steve

Types of ESL Classes

What follows is a very basic breakdown of the types of classes you may encounter as an English teacher. SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY The most common jobs available are teaching elementary, middle school or university students. Many schools will provide you with the textbook to follow, but it s up to you to present the material in an entertaining and appropriate manner conducive to learning. CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH !on t underestimate the strength and benefit of having travelled across the world using only English. "nowing a language is one thing, but speaking it, especially when it comes to expressing yourself or your ideas, is another beast altogether. #or conversational classes you might want to read the works of !ale $arnegie who wrote a lot about public speaking and building confidence as a speaker. BUSINESS ENGLISH %n countries that have good English speaking

skills already you might find that you have to narrow your focus a little bit. &usiness English is a popular choice since these types of English lessons may include everything from discussing the stock market to talking politics or reading and commenting on the business news. LANGUAGE COACH &ecoming a language coach deals mainly with pronunciation, that is, getting your student to move their mouth muscles in the way in order to reproduce a specific accent, such as the 'merican or &ritish accents. (ome students want to learn a specific accent because of their profession and where they may have to do business. )anguage coaches are often well* versed in linguistics and able to pin point how words are formed and communicate to their students. OTHER SPECIALTY &usiness English falls into this category but is more highly sought after than other specialty English classes. %t might happen that the best method to teach your students is through a speciality, such as art, music, sports, science, academia or some other topic. +ou might not be aware of it but each topic has its own uni,ue set of English words. %f you already know a

considerable amount about a certain topic, you might consider offering English lessons in that subject. That way you ll be helping your student while staying within your circle of knowledge.

Finding A Job
In addition to more country-specific links provided in the Countries section of this guide, below are some websites you can use to find a job. Dave's ESL Probably the foremost resource on teaching ES abroad. !ot only does this website have a considerable job board for positions around the world, it also has an e"tensive forum that you can browse through to learn more about your target destination. #his is often the first place you need to go to research your potential destination. ESL Base $ useful website that maintains a database of English schools around the world. It%s not always up to date but it%s a good beginning. TEFL Websites &o to the places that can give you a TEFL, CertTESOL or CELTA and they will often help you find a job afterward. $t the very least, check out their websites for some idea of the places that are hiring. 'or e"ample, BridgeTEFL.com and TEFLonline.com.

Ex atblogs.com $n indispensable source of first-hand information on many countries around the world. #hey list several thousand blogs from around world that are written by people living in those countries. !o travel websites here, just personal information from people with boots on the ground. Some blogs are out of date, but others are still updated. !uide Boo" Forums Lonel# $lanet's T%orn Tree and Fodor's both have e"tensive forum archives that you can search through for more information on your target destination. #he archives alone may answer a lot of your (uestions, though the information may be dated. )ave a look through and if you have any more (uestions, don%t be afraid to join and post in the forum. Transitions Abroad $nother long-standing resource for people who want to work and travel. !ot only do they offer a vast array of articles on teaching ES around the world, they also have links to a number of schools in addition to job postings.

Interview Tips
So you've done your research about the country, the company, and about teaching ESL in general, you're ready for your first interview. Some jobs may require you to be interviewed over Skype. Either way, below are some tips to help you through the interview process.

down your questions, you'll also be able to think of some questions your employer might have for you. %rite down some possible answers so you can refer to them during the interview if necessary. Dress professionally. Even if you're talking over Skype, the way you dress will boost or hinder your confidence during the interview. 'uys, collared shirt, tie and casual pants, though a polo shirt is alright. 'irls, a nice blouse and skirt, dress or other business attire. (se your best judgment and err on the side of caution. )any places in *sia, despite the heat and humidity, require their employees to dress in formal business attire every day. Resume. )any interviews will be held over Skype or over the phone. +t pays to have a copy of your resume printed off and sitting in front of you for your own reference during the interview. +f you're being interviewed in person, bring a copy with you to make your employer's life easier ,in case it's gone walkabout in their office.-

Before the Interview Begins:

Prepare yourself mentally. ake a few deep breaths and do your best to rela!. "ou're probably nervous, but that's okay, it shows you want to make an impression. Block out unnecessary distractions. #lose $acebook and witter, turn off your phone or at least put it on silent and put it somewhere you can't see it. Focus and prepare a few answers in your head. %rite down a few questions you'd like to ask your potential employer before the interview begins. &elying on your memory is a bad idea since the emotion of being interviewed will take over and you'll probably forget. $urther, by writing

During the Interview:

Speak slowly and clearly, even if your interviewer is a native English speaker. .y speaking slowly and clearly, you have time to

gather your thoughts and speak what you mean instead of fumbling for something so say. isten and ask !uestions when pertinent. +nterviews are never one way streets. /ften you want to interview the employer to see if you like them and want to work for them. Don"t forget to ask a#out when you can e$pect to know the company"s decision. his will save you a lot of an!iety of waiting around and wondering about it.

%fter the Interview:

%fter the interview is over& send a thank you email to your interviewer thanking them for the time they took to talk to you a#out the 'o# and reiterating your interest in working for them. +t goes a long way and sets you out from the rest of the crowd.

Before You Go
What follows are a few things to think about as you begin your search for a job or before you jet off to your new host country. QUALIFICATIONS In general, most schools will request proof of a university degree which means you'll have to bring it with you to prove that you actually have the piece of paper and not a fake. English and Education degrees are highly sought after, but they'll consider anyone with just about any degree. They will check, so don't think you can go to hailand and get a fake one made up and cash it in. TEFL certificates are increasingly being requested but some schools offer a E!" certificate upon successful completion of a one# year contract so you might want to consider all of your options before committing to any country. $e%t, if you have another degree or certificate on top of that, such as a CELTA or a Master's degree, then you can e%pect to make a little bit more money.

LANGUAGE If you're concerned about the language barrier, you can help yourself by learning some basic phrases, numbers and just how to sound out the alphabet. &uch of the material is already online for free so you don't have to spend too much. omniglot.com ' ( website that acts almost like a language encyclopedia of sorts. )ood for familiari*ing yourself with the different alphabets of the world. li emoc!a.com ' !ree online language practice by way of lessons or language e%change. lang"#.com # +imilar to livemocha.com, but emphasis on language e%change and ,blogging,- which native speakers can then correct for you. Teac! $o%rself ' ( series of books that offer lessons for private study. hey often come with audio recordings which can help you become familiar with the language.

&ISAS &ost schools and programs will help you secure the appropriate visa once they've officially invited you and you've accepted their job offer. If, however, you're thinking of going the freelance route, understand that unless you secure the

proper visa and work permit you are breaking the law and can face steep penalties, including fines or imprisonment. While I can't endorse that method, some countries make it e%tremely difficult to obtain the proper working papers. .uite a few countries are now offering Working /oliday 0isas which are valid for anywhere from three months to a year. Whatever your choice, be sure that you have the proper visa before you go and understand the terms and conditions of your visa. INSU'ANCE hird party insurance is good to have even though many employers will include it in your contract. he coverage is usually all#inclusive, meaning that it's not just workplace insurance but insurance for your entire time in the country. 1ouble check that to be sure or simply purchase e%tra insurance just to be safe.

Common Concerns
WHY ASIA? One of the great things about Asia is that the demand for learning English is so great that theyll consider just about anybody for the job. Japan and South Korea in particular have higher standards in terms of qualifications. hey have such high standards because they pay so !ell. Other places" such as mainland #hina or $ietnam" have lo!er standards due to the fact that the salaries offered there pale in comparison !ith Japan or South Korea. Asia is a diverse continent !ith east Asia hosting a large number of countries and cultures in a small area. here are some similarities among them" even in regard to language. %hats neat to learn about many of the cultures in East Asia is their historical depth. Although the region has been populated and developed for thousands of years" it has only recently seen modern development and industriali&ation. 'earning English is a part of this moderni&ation as it is one of the tools needed to !or( in the global mar(etplace.

And then theres the adventure aspect. )any fol(s" not just teachers" have re*located to southeast Asia and its neighbouring countries because it offers e+otic scenery and adventurous living for a fraction of the price found in most %estern countries. %ant to learn ho! to scuba dive" hi(e or climb a mountain" coo(, East Asia offers a lot to the adventurous fol( in addition to affordable cheap living. RELIGION, CULTURE AND CUSTOMS -ou might find it beneficial to familiari&e yourself !ith the three most prominent religions in East Asia. hey include #hristianity" .uddhism and /slam. After that" #onfucianism plays a huge role in #hinese culture !hile 0induism permeates the /ndian culture and several other areas" such as .ali" /ndonesia. 1or your reference /2ve included a very brief description of each religion. Buddhism .ased on the teachings of .uddha !ho lived around 344 .#. 0e left his family to go mediate in the mountains and came to understand e+istence as a cycle of life and death" the main point all of it !as suffering !hich could be escaped by attaining nirvana. .uddha returned to society and offered his (no!ledge for any !ho cared to attain a state of peace and tranquility. he 5alai 'ama is revered as the leader of .uddhists" but much of

.uddhism involves personal reflection" meditation and tolerance for other people2s beliefs and customs regardless of any leader. /t is customary" !hen visiting a .uddhist temple" not to point or sho! the bottom of your feet to!ard the statue of .uddha. -ou2ll also find a lot of mon(s !ho are not allo!ed to come in contact !ith !omen. /f !omen need to give something to a mon(" they should place it on the ground in front of them and allo! the mon( to ta(e it by himself. -ou2ll find .uddhism mostly in hailand" but it2s also prominent in )alaysia" South Korea" and )yanmar 6.urma7. One of the most important celebrations is .uddha2s birthday" !hich usually occurs in )arch. here are several denomination of .uddhism" including heravada" )ahayana and $ajrayana. Christianit #hristianity is based on the teachings of Jesus !ho is believed to be the Son of 8od. )uch of his teachings can be found in the .ible !hich !as !ritten by his disciples from !hom the 9ope in :ome derives his lineage. Jesus !as crucified at the age of ;; on charges of treason because he claimed to be the Son of 8od. /f you2re near the 9hilippines for Easter you may !ant to see the 8ood 1riday crucifi+ions !here devout follo!ers of #hrist choose to be nailed to a cross for a short

period of time. #hristianity can be found in just about every country in Asia but may belong to subgroups such as 9rotestants" Anglicans" #atholics" and others. )ajor holidays include Easter 6in the spring" usually in )arch or April7 and #hristmas 6on 5ecember <3th every year7. Is!am .ased on the teachings of )ohammed !ho lived around A.5. =44 and preserved in the >uran. /slam dominates the )iddle East and many parts of Asia" including )alaysia" Singapore" )yanmar 6.urma7 and much of /ndonesia. )ajor holidays include :amadan" !hich usually ta(es place during July and August" but varies !ith the phases of the moon. 5evote )uslims !ill abstain from alcohol 6but they2ll smo(e instead7 and not eat por(. 1urther" you2ll notice that )uslim !omen !ill !ear a dudong" a type of headscarf" not to be confused !ith the burqa" a full body covering found in the )iddle East. /f you visit a temple" you may need to !ear long pants and shoes. here are different denominations of )uslims" the t!o most prominent are the Sunnis and Shi2ites. C"n#u$ianism #onfucianism is more a system of belief instead of a religion" though #onfucianist beliefs border

religion and spirituality. Overall" is an ethical and philosophical system based on the teachings of #onfucius !ho lived around =44 .#. #onfucius is often quoted by fol(s !ho li(e to read philosophical discourses. 0o!ever" his basic tenant !as that you need to be concerned !ith the here and no!" ie" this !orld and the people in it" not the gods and the afterlife. he reason for this is because humans can be taught to progress and enable themselves to learn" gro! and evolve. #onfucianism is found throughout Asia" especially in #hina" South Korea" and Japan. Hindusim An age*old religion that permeates /ndian culture and parts of SE Asia" most notably .ali" /ndonesia and )alaysia. #onsisting of several layers of gods and goddesses" the essence of 0induism lies in the manifestation of $ishnu !ho" above all" represents creation in its purest form. he number of gods and goddesses found in 0induism can ma(e your head spin" but it2s enough to (no! that the people pride themselves on their duties to the gods" !hich means laying out small offerings several times a day to their house*hold god. )en and !omen !ill be required to !ear a sarong !hen visiting temples. here are numerous holidays for 0indus and you2ll be surprised by !hat goes on in some of

them" namely haipusam" during !hich devotees pierce themselves !ith hoo(s" needles and other implements to sho! and test their faith. /n regard to food and drin(" you2ll find many /ndian restaurants are 0alal" !hich means they don2t serve alcohol and their food has been prepared in a proper manner appropriate for 0indu believers. /n regard to religious observance" 5e!ali is celebrated by 0indus all over the !orld. 0o!ever" there are so many festivals in the 0indu calendar that it seems as if there2s no definitive holiday for all 0indus. his is a very brief and general brea(do!n of each religion and / encourage you to do some more research into each one if only to familiari&e yourself !ith them before you head off to your ne! country. All of this may lead you to e+perience something (no!n as culture shoc(. CULTURE SHOC% -ou might be !ondering about ho! you2re going to cope !ith all of the changes that !ill occur in a very short period of time. here !ill even come a time !hen you !onder about your decision to travel abroad. 5on2t !orry" it2s normal. Just about everybody !ho has gone abroad either for a longer period of time !ill e+perience !hat2s (no!n as ?culture shoc(.@ his can become a problem if you2re not ready for it because you !ill

!onder if it2s you or them. )ost often" you2ll try to blame your host country and its people. 8uess !hat, Seldom they are the problem. #ulture shoc( li(es to snea( up on you. One day you2ll be a happy little duc( s!imming around in ne! !aters. .ut then one day you2ll reali&e that maybe the !ater isn2t so clean" or that other duc(s are coming to the pond and maybe don2t sho! the same decency as you believe you are sho!ing. /t !ill ta(e some time to adjust to your ne! surroundings. #ulture shoc( is one of the reasons you !ant to (eep a journal because then you2ll be able to analy&e your attitude" thoughts and emotions over time. Jot do!n !hat you love and hate about your ne! home. -our job" the people around you" your o!n emotions" !hat you !ish !as different" !hat you2d li(e to ta(e home !ith you. And here2s the biggest (ic(er of it allA the bad times are the ones that you2ll remember years do!n the road and thin(" ?/t !asn2t that bad.@ /f anything" you2ll thin( that things could2ve been a lot !orse. /t2s for this reason that / urge people !ho are feeling uncomfortable in their ne! surroundings to really loo( at !hy they2re unhappy. Bnless you are physically in danger" you can usually !or( through a lot of things.

/ (no! that2s a very brief introduction about culture shoc( but it pays to understand a little about ho! your emotions !ill change as you move" and stay" abroad for a !hile. Co!" let2s discuss teaching. TEACHING IN GENERAL /n addition to adapting to your ne! surroundings and getting used to the culture" teaching itself can be difficult. Some days either you or the (ids !on2t have the energy and things just !on2t come together. he process of teaching" ho!ever" isn2t overly difficult. 1irst" you prepare a class !ith a central theme to get across to the (ids" then you hammer that message home by !ay of an introduction !here you give an e+ample of !hat you2re going to try to teach 6and it2s al!ays ?try@7" ne+t an instructional portion !here you tell the (ids !hat2s actually going on and get them to repeat it" and then you usually have a game or an activity !here you try to get the (ids to practice over and over and over again !hat you2re trying to get across. After all of that" you test the (ids to see if they2ve actually learned anything !ith a revie!. /f you haven2t figured out !hat !or(s or not before the revie!" this is !here you2ll find out for sure if the (ids actually learned anything. hat2s teaching a class

in general. IS TEACHING ESL LI%E TEACHING IN NORTH AMERICA OR EURO&E? Bnli(e their Corth American and European counterparts" ho!ever" many ES' teachers do not have the responsibility to pass or fail students. /t may" ho!ever" depend on your school and your contract. Some teachers may have to help judge competitions for placement into international e+change programs. On the other hand" some teachers rarely have to do much more than conduct their regular school*year classes" a summer and !inter camp" and maybe some special" one*time classes here and there. Other than that" a ne! teacher usually !on2t have to pass or fail a student in their first year of teaching ES'. 'OLUNTEER OR &AID? here are different !ays to go about travelling the !orld as an ES' teacher" t!o of the most popular are to volunteer through a program or get a paying job. he ne+t couple of sections deal !ith the difference bet!een volunteering and finding a paid job. '"!unt((rin) $olunteering !ill loo( good on your resume. /t sho!s youre not simply motivated by money" but

!illing to help those in need and ta(e yourself out of your comfort &one. )any volunteering positions !ill be in impoverished areas !hich !ill require you adapt to a different set of circumstances and people. /f youre nervous about teaching ES' and dont (no! if youll enjoy it" you might !ant to try volunteering first. As a volunteer" youre often seen more as a caregiver than simply a teacher. )any places focus on your character and ho! you deal !ith people. Although the majority of your students !ill want to learn from you" some might not be interested. 5ifficult children or students may simply !al( a!ay from your class and you cant do anything about it. -ou !ont be responsible for their educational needs or their future. As a volunteer" there arent as many e+pectations and pressures to discipline the students for not attending class. Of course they !ill !ant to have fun but" at the end of the day" English is just one of the tools they !ant in order to improve their livelihoods. 1urther" volunteering doesnt just reflect you as a person" but your country as !ell. his is important to bear in mind since your students !ill often have various ideas in mind about you and your country" often as a result of !atching movies. -oull soon reali&e ho! your country and its people are

perceived abroad simply by tal(ing to the students. )oreover" as a volunteer you are given much more freedom in regard to !hat you teach. /f you are a musician" most places !ould love for you to teach some music classes. 1ilmma(er or theatre major, 8et the (ids involved in a production. Sports enthusiast, SoccerDfootball is practically an international language itself. he gamut you can run as a volunteer is much more varied and open for interpretation than as a paid ES' teacher. he (ids" and the organi&ation" !ill be grateful that you have ta(en the time to teach and let them practice their language abilities !ith a native spea(er. G(ttin) &aid his is by far the most popular option since teaching ES' is a !ell*paid job in many parts of the !orld. 8etting paid as an ES' teacher offers you another career choice different from !hat you probably had bac( home. After all" you probably !ent abroad loo(ing for something different in the first place" right, Although volunteering can lead to !or( !ith C8Os or other such volunteer programs" finding a job as an ES' teacher in another country offers you a more immediate career choice. -ou get a job" do it !ell" rene! your contract" and repeat.

here are" ho!ever" a fe! challenges as a paid ES' teacher. -ou !ill be e+pected to deal !ith difficult children and demanding parents. -ou might be required to mar( their English abilities !hich can have lasting consequences both personally and academically. Sometimes this means deciding !hether or not a child can go study abroad in an English country. As an employee" you might find huge differences bet!een the !or( ethic of your home country and your ne! host country" particularly in regard to sic( days and holidays. Often" your vacation days are limited and your sic( days must fall in line !ith the schools policy on being absent. 'astly" your job description may include having to participate in school functions on your o!n time or conducting summer or !inter school programs. In $"n$!usi"n here are benefits to both volunteering and getting paid so it really comes do!n to !hat you are !illing to do and ho! you !ant your travels to ta(e shape. .oth offer great e+periences and !ill no doubt e+pose you to a variety of !or( environments" people and cultures. /f youre concerned about your career" both !ill enhance your resume !hile broadening your mind. 5o some research and understand !hats involved in either type of placement. .ut" after all that" dont

forget to just goE ISN*T IT HARD TO TEACH WITHOUT %NOWING THE LOCAL LANGUAGE? Kno!ing a bit of the local language !ill ma(e your life a lot easier in your day*to*day life" but as for teaching itself" you2re there to teach English and not responsible for translating into the native language. )any schools prefer you not to (no! the local language because then the (ids have no recourse to an easy translation. he idea is to offer an immersive class. 0o!ever" South Korean public schools !ill often place you !ith a Korean co*teacher. Bniversities !on2t give you a translator as the (ids !ill be older and typically already have a grasp of the language. Some private institutions !ill give the (ids a grammar class in their native language" then send them to you so they can practice their spea(ing s(ills. WILL I GET ABDUCTED AND SOLD INTO SLA'ERY? he ne!s" in an effort to dra! vie!ers" !ill often sho! some shoc(ing scenes and offer some scary commentary. %ith a little bit of due diligence" your adventure !ill probably be a lot safer than you might thin(. E+ercise caution and follo! your instincts. here !ill be a lot of

emotions simply deciding to go abroad never mind working abroad. here are a fe! countries that run programs to recruit teachers" including S"uth %"r(a, +a,an, and China. 1urther" there are a fe! reputable recruiters you can go through !hich gives you an e+tra layer of security. 1inally" if it sounds too good to be true" it probably is. WHAT I- I DON*T LI%E IT? /f you feel li(e quitting / urge you to reconsider. Stay for another !ee( or t!o and ta(e note of !hat you don2t li(e. /s it the people, he money, -our accommodation, Are you having trouble ma(ing friends, /s it the language barrier or is it something you don2t yet understand about the culture, At the end of those t!o !ee(s" analy&e your notes and determine !hat you can and cannot change. )ost times you2ll be able to !or( it out. Sometimes" ho!ever" you might have to pac( up and leave. WHAT TEACHING ESL ABROAD CAN AND CANNOT DO -OR YOU /ve spo(en !ith a fe! fol(s about the prospects of teaching English abroad. After a fe! minutes its usually apparent that they are concerned

about t!o thingsA th(ir $ar((r and th( sti)ma "# t(a$hin) a.r"ad. Often" teaching ES' abroad is seen as an ?escape@ from reality" a brea( from your career" or !orse" something only directionless" !andering vagabonds do. .elo! /2d li(e to address a fe! more common concerns that people often have before going abroad. /n Corth America and the Bnited Kingdom" there is a greater emphasis placed on building your career over several decades. -ou get an education" you find a job" start small and then !or( your !ay up the ladder. hat method of career development !or(ed best in times !hen you could be sure that the company hiring you !ould hold on to you for a long time even if only as a regular employee. 0o!ever" as companies loo( to save costs" they are hiring more contractors 6!ho dont receive benefits7 or are cutting bac( their !or( forces and as(ing those !ho remain to do more. So !hat does teaching English offer, eaching English" ho!ever" can be a career unto itself. /n many countries ES' teachers are no! e+pected to have a university degree AC5 a E1' certificate thus ma(ing them more dynamic and versatile as employees. Although teaching ES' is usually done on a contractual" year*by* year basis" many benefits are attached to that

contract. Similar to contract !or( else!here" there is no guarantee your employer !ill rene! your contract. he main benefit of this contractual method is that you can visit and live in many places around the !orld" not only adding to your resume" but to your travel e+perience and personal development. eaching English can help pay for your travels abroad. /f you decide to just ta(e off" finding a job as an English teacher can be one of the most lucrative jobs youll find. hat being the case" unless you actually li(e teaching" it" too" !ill become ?just a job@ that you do for money" much li(e all those ?just a job@ jobs bac( home. -ou might have some idea in regard to !hether or not youre cut out for teaching" and it pays to listen to your intuition. 0o!ever" you shouldnt completely dismiss the idea either. /t might ma(e a good fit for a little !hile before you find something else. 1or some people teaching ES' isnt a brea(" its a ne! start. 5o those !ho go teach English have less responsibility than those !ho stay closer to home, / !ould say no. here might be a change in lifestyle" but no less personal responsibility. Just because you go abroad and teach English doesnt change the fact that you need to come up

!ith some sort of direction in your life" !hatever it may be. eaching ES' is simply tool to help you lead an interesting life. 'iving and !or(ing abroad adds a little bit of e+citement to your daily life since you !ill have to figure out ho! to order certain items in the local language" ho! to get around" acclimatise yourself to the !eather" and get used to the local customs. eaching English can be a lucrative job but you still have to love it or else youll feel li(e a slave to the system. One of the main benefits of teaching English abroad is the adventure of !or(ing and travelling abroad. he first si+ months of your first teaching contract !ill fly by and youll have a blast. .y month seven" youll (no! !hether or not youll stay in that country. At the end of your contract" youll (no! if teaching English is for you. heres nothing saying you cant (eep teaching English abroad" but it doesnt mean you have to do it in the same place. )any places in Asia" such as South Korea" pay very !ell and have attractive benefits pac(ages. Other places" such as Eastern Europe" dont have the same pay or benefits but offer a glimpse of a country in transition. Aside from money" teaching ES' is a privilege. -oull probably learn more about yourself and the !orld than the (ids !ill learn English from you. %hat you offer is hope and a glimpse of the

outside !orld. hats !hy those (ids are learning English any!ay. hey !ant to travel just li(e you. hey have hopes and dreams and by learning English those hopes and dreams become that much more attainable. Overall" teaching English abroad isnt a fi+ for your life but one of many opportunities. here is a certain thrill to finding !or( in a foreign country but it cant replace personal responsibility for ta(ing control of your life and doing !hat you !ant to do. eaching English abroad merely combines t!o buc(et list chec( mar(s in one shot.

Countries
With flights, accommodation, generous salaries and benefits included in many packages, the question often becomes, why wouldnt you go? Most contracts are for a year, but some may ask you for a longer commitment. Whether you want to find an expat community or commingle with the locals, these places give you a lot of choice and compensate you well. arger salaries !average of "#$$$ per month%, however, don&t always mean high cost of living. THE BEST COUNTRIES TO MAKE MONEY SOUTH KOREA '(he and of the Morning )alm.* +lthough the younger generation will tell you that they arent very religious, ,uddhism and )hristianity are visible throughout the country which means lots of temples, but not so many churches for some reason. -ince the .orean War wreaked havoc across the nation, many of the temples have been restored giving them a very new look. -outh .orea has a low cost of living which means you can save much more of your paycheque.

/urther, -outh .orea&s excellent transportation network means exploring the country or the region is easy. (he government runs a special program aimed at recruiting naive 0nglish speakers into -outh .orea. (he EPIK program is contracted out to recruiters and agencies around the world. (he basic requirement you&ll need for one of these 1obs is a university degree, but a (0/ or some similar certificate is increasingly being sought. 2f you&re interested, visit the government site itself at http://www.epi .go. r or try Tea!h Awa"# I$!. 3r %ootpri$t& Re!r'iti$g. The (e$e)it& of the program include one week orientation and training, entrance and exit airfare, accommodation, pension and bonuses. 2f youre interested, theyll even enrol you in .orean language classes so you can hit the bars and chat up some folks. (hose benefits, if you&re interested and take advantage of them, will prepare you to either return to your home land and continue a similar career path or, if the travel bug has really taken hold, you&ll have that coveted experience to apply for other parts of the world.

*** +APAN 4roducers of the cute 5ello .itty brand and so many other popular animation programs, 6apan is one of the first countries that pops into mind when thinking about teaching 0- . (heir +ET programme has made it easy to go through. Their ,i$ i& http://www.-etprogramme.org. (his is a 6apanese government7sponsored effort to allure native 0nglish teachers from all over the world into public schools and offices throughout 6apan. (his is probably the oldest 0nglish7 recruiting program !running for over #$ years% and continues to be a popular choice among first7time 0- teachers. /urthermore, the +ET program is probably the widest in scope in terms of accepting 0nglish speakers. 3ther programs only accept native 0nglish speakers but the 60( program aims to bring in any qualified, fluent 0nglish speaker to 6apan for a year7long contract. 888 TAI.AN 0arthquakes rock this highly developed nation of

#9 million people. :nfortunately, (aiwan is plagued by unscrupulous businessmen parading around as caring private school principals. -ome chain schools have a high turnover rate, and that should serve as a warning. 5owever, there are lots of opportunities in (aiwan, particularly teaching younger kids. +sk around and do your homework to make sure you end up with a placement that will make your visit en1oyable for yourself, your employer, and, most importantly, for your students. 2ts a bustling country and the people are very friendly. +nd since half of the world is manufactured on this little island, finding Western amenities isnt a problem. 888 /IETNAM -teeped in both ancient and modern history, ;ietnam is quickly becoming a rising star in the southeast +sia 0- circuit. /orming part of the backpackers trail youll need to talk to a few different folks to get a sense for what the country and its people are like. 2f you stick to the tourist areas youll have one sort of experience, but move outside of the tourist areas and youll see a whole different ;ietnam. +lthough most of the 1obs are in the big cities, dont leave out the smaller cities during your search.

With <= million people in the country, a huge tourist industry, and an emerging economy, the demand for 0nglish teachers is rising. 2ncentives are attractive !>"?@$$Amonth B benefits%, the coffee is amaCing, and the cost of living is cheap, ;ietnam is rapidly becoming the 'new -outh .orea*. Dot only that, teaching in ;ietnam offers you excellent access to explore neighbouring countries aos, )ambodia, )hina and many more. 888

5ong .ong has recently 1umped on the bandwagon to lure 0nglish speakers to help educate their children. (hough not as established as the other government7sponsored programs above !http://www.e1(.go2.h %, 5ong .ong still needs more 0nglish teachers. 2f its your first time teaching 0nglish, maybe 5ong .ong wouldnt be such a bad place to start. +s with the above programs, you will need a university degree and a (0/ certificate to improve your chances of finding a 1ob. 888

HON0 KON0 0xpensive, but it might be worth it. 5ong .ong offers opportunities for the adventurous soul who wishes to see, experience, and learn all about )hinese culture while earning a generous salary. -ince their schools encourage bilingualism and trilingualism, 0nglish is big in demand. )losely connected with mainland )hina, teaching 0- in 5ong .ong gives you a hub from which to explore the rest of )hina !bearing in mind that most folks need entry visas to visit mainland )hina%. 5yper7 developed and a 'fast* city, you could consider the island to be 'WesterniCed*. 2n any event, you shouldnt have too much trouble finding the comforts or necessities of home.

CHINA (he pay in )hina is on the rise. 2t wasnt long ago that you could expect to live comfortably in the country but not save much. (hat seems to be changing. Eoull find memorable experiences whether you choose to stay in a city or move out into the country. )hinese students are very well behaved and disciplined when it comes to their eduction. (hey will respect you and be utterly thrilled !and maybe a bit scared% to have a foreigner teaching them. -ome )hinese placements have even begun offering a (0/ certificate upon completion of your contract. 5owever, if youre looking for a unique opportunity to teach 0- , 3i&$e" has

opened up a series of schools focused on learning 0nglish with the likes of Mickey Mouse, )inderella, and a host of other famous characters. /inally, if youre not a native 0nglish speaker, your chances of landing a 1ob here are actually better because of the demand for 0nglish speakers. SIN0APORE + democratic, 2slamic city7state, one of the shining stars of +sian growth in the last 9$ years. 3nce a backwater island, it&s now one of the biggest and most successful economies in +sia. 2t&s a well7connected transportation hub for +sia and around the world. (he great benefit of -ingapore is that many people speak 0nglish either as a first or second language. +s a result there won&t be much of a language barrier or much trouble asking for directions. 5owever, since 0nglish is one of the official languages this location might be best suited to teachers who have some experience. 4ay will be pretty good, around "9$$$ or more a month, but your cost of living is considerably more. 888 TEACHIN0 ES4 O%% THE BEATEN PATH IN ASIA

)onsider that the +sian continent has more than two billion people and if only #F learn 0nglish, that&s still G$ million people. 2n this section 2 want to show some of the places that many folks don&t consider right away, mainly because they don&t pay as well as some of the other countries already listed. Eoull often be making enough to live comfortably within the country but may not be able to save very much. (he requirements for some positions are a university degree and a (0/ certificate ,:( dont let that stop you from looking around and passing out your resume. (he 1obs often listed online will have a certain set of requirements but if you show up in person, youre better than an email contact. (hat being the case, some of the countries below offer (0/ certification either for a cheap price or in combination with your work. 888 MYANMAR +s the country moderniCes and opens itself up to tourists, people looking to cash in on the influx of tourists will need to learn 0nglish. (he ,ritish )ouncil runs a school in the country, but there are others in Eangon and Mandalay. +rranging a contract beforehand can help you secure a business visa, which means you can apply for a

business visa instead of a tourist visa. +nother option is to 2o,'$teer. Hue to the impoverished situation of much of the population, children are abandoned and left to live in orphanages. 2f youre willing to commit to a few months with minimal compensation, teaching in an orphanage could be a good test of your 0nglish teaching abilities. 3ne organiCation that needs teachers is tea!hm"a$mar.org. 888 CAMBO3IA 4repare for your heart strings to get pulled in this country as the devastation caused by the 4ol 4ot regime came right after the country was bombed during the ;ietnam war. (he country 1ust couldnt catch a break and the bombs kept falling while land mines filled the fields. (o this day, land mines are embedded in good farmland causing many gruesome casualties each year. Warnings aside, )ambodia is a country you will either love or hate. (he younger generation has only heard about the damage done, but the older generation lived through it. +s a result, you might detect a difference in attitude toward foreigners among different age groups. Whats clear,

however, is that the younger generation are optimistic and eager to improve their situation. 3ne of the ways they can do this is by learning 0nglish. 2 worked in an orphanage, S%O3A !Sa!ri)i!e %ami,ie& a$1 Orpha$& 3e2e,opme$t A&&o!iatio$%, for three weeks around the .hmer new year in +pril. 2 found the kids highly sociable and fun7loving, eager to learn and participate in class. 2 had a class of about #$ students, ranging from G to ?I. 2 was brought there mainly to teach while other volunteers !if there were any% would help out caring for the kids. 2 went through an agency to get my placement but, as 2 would find out once 2 got to )ambodia, you can find lots of places in need to help simply by asking at your guesthouse or looking through the classifieds in one of the 0nglish new papers. -ome folks 2 met went through the Pea!e Corp&, though there are other agencies you can go through that often ask for some money so they can place you. :se your 1udgment, for many of these countries an agency can be helpful but not necessary. I) "o'5re ,oo i$g to ma e mo$e", you can do that by freelancing or by applying to an international school. When 2 was there most

teachers were charging about "?$ an hour. 888

however, as ,orneo can offer a very different experience. 888

MA4AYSIA (his mixed ,uddhist, 2slamic and 5indu country is similar to (hailand in that there are lots of livable places to choose from. -ome say Malaysia is 'expensive* compared to its neighbours, but 2 found that it depended on what you did. 2f its drinking, yes, Malaysia is more expensive, but accommodation and activities are all similar in price through (hailand and Malaysia. +gain, it depends on where you want to be, as Malaysia doesnt pop into mind when folks think about -0 +sia. (hat being case, the Malaysian government is revving up its marketing engine to attract businesses and tourists with its 6Ma,a"&ia and /i&it Ma,a"&ia 7869 campaigns. With the tropical weather and ease of life among an eclectic mix of Malay, )hinese and 2ndian, youd be surprised that you could actually find a 1ob teaching 0nglish here since so many of its inhabitants already can speak very well. (he Briti&h Co'$!i, runs a school but there are quite a few private institutes that need 0nglish teacher. 3o$5t re&tri!t "o'r&e,) to the mai$,a$1,

THAI4AN3 2f theres one place that 1ust about everybody wants to go, its (hailand. (he affordable bloody cheap cost of living combined with gorgeous scenery, Western amenities and adventure travel all contained in one elongated country. (his is (hailand. While reverently holding their .ing in their hearts and minds, they welcome foreigners with open arms and smiles. +lthough you can snag contract 1obs with various private institutes and international schools, you can also find work in smaller towns or areas off the banana pancake7trail. Jemuneration isnt much, "?$$$Amonth, though some 1obs will offer you other benefits, but its enough to live comfortably and en1oy a decent standard of living. (ry a-ar$.!om for listings. *** BRUNEI (his small, 2slamic, monarch7controlled country

boasts huge reserves of oil and natural gas making it one of the richest countries in the world. 2ts probably best to see what the recruiters have to say about working in this country since work visas and permits can be difficult to obtain without sponsorship. 2ts not a very big country but the demand for 0nglish is there and landing a 1ob may depend heavily on your experience and qualifications. *** IN3ONESIA -preading itself over an almost impossible number of islands with the fourth largest population in the world, 2ndonesia is divided. (he west, primarily 2slamic, booms while the east, primarily 5indu, lags behind. -alaries seem to be increasing every year and the usual benefits are included in the contracts, though the medical system is a little behind Western standards. -ome employers have been known to hold onto foreign teachers passports for the duration of the contract. 2ndonesia may be one of those countries you want to visit first before committing to any contract. +a arta has swallowed many of the smaller cities around it, which means that although you can find a 1ob in '6akarta,* you might actually be on its

outskirts. +nother popular city for foreigners i Yog"a arta, in the centre of 6ava. Ba,i was home to a few folks who were working online for a company called E$g,i&h Tow$. 2f you arent too concerned about making money, there are a few volunteer organiCations that would love to have someone teach a few lessons or stay for a few months, Se o,ah Me$e$gah Ata& U$gg',a$ CT %o'$1atio$. 2t is based in Me1a$# S'matra. 888 PHI4IPPINES 5ere&s a country that&s actually producing 0nglish teachers that rival native 0nglish speakers. (here are two reasons for thisK first, /ilipinos speak proper 0nglish very wellL second, they will work cheaper than native 0nglish speakers. (ravel through south (hailand and you&ll meet any number of /ilipinos living there teaching 0nglish for much less than the native speakers. /urther, the 4hilippines is host to a siCeable online 0nglish program taught, of course, by /ilipinos. !3nline teaching is also something you might want to look into after your initial contract teaching abroad.% (he requirements for teaching in the 4hilippines

are much like those of other countries in the region. )ompetition will be tough, however, since much of their population already speak 0nglish well. 888 MON0O4IA -ituated in )entral +sia with a population of about 9 million, Mongolia offers landscape, and lots of it. 3kay, that&s over7simplifying it. ,ut the country is still developing and, as such, doesn&t have as much money to offer potential 0- teachers but makes up for it other ways. (here are volunteer opportunities if you&re interested in going down that route but 1obs also exist. (he best bet to find employment in a country like Mongolia is either to visit the country yourself !not 1ust for 1ob opportunities, but to siCe up the country% or do a search for 0- schools using the Mongolian Moogle.

.HERE TO 0O NE:T -o you&ve done a year !maybe more% of teaching 0- abroad. What next? :ltimately it&s up to you whether or not you stay in the 0- career or go back to what you were doing before or, simply, try something completely different. 2f you want to stay within the 0- career path, think about other parts of the world you&d like to go !the Middle 0ast has some of the best salaries available%, or teaching online either on your own or through a school. +side from that, you could tutor a few students while working another 1ob in your home country. Wherever you decide to go and whatever you decide to do, 2 hope the possibility of teaching 0- has opened your eyes to working and travelling around the world, both its possibilities, opportunities and pitfalls.

Planning a Class
If you're worried that you're not prepared enough for entering the classroom, below is a very general class outline. I learned this structure for a 1-hour class in South Korea and have used it ever since. An S! class typically consists of " or # parts$ 1) Introduction/Greeting %he introduction gives students a chance at a rehearsed section and some free-form conversation practice. %his wor&s for both younger and older students. %he best idea is to establish some sort of routine that can be followed for every class. 'or e(ample, a provide a standard )uestion*response$ +,ood morning*afternoon*evening- and allow the students to give the appropriate response. 'or starters, as& about the weather, the time, and the day and date. 'or older students you may want to as& about .obs and what it's li&e living in their country. /y doing so you'll be covering a topic familiar to the students while learning about your new home.

%he stronger students usually respond first but it helps to get the nerves out of the wea&er students by as&ing them a few simple )uestions. 0on1t drill them, but show them that it1s o&ay to spea& up and ma&e mista&es. %his will help their confidence. 2) Development %he development is usually split into two parts, each dealing with one or two of the four basic s&ills$ listening, spea&ing, reading, writing. 2ost schools will have a te(tboo& they want you to follow. 3ou will often be able to use the te(tboo& as a basis for an activity while modifying it slightly. %he typical structure of /4%5 development parts is$ introduce the material give an e(ample let the students to try as& if there are any )uestions and ensure everyone understand what's e(pected of them give them # minutes to wor& on the e(ercise and then spend # minutes as&ing students for their answers. Select both stronger and wea&er students, though it pays to let some stronger students go first.

3) Game/Activity All students love games if only because it ta&es the pressure off of the formal learning process. %he game section often has the following pattern$ introduction of the game e(ample e(planation of the rules play

the bell rings. If you have e(tra time, it pays to have a few )uic& games to play. :ord games, the chain letter game, hangman 6&ids !4; this game7, or anything that gets the students tal&ing and using their nglish will wor&. <<< %he duration of each section above is fle(ible and depends on the age group you're teaching. ither way, the &ids will appreciate it if you are well prepared to challenge them and ma&e their class as fun and interesting as possible.

Splitting the class into two teams is fun because it fosters competition, though ma&e sure you lay down the rules for misbehaviour. %he last thing you want is students yelling out answers, hitting each other 6it happens7, or getting overly e(cited and turning the classroom upside down. 4) Review Another easy part of the class and usually only 8 minutes until you can sit down and breathe a sigh of relief9 until your ne(t class begins in five minutes. As& one of the stronger students what they learned today, then select a wea&er student to give an answer. 5) E tra %here are times when you will finish your class early. As an S! teacher you1re e(pected to &eep your students wor&ing on their nglish s&ills until

Games
It's hard to be over-prepared as a teacher and one item you can always fall back on is games. Here are some easy games to use either to complement your class plan or if you have extra time at the end of class. These activities can be modified for all levels of students. Hangman Difficulty !eeeeeeeeally easy "ids love Hangman. It's simple# fun# competitive and# above all# it can be used as a filler for the last few minutes of class. Divide the class into teams and have them draws lots to see who goes first# second# third# etc. $e sure to lay down some rules for speaking out of turn since things can get out of hand and some students might feel cheated if they aren't given their proper time to make a guess. Think of a word and make a series of dashes corresponding to the number of letters in the word you've chosen. %o through the &first line' of each team. (or each wrong guess they make you draw one more part of the man. !epeat the process as necessary to save the guy from getting hanged.

Chain Alphabet Difficulty )ase to *edium +tarting at the beginning of the alphabet# ask each student to come up with a word that starts with that letter. To increase the difficult of this game all you have to do is limit the category to one or two ,fruits# animals# countries# etc.-. .nother way is to use a stop watch and time how long it takes the class to go through the entire alphabet. Word Chain Difficulty )asy to *edium $egin with one word and have the students go up to the board to write another word using the last letter. This game not only utili/es the students' vocabulary# but gives them a chance to practice their spelling and writing. Play a Song Difficulty *edium to Hard 0ick a song and find the lyrics. $efore class ,or 1uickly during class-# mark out a grid on the board. 2rite a series of words or sentences both from the song and that are made up. 0lay the song for the students. .t the end of the song# ask them which words or sentences they heard. 3ou can vary the difficulty of this game by using words# phrases or complete sentences# 4ust be aware of how much time you have to prepare.

Depending on the level of your students# you can use different songs that they may be familiar with or something that may be completely new to them. Review Circle Difficulty )asy to Hard The idea is to create a &race track' by drawing two circles or on the board. 0artition the racetrack with a series of s1uares. In every second or third s1uare# write down an activity# eg# sing a song# turn around five times# spell a word# look at a picture and make a proper sentence# etc. Dividing the kids into teams# use different colour pawns for each time. 5sing a dice# allow each student to roll the dice and move their team's pawn throughout the race track. 3ou can keep score either by the number of correct tasks performed or by the number of times each team makes it through the board. This game is best used as a review of material you've already covered so the students will recogni/e some of the cues to the 1uestions or tasks. (or many other games# do a search online or find some teaching books at your library. The games needn't be overly complicated# but it's best if their difficulty can be varied for different age levels ,that saves you from having to create multiple activities.-

Thank You
Thank you very much for reading this guide on teaching ESL abroad. I hope it has served you are more informed about teaching ESL abroad, especially in East Asia. Asia is a vast continent with a multitude of opportunities for those interested. As its countries and people step onto the global stage, even a visit to the continent will be well worth the effort. If you have any more uestion, comments or concerns, please get in touch with me. I do travel uite a bit and, depending on where I am at the time, it may take some time to get back to you. The best way to reach me is through email, stevensirski@gmail.com. !onsider your reasons for going and for staying where you are. Take your time and research as much as you can before you go. "our research will help you come to a decision that may help you get through the tough times, and there will be some# I hope you choose to go. It$ll be an eye%opening

e&perience and will certainly improve your life. 'inally, good luck, stay safe and... ()#