St Patrick's Day Country

If you have done any research into teaching English in Europe it is likely that you have read something about the Schengen Area that is made up of 26 countries with a combined population of over 400 million people. Set up in 1985, the Schengen Area has essentially removed all border controls between member countries allowing the free movement of people within the whole area. Prior to this, anyone wanting to travel between any country in the area would need to go through full passport checks at every border they wanted to cross. Now TESOL teachers are free to travel at will across the Schengen Area without any restrictions. Please note that the Schengen Area should not be confused with the European Union which is a separate institution. Once you have entered any country that is a...  [Read more]

In the vast majority of cases, ESL teachers will need to obtain some form of visa to enter their destination country. What specific visa you need is wholly dependent on the rules and regulations of your host country, so you should contact the relevant embassy or take a look at their website to make sure you have all the correct information. Below we outline the most common forms of visa you are likely to come across. Tourist visas are typically issued to people who only plan on a short visit and do not intend to work or study. This type of visa comes in many different forms depending on the host country and your own country of origin. The 'upon entry' tourist visa is the most common and this is issued upon arrival at the airport immigration desk. For example, US citizens arriving in...  [Read more]

Costa Rica has much to offer those who choose to teach ESL in this part of Central America. A tropical climate, picturesque beaches, exotic wildlife and pristine rainforest are just some of its many attractions. But what visa do you need to live and work in the country? Unlike many other popular teaching destinations, it is technically legal for foreign teachers to work in Costa Rica on a standard tourist visa. Most nationalities, including Americans, Canadians and Western European citizens, are given a 90 day visa on arrival at the airport. Once the visa expires you can simply cross into a neighboring country and then get a new one on your way back into the country. When you first arrive in Costa Rica you are not legally allowed to work until you have registered for a tax number...  [Read more]

Taiwan is an increasingly popular teaching destination as it offers good salaries and a relatively low cost of living, as well as a highly developed infrastructure and a stable economy. If you are a native English speaker with a TESOL certification you should have no problem landing a teaching job in a public school or a privately owned language academy. Positions can be found in all parts of the country, but the largest markets are in big cities such as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan. Your expected salary in Taiwan will be heavily influenced by your qualifications and your previous teaching experience. It is quite common to pay an hourly rate rather than a fixed salary, with rates starting at around 600 NTD (currently $20 US). If you have plenty of experience, you might be...  [Read more]

Asia is without doubt the most popular region for teaching English abroad and there are many different countries to choose from, each offering its own attractions. South Korea has many reasons for attracting teachers from all over the world and one of the most important is the huge number of potential jobs available all over the country. As well as an abundance of jobs, Korea is also a highly developed country with excellent infrastructure, a relatively low cost of living, a low rate of crime, and some of the best average salaries in the region. Many jobs come with extra benefits such as paid accommodation and airfares, which means that saving a good chunk of your income is not only possible, but actually the norm. However, to help you decide which part of the country would be best...  [Read more]

Once the capital of the Incan empire, Cusco is rich in the history of the Incas and the Spanish colonialists and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city serves as the gateway to Machu Picchu, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and is a great base from which to explore the wider region. A number of day and weekend trips can be planned from the city as well as treks and adventure tours to surrounding sites such as Sacsaywaman, Q’oricancha, and the Sacred Valley and local villages. In the city itself you can visit the many fascinating museums and historical sites as well shop at the numerous local markets. Our training centre in Cusco, peru has modern facilities and well-equipped classrooms. Teaching practice is done with real Spanish-speaking students to give...  [Read more]

While English is commonly taught in schools across Russia, the standard of teaching is generally quite low. Due to this poor standard, many Russians choose to learn English once they have left school as a way to improve their job prospects. Many parents also send their children for private lessons outside of school hours. This high demand means there are job opportunities in most parts of the country, although the biggest markets are found in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As Russia is so vast in size, salaries can be very different in different parts of the country. Private language schools offer the majority of teaching jobs and these usually pay an hourly rate which typically equates to around $650 per month for a newly qualified teacher. If you have previous experience you can expect...  [Read more]

Most foreign ESL teachers working in South Korea are employed by government run public schools or private language academies known as hagwons. Both of these employers typically offer a good salary and a range of extra benefits, but there are some differences between the two that might lead you to choose one over the other. Both types of employers hire the majority of their teachers in advance from within their own country. Public school recruitment follows a set timetable that has two start dates each year. Applications for the start date in August/September need to be filed online beginning in April. The application process for the February/March start date begins in October. A large percentage of teachers who work in public schools are recruited via a government program known as...  [Read more]

ITTT’s Guatemala tesol course takes place in the beautiful city of La Antigua. A popular place for tourists and locals alike, La Antigua sits at 1,500 (5,000 feet) meters above sea level and its well preserved colonial buildings and cobblestone streets lie in the shadow of the magnificent Agua Volcano. Visiting Guatemala is like visiting another time and place. With its historic architecture, fascinating ruins and volcanic landscape it is easy to see why La Antigua has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s central highland location make it the ideal base for exploring further afield, with trips to the Pacific coast, Lake Atitlan and the Mayan ruins at Tikal just a few hours away. Our TESOL course in La Antigua offers you the chance to study in a thriving city...  [Read more]

There are many reasons why the Czech Republic is a very popular destination for teaching English abroad including its warm and friendly people, a fascinating cultural heritage, and some of the best beer in the world. One other crucial factor for many teachers is that it is possible for non-EU citizens to obtain a long-term work visa, which is not always the case in some other parts of Europe. The most common method is to enter the Czech Republic on a standard 90 day tourist visa and then start the application process from within the country. Most teachers apply for a Zivnostensky List (Zivno), which is essentially a business license that permits you to work for any school you choose. The application can be made at a government zivnostensky office in person or you can use a local...  [Read more]

EPIK stands for the English Program in Korea. This government run scheme places foreign teachers into schools across South Korea where they work as English language instructors. EPIK is probably the most popular program of its kind anywhere in the world as it includes a good salary, several extra benefits, and the once in a lifetime chance to live and work in a unique cultural environment. If you are accepted by the program you will join the thousand or so others who head to South Korea each year via this route. If this is something you might be interested in, we recommend you contact our TESOL recruitment partner Reach To Teach. Reach To Teach is an official partner of the EPIK program and works with the Korean Ministry of Education during the recruitment process. Applicants for the...  [Read more]

The simple answer to this question is YES, it is now common for TESOL qualified teachers to work exclusively online while traveling from place to place or while spending an extended time in one location. Internet download speeds continue to increase in most countries around the world, including many that you might think are off limits. There are also plenty of different employers targeting the online teaching market, with more starting up on a regular basis. With countless potential employers and no shortage of possible destinations, there has never been a better time to leave your stale nine to five behind. However, which countries offer the best visas for a long-term stay. Visa length: Up to 60 days Bali has long been a popular tourist hotspot and a stop on the backpacker trail,...  [Read more]

  The ITTT TEFL course in Colombia gives you the opportunity to learn how to teach English in one of Latin America’s brightest stars and the gateway to South America. Colombia is a country filled with unique landscapes and innovative cities, cultural and gastronomic delights, and villages surrounded by imposing mountains. It is a country of diversity with places that only exist in Colombia. For lovers of nature and extreme sports, the three mountain ranges of the Colombian Andes are an excellent setting for climbing or walking trails. For water sports, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Coast offer some of the world’s best surfing and snorkeling, and our lakes and reservoirs in the interior of the country are great for fishing and rafting. Colombia has everything; Caribbean...  [Read more]

The ancient city of Corinth is home to our Greek TESOL international training facility. Here we can offer an internationally recognized certificate for successful students, which is for 120 hours over a four week course with 10 hours of teaching practice. Our course is run by fully qualified, experienced trainers in an environment conducive to successful learning. Your course fees will cover the course, all materials required to plan and produce your lessons, accommodation and a ‘meet and greet’ at Corinth railway station. Once you have successfully completed the course, we will offer assistance in gaining employment. Known as the gateway of the Peloponnese, Corinth is the second largest city in the Peloponnese region and is situated 50 miles from the Greek capital, Athens. Typically...  [Read more]

ITTT has a highly-respected in-class TESOL course that is available in many different locations around the world. To help you decide which location is best for you we have given a brief overview of our options in each of the major regions below. We would recommend doing your own thorough research in terms of visas and other regulations required for you to attend a four-week training course in another country. As Asia contains the largest markets for English language teachers, there are plenty of centers to choose from throughout the region. Despite recent changes that have taken place in China, there are still some locations to choose from there. Other popular Asian options are Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Our...  [Read more]

Our tesol course in Mexico is located in the nation’s most southern state, Chiapas. The beautiful Pacific Ocean is to the south, while Tabasca (north), Veracruz (north-west), Oaxaca (west) and Guatemala (east) share borders with Chiapas. The TESOL training centre is based n the small colonial town of Chiapa de Corzo. The town is often overlooked, which if anything adds to its easy going, provincial charm. Despite this, there is no doubting its beauty and attraction, something that was heavily emphasized in a recent edition of the Mexico Lonely Planet. You will be welcomed into the community after only a couple of days, as despite being on the routes of most tour-bus companies, most trips are restricted to one day. If you are there two days in a row, you are one of them! The tourism is...  [Read more]

Every year tens of thousands of people from all over the world and from all different backgrounds choose to sign up for a TESOL certification course, and each one has their own personal reasons for doing so. Many are looking to change their whole life direction and intend to use English teaching as their new path, while for many others it offers a great way to earn some cash while traveling the world. For every one person that takes the leap there are many others who are still weighing up their options. If this applies to you, here are some of the most common reasons why we think it is time you made the move into TESOL. No matter what your job or career path, it is common to hit a point where it all becomes mundane and repetitive. What better way to make a change to the humdrum than...  [Read more]

Before we go any further with this question, we first need to make an important distinction. Your number of teaching hours (known as contact hours) will not be the same as the number of hours you will be expected to actually be in school (known as contract hours). Most teaching jobs include admin duties on top of the actual teaching time. We also need to make it clear that different types of ESL teaching jobs have different typical classroom hours. Here we look at the three most common types of jobs available. In the majority of cases, overseas schools work normal office hours. This means that you should expect to be in school, Monday to Friday, from around 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This rough timetable adds up to around 40 hours per week. Of course, not all those hours will be...  [Read more]

Cambodia is an increasingly popular destination for teaching English abroad. Phnom Penh is home to the largest market for foreign teachers. Other smaller cities such as Siem Reap, Battambang, and Sihanoukville are also worth a look if you prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. One reason for its growing popularity is that a 4-year degree is not an official requirement for living and working in the country. Because of this, Cambodia is a great place for new teachers to find a job that will give them the experience necessary to work in more lucrative countries in the future. Others choose Cambodia simply because it is a little off the beaten track and offers plenty of adventure. Your expected earnings in Cambodia will depend on your level of teaching experience,...  [Read more]

Located in the heart of the tropics, Malaysia is a rapidly developing country that has a diverse culture, great food, and plenty of ESL jobs for those with experience. However, as there is no shortage of local English language teachers, the competition for many available positions can be strong. Malaysia cannot compete with other Asian countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea when it comes to salaries as the monthly average income is only around $1,000. However, the cost of living is relatively low in comparison to some other parts of the region, which means this figure can spread quite far if you live within your means. The big bonus is that many jobs include free accommodation or a housing subsidy which removes the biggest monthly expense from your budget. It is common...  [Read more]