According to teach abroad expert, Dave Sperling, of Dave’s ESL Café, getting experience and certifications for teaching abroad is more important than ever. In an interview with student traveler, Sperling says:
I think ESL is much more of a career now. And it’s also a lot more competitive too. The good jobs, certainly. And if you want to work in places like Japan or the Middle East, having a TOEFL certification is very important.
So you want to teach English abroad, but you need to know how to get certified to teach abroad – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. A teach abroad certificate is easier to get than you think, and these days, you can do most of the work online!
There are loads of degrees and certificates available online that will not only make it easier to get a job teaching English overseas, but they will also help you to be a better teacher and feel more comfortable in the classroom.
These are a few of the most popular certifications available:
- EFL – English as a Foreign Language. English as taught in a region where the native language is not English many universities and companies offer certifications for teaching EFL.
- TESL / TESOL / TEFL – A certificate of Teaching English as a Second Language for Speakers of Other Languages – this certificate will usually qualify you to teach English in most universities abroad.
- CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. Issued by an institution affiliated with Cambridge University, this is probably the most widely recognized and widely obtained teaching certificate.
Of course, you can always get your masters degree in education or ESL. This will definitely give you a leg up on the competition, and when you get tired of traveling the world (yeah right) you’ll be able to get a job teaching back home.
These are some good websites that can help you to get certified.
As always, check out Student Traveler for more information on Teaching English Abroad, and getting certified in TEFL, CELTA, etc.
