Teach Abroad Programs

May 31.2018.

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If you’re a recent graduate, gap year enthusiast, or simply want to avoid adulting for a while, teaching English abroad might appeal to you! There are dozens of companies that will help you jump on a plane and become an ESL teacher (English as a second language); you just have to “shop around” and decide where you want to go.

Teaching English abroad is beneficial in numerous ways. First of all, you get to travel to a different country! It may seem daunting at first to drop everything to work on a different continent, but think of it as a once in a lifetime opportunity and a resume booster. With travel comes new perspectives. You get to experience how another culture lives, eats, communicates, and educates their youth. As a teacher, you are also a role model and an ambassador, so do your best to create a positive image of yourself and your country!

After studying in Seville and graduating college, returning to Spain and teaching English as a language assistant was my top priority. I applied to two companies, CIEE and BEDA, and was accepted with CIEE Teach in Spain. I renewed my visa to stay a second year with the North American Language and Culture Assistants to avoid program fees.

Your hours, compensation, benefits, and pre-departure assistance will vary between programs. The most important advice I could give to any prospective teacher abroad is to stay on top of deadlines and paperwork! You may feel like pulling your hair out with visa preparation, but if you do your research and stay organized, I promise it will be worth it in the end! The following is a list of teach abroad programs and resources you can use to ignite your search and begin your new adventure:

TEACH IN SPAIN

CIEE Teach Abroad

CIEE offers teach and volunteer abroad programs in ten different countries: Spain, Chile, Portugal, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic and Morocco.

Most of CIEE’s programs require that you have a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) and experience with children is a plus. The full school year programs range between ten and twelve months, but you can also teach for one semester in Thailand and China if you wish. Take a look at their programs HERE.

The CIEE Teach in Spain program helped me obtain my visa before departing and support their participants once you arrive in Spain. Orientation covers everything you need to know such as setting up a bank account, finding an apartment, getting a transportation card, etc. The program fee covered everything from pre-departure assistance to lodging the first two weeks after arriving. TEFL certification is optional before departure. Language assistants teach four days a week and earn €1000 per month, which is enough to cover basic expenses and still have money to travel!

North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain (NALCA)

NALCA offers placements all over Spain and you are given a placement on a first come, first served basis. If you know you’d like to teach with NALCA, do your best to be at the top of the list so you get your first choice.

NALCA requires that you are a native English or French speaker and have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Navigating NALCA’s online platform, PROFEX, can be challenging. Get familiar with their website and make sure you read EVERYTHING while you’re applying. Teachers work about twenty hours a week and earn about €1000 a month, like CIEE. You can find NALCA’s website HERE.

BEDA

BEDA hires language assistants to teach in Catholic schools primarily in Madrid. Assistants are required to take classes through the Universidad Pontífica de Comillas once a week in addition to teaching. Compensation depends on how many hours your school needs you, between 18 and 24 hours a week.

Jessica of Curiosity Travels taught with the BEDA program and wrote some useful posts for prospective BEDA teachers here and here. There is a small enrollment fee upon acceptance to the program, but not as much as CIEE. Enthusiastic BEDA teachers can renew their positions numerous times. Check out their website HERE.

Instituto Franklin

Instituto Franklin, or the Franklin Institute offers a unique program combining English teaching and earning a one year master’s degree through the Universidad de Alcalá. Classes for the master’s are a mix of online and in person classes once a week in Alcalá de Henares, outside of Madrid central. You can earn a degree in Bilingual Education, Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, and others.

To participate in The Franklin Institute program, you must be a native English speaker, have a B.A. and at least a B1 level of Spanish. Classes for the master’s program are taught in English and Spanish. Teaching hours in Madrid schools range from 18 to 24 hours. I have two friends who completed a masters and taught with the Franklin Institute! Learn more details about applying through this blog post or their website HERE.

UCETAM

UCETAM language assistant positions are located all around the Comunidad de Madrid. Teaching hours range from 18 to 26 depending on the school and the program will help you with the visa process. Requirements include being a native English speaker and having a bachelor’s in any subject. Prior experience with children is a plus! To apply, make sure you have a CV and a letter of recommendation. More information is available on their website HERE.

Meddeas

If you are a native English, German, or French speaker, you are already eligible to teach with Meddeas! The program welcomes all degrees and doesn’t require previous teaching background experience. Meddeas is unique because you can choose to live with a host family who is linked to your school. This is a great way to experience full immersion outside of the classroom.

Like most language assistant programs in Spain, Meddeas requires 20-24 hours of teaching a week and your role is to assist the main teacher by promoting conversational English and culture. You will be placed in a public or private school and be assigned a tutor to help you with your role and supervise your work. For more information on Meddeas, visit their website HERE.

COMO Consulting

If you are planning to move to Spain to teach, COMO Consulting is your new bible. They cover everything from how to obtain your visa to what to ask your Spanish landlord. I downloaded their Moving to Spain ebook before departing for Madrid and it helped immensely! Check them out HERE.

TEACH IN SOUTH KOREA

EPIK

EPIK (English Program in Korea) hires citizens from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, and South Africa. You must have a bachelor’s degree and are not required to have a TEFL certificate if you already hold a teaching license. Placements are offered in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Jeju, Ulsan, and others. You will have an orientation upon arrival in Korea and receive many benefits including a competitive salary, free furnished housing, entrance and exit allowances, medical insurance and more.

Your duties as an EPIK teacher are to assist teachers with their English classes, prepare teaching materials, conduct conversation classes for students and teachers, and any other assigned tasks. My friend Anna taught with EPIK for a couple years and loved her experience. Read about her here. If you’d like more information about the EPIK program, visit their website HERE.

CIEE Teach in South Korea

CIEE’s fee to teach English covers pre and post departure assistance, airport pickup, enrollment in a TEFL certification course, job placement, an orientation in Seoul and more. You can choose to work in en EPIK public school or a private school which requires more hours (about 30/week). You must commit to a 12 month contract, have a bachelor’s in any degree, and be a native English speaker. A degree in English, experience instructing children, or working/volunteering abroad will boost your application. Read more information HERE.

Greenheart Travel

Ultimately you apply through the EPIK program, but Greenheart Travel is a non-profit program that guides you through the application process as well as in Korea. They will help you expedite your documents, prepare you for interviews, host monthly webinars, and much more. Check out their website HERE. Greenheart Travel offers English teaching opportunities in Chile, Thailand, China, Italy, Myanmar, Columbia, France, and Vietnam.

TEACH IN CHINA

CIEE Teach in China

CIEE offers teaching placements Chongqing and Shanghai with free accommodation. The program fee covers TEFL certification before departure (required) along with pre-departure support, survival Mandarin classes, a guide book, orientation, visa guidance, and more.

Workloads are lighter if you work in a public school, but your pay will be lighter as well. However, with low expenses and free accommodation you will live comfortably with a salary twice that of a local teacher. Work hours range from 18 to 40 hours per week depending on if you work with kindergarden, private, or university students. Read more HERE.

EF English First

EF offers limited teaching positions throughout China including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Chongqing. You have the opportunity to teach children, adults, or students online. Requirements to teach through English First include having a bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certification, a clean background check, ability to live in China for at least one year, and a passport from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.

EF offers airport pickup, a free hotel for the first two weeks after arrival, health insurance, ESL certification, weekly social and cultural events, a flight allowance, a competitive salary, a performance bonus, and more. To learn more, visit their website HERE.

Greenheart Travel

Teaching in China with Greenheart Travel is free and offers teaching placements in Fuzhou, Beijing, and Shenyang. You can choose to work nights and weekends in a private school or normal hours in a public school. Greenheart offers visa assistance, free accommodation, a flight reimbursement, and contract bonuses. They recommend that you begin your visa process at least four months before departure. Read more about them HERE.

VIPKID

If living in China isn’t a possibility for you, consider teaching Chinese students online! VIPKID classes are 25 minutes long per student. Teaching with VIPKID has many benefits including pre-planned lessons, ability to set your own hours, decent pay, and working wherever there is Internet.

To teach with VIPKID, you must have a bachelor’s degree, be a native English speaker from the USA or Canada, and a strong internet connection. You are more likely to be chosen for an interview if you have experience with young children whether that be in the classroom, at a summer camp, etc. I teach through VIPKID and love it! Read more about their requirements, application process, and payment HERE.

OTHER TEACH ABROAD PROGRAMS

There is an overwhelming amount of resources, websites, and information online regarding teaching English overseas and earning TEFL certificates. You can teach just about anywhere including Argentina, Vietnam, Russia, Thailand, France, Italy, Indonesia, the Dominican Republic, Portugal, and so many more. Here is a short list of options that may spark your interest: