Is it possible to teach abroad without any kind of
formal experience? While the answer is yes, it does not mean that you should
ideally do it. However, in order to land a proper ESL job placement, what is essential is some amount of training,
background knowledge, and a lot of practice. These three things are essential
for helping an ESL teacher progress
from a career of no experience to one of inexperience which makes for a good
starting point.
As is the case in most jobs today, a candidate gets
hired for his attitude after which he is given the requisite support and
training to develop. However, many still live in the fear of not being
sufficiently qualified or fear that the kind of experience they have is
insufficient for becoming an overseas teacher. Building an ESL job career overseas can prove a daunting proposition, but you
should not disqualify yourself in the fear of the unknown. In this post, we
look to dispel some of the concerns, but we have often come across where
candidates with a TEFL certificationonline have shied away from taking up overseas assignments because they
were convinced that they were not experienced enough for the role.
Qualifications
Have you completed a bachelor’s degree? It does not
matter in which field, as long as your English is fluent and with minimal
errors you can go ahead and submit the online application. You never know, 15
minutes could be all that stands between you and a career-altering discovery!
Country Requirements
If you are planning on teaching English abroad
without any experience, you will need to hold a passport of one of the following
seven countries – South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, UK, or
the US. Trying to fool the system here would be an inappropriate thing to do
and your passport will help you get the required seal of approval.
Hands-On Experience and Teaching Licenses
It is not always necessary to have relevant hands-on
experience as a teacher before submitting the application for an ESL job
placement. In order to become a
teacher of English as a second language, investing in a recognized TEFL certification online is a more
recommended way forward.
TEFL Qualification
A standard TEFL course runs for 120 hours. You need
to complete this in order to meet the entry-level requirements to proceed with
the selection process. Following this, you will be in a better position to land
an ESL teacher job in a country that may or may not be your first choice but
give you the foothold you need to make your way forward in the ESL job career.
Knowledge Holds True Power
There was a time when information was available only
from newspapers, schools and libraries. Today, the advent of technology has
brought the libraries and opportunities from around the world into the small of
our palms. Why is it then, that with all the plethora of information at our
disposal, we continue to find ourselves in an indecisive position about the
whole idea of living and teaching abroad?
The key lesson or takeaway here is that you should
realize the potential offered by having knowledge. If you need to invest time
in completing an online course or reading a book that propels you towards your
goals, ensure you make the commitment because it will be worth it and no time
spent studying ever gets wasted.
How to tailor your resume without teaching experience
Many employers today are on the lookout for
transferable skills that can come in handy for the candidate when he/she is
working in the classroom. While you are still lacking in terms of classroom
experience, if you have any of the experiences listed below, they will come in
very handful.
- - Experience
in working with children
- - Experience
in traveling or living abroad
- - Experience
specific to an industry such as business English or IT
- - Experience
in volunteering
- - Any
other experience that involves a classroom
For example, if you have some kind of prior experience
as a tutor or camp counselor, it will give you an edge since you have some
amount of skill in working with children. Or if you have done some traveling
and volunteering abroad, employers are likely to consider you a better fit
where you won’t be quitting midway or feel homesick. Also, you have been a
student in life and have experience in understanding the classroom. It is
probably not farfetched to think that you are aware of all the drills usually
carried out in a classroom.
Moreover, if you have some kind of specialized
knowledge that is focused on a learning environment or specific industry such
as teaching adult learners or business English, ensure that you put it forward
clearly in your application. Employers will always be interested in knowing
more about the skills you possess in relation to the students you will be
teaching as an ESL teacher. Showcasing the same will go a long way towards
helping you with your ESL job placement.
What do you do next?
Schools and countries looking for English teachers
will hire you simply because you can already speak the language and not because
you have decades of teaching experience to showcase for yourself. However, that
does not mean you go in unprepared into the job. If you are looking to build
some experience before signing a contract, you can always consider the large
number of options available for teaching English online. This is a great means
by which you can earn some additional cash in your spare time while also
gaining the relevant experience that will actually help you go ahead and become
an English teacher in other countries without requiring you to physically fly
out to the location.
When it comes to an ESL job career, there are also local postings you can look into.
Opportunities are always available in plenty closer to home as long as you know
where to look. This way you can build up your experience and determine whether
you have what it takes to handle the rigors of teaching an International
classroom.
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