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English Language Teaching: Your Ticket to Life Abroad

English Language Teaching: Your Ticket to Life Abroad

Suzanne Bhagan
Last Updated Jul 03, 2025

Learn how YOU can find English language teaching jobs abroad. ☆ Over the last decade or so, English language teaching has exploded across the planet. Why do so many people want to do it? Why does English language teaching as a career rock? Maybe it’s because it’s so darn rewarding. It’s definitely not easy, but when you see your students finally get a complex grammar rule, you literally feel like a superhero. 

people inside the wooden house

In the classroom, you’ll experience many “a-ha” moments, especially because your students will say the most incredible things, and make you look at things you took for granted in a totally new light. Not only that, teaching English earns you a host of transferable skills: time management, public speaking, patience, negotiation skills, the list goes on and on!

English language teaching job FAQs

What is "English language teaching?"

Don’t think there’s a one-size-fits all approach to English language teaching though. In fact, the field is s=very diverse. You can volunteer to teach abroad, find a salaried teaching job in another country, work as an au pair, or even teach English as a second language in your home country. You can teach large classes, small groups, or have one on one time with students. You can choose to teach more formal classes in public and private schools or teach core literacy skills to underprivileged folk. You can teach little kids, business professionals, teenagers, or adults. You can choose to dip your toe in the water or dive in deep with a couple of years in the classroom. 

Why does English language teaching make a great job?

If there is just one thing, English language teaching as a career provides a lot of diversity when it comes to job opportunities. Who doesn’t love a career that opens up the whole world to them? Volunteer to teach monks in Thailand, and then spend another year teaching at a public school in Korea. Spend time mastering the subject at a posh international school in Dubai or Hong Kong. Do you really need any other reasons? After all, who wouldn’t love to get paid and travel!?

notebooks and pens and a highlighter stacked in front of a world map

Get ready to teach English abroad! Up that highlighter game fo’ real.

How can I make English language teaching my next job?

1. Become a Teaching Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering is one of the most popular ways to get started with English language teaching. If you’re not sure about it as a career and just want to give it a go, you can volunteer to teach for a couple of weeks or longer in a variety of countries around the world, particularly in developing countries that have a high need for English teachers. 

2. Find English Teaching Jobs Abroad

This is one of the most popular ways to travel the world and earn money. Get a 9 to 5 English teaching job at a public or private school, and then use your time off to really immerse yourself in the culture and explore all your location has to offer. 

3. Work Abroad as an Au Pair

Being an au pair is a great way to live with a family in a foreign country and teach English. As an au pair abroad, you will be expected to teach the family’s children English, and the family will provide you with free room and board, and perhaps a small stipend, in return. 

4. Look for Teaching Opportunities at Home

English language teaching doesn’t always mean packing a bag and moving overseas. Believe it or not, but you can find equally fulfilling English language teaching jobs in your home country, whether teaching English to newly arrived refugees or immigrants or working with native speakers that still need some help to master the language. You’ll have to search locally to find these opportunities, but they will be setting you up for a long career of English language teaching.

How can I find English language teaching programs abroad?

A teach abroad program can totally transform you or send you running to the hills. To avoid making expensive and regretful decisions, carefully read program reviews written by people who have actually done it. Talk to program alumni in forums. Bookmark, save, and compare programs side by side with #travelhacks never felt so easy.

Consider this: Are you prepared to give up certain creature comforts to teach in a developing country or does your lifestyle require the conveniences of a developed country? If you are ready to step outside of your comfort zone, learn why you should consider teaching English in a “less traveled” country. Make your desired lifestyle a priority in the decision making process.

Another important factor to consider when making this decision is whether you speak the language. In some places, speaking English alone won’t cut it. In fact, not being able to utter key phrases in the country’s native language can cause you to feel very isolated. You should probably choose a country based on your language abilities.

[Download This Free Ebook for First Time Teachers Abroad]

Awesome English language teaching programs to get you started

meddeas

1. Work as a Language Assistant in a Spanish School with Meddeas

Meddeas offers participants the chance to teach 20 to 24 hours per week as a language assistant in a local Spanish school. The program is very structured and lasts a full academic year. Teachers can work at any of 200 educational centers around Spain teaching children between the ages of two and 18.

  • Pros: The program promises a guaranteed monthly income (312-912 Euros), free TEFL training, and isn’t fussy about participants’ Spanish language competency. They also offer a university-certified course in bilingual education or TEFL. Teachers stay with a host family or have the option to find housing on their own. The cherry on top? There is no previous teaching experience required to participate.
  • Cons: Meddeas’ program is only open to American, European, Canadian, and Australian participants, and participants must be university students, students on a gap year, or have recently graduated from college (in the last four years). 
  • More info: Read reviews of Meddeas
travel bud

2. Teach English in Korea with TravelBud

Those who want to teach English abroad and earn a competitive salary should teach English in Korea with TravelBud. This provider offers placements across the country and throughout the year, with 24/7 support to all teachers while in country. All schools undergo background checks and all teachers must be TEFL certified to be placed.

  • Pros: Salaries are competitive (up to $2300 per month), and TravelBud offers free accommodation, free flights, and an end of contract severance pay. You don’t even need to have any teaching experience to apply. If you aren’t TEFL trained, TravelBud can provide you with a 120 hour online training course.
  • Cons: TravelBud’s program is only open to people who have completed a bachelor degree in any field, and there are some fees required to participate.
  • More info: Read reviews of Travel Bud 

Want More? Check out these 10 Highest Paid Teaching Jobs

Are you ready to make English language teaching your future? 

English language teaching jobs are not to be missed.

English language teaching jobs are not to be missed.

Join thousands of people around the world who’ve made the choice and never looked back and brace yourself for the adventures to come! It is time to find the program that suits you best.

Look for the Perfect Teaching Program Abroad Now

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