Teaching Internationally FAQ
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Why Teach Internationally?
Financial benefit: Are you drowning in student loan debt, and a teacher’s salary in your home country isn’t paying the bills? When you teach internationally, your housing is usually paid for, and the cost of living is much less than in your home country. Educators usually end up saving more.
See the World and Grow: Teaching internationally opens up the door to the world! Maybe you are a novice teacher just starting out or a veteran teacher disillusioned with the system; teaching internationally is an opportunity to expand and develop your teaching practice while seeing the world.
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How much can I expect to earn teaching overseas?
This all depends on your experience, qualifications, if you plan on teaching at a public, private, or international school, and the country you teach in. Keep in mind these are estimated salaries based on my personal experience. Don't take my word for it alone, and always conduct your own research for specific roles.
Here is a rough breakdown of what to expect, based on my time teaching abroad:
Southeast Asia: $700 - 5,000+ per month
The Middle East: $1,500 - $6,000+ per month
Again, all prices are estimates of an expected monthly salary based on my experience in the industry.
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What other benefits do international employers offer?
When considering an international teaching role, you'll generally find a range of benefits. Typically, airfare or a ticket to your host country is provided. Some employers may reimburse the cost of your visa, so it's always wise to clarify this. Beyond initial travel, many schools offer annual airfare to and from your country of origin.
Financial incentives often include relocation allowances and signing bonuses. Additionally, some contracts include end-of-service or contract completion bonuses, paid out when you fulfill your agreement.
Expect decent health insurance coverage. Accommodation is another benefit, provided as a housing allowance or direct accommodations. For teachers with families, some schools offer full or partial tuition for dependents.
Finally, you'll generally contribute to a pension or retirement plan in your host country through the government. Often, the employer matches your contribution for each year you're in the country, and you typically cash out these funds upon your final exit or departure.
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What qualifications do I need to teach overseas?
Again, this depends on the country and the school you teach at.
At a minimum, you’ll need a bachelor's degree with a 120-hour TEFL Certificate for teaching English at a private school or public school.
To teach at an international school, you’ll usually need a bachelor's degree or higher related to education and a teaching license.
There are, of course, exceptions to this depending on the school and the country's policies and procedures related to work visas.
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What are the different types of schools looking for international teachers?
Public Schools: Public schools, usually host country government programs, employ NETs or Native English Teachers to teach English in the public school system. It is a great way to get started in the international teaching circuit.
Private Schools: Privately owned schools are usually for-profit and specialize in English language teaching or teaching content.
International Schools: Accredited institutions, usually with a high student body made up of expatriates.
University Positions: Generally, a master's degree or higher is required for international university positions.
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When is the best time to apply for an international teaching position?
Again, this also depends on the host country and the school. In Korea, hiring season is twice a year, in August and September, and then again in February and March. Private schools or hagwons tend to hire year-round, but that is usually a sign that a teacher left their contract early, or they are a growing school that did not anticipate an influx of learners.
International schools tend to have a school year similar to the United States or Europe.