Why should I study TESOL?

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.

To shake things up

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 gaining an internationally recognized qualification that allows you to work in almost any country worldwide, including your own. By adding a good quality TESOL certificate to your portfolio you will be in a great position to apply for a wide range of international teaching jobs in schools and training centers, or with online platforms if working from home is your goal.

For the lifestyle

One thing that ESL teaching allows you to do is completely change your day to day lifestyle, no matter what specific teaching path you take. If online teaching is your dream, then you should find you are free to choose how many hours you teach and exactly what time of day, as online TESOL can often be a 24/7 option. As your students could be from anywhere in the world, you should be able to fit your working hours around any other commitments you already have, something that is impossible with most jobs. If you want to teach overseas you can choose to work for a language center rather than a mainstream school, which will allow you to work more during the evenings and weekends and leave your days free to do as you please.

To make money

ESL teaching is a genuine job option in most parts of the world and in the majority of countries you can expect to earn more than the national average. This is also true for new TESOL course graduates, many of whom will have no problem finding a job that pays enough to live a good lifestyle and even to put some money aside. In some areas such as the Middle East or East Asia it is possible to earn a large, sometimes tax-free, income that also includes some very attractive bonuses including free housing and paid flights. Although the top jobs will often require some amount of classroom experience, a very competitive salary is a realistic goal for most TESOL qualified teachers.

For the culture

Being free to experience and learn from other cultures is a part of life that is particularly special to many ESL teachers and with a TESOL certificate there is nothing to stand in your way. By choosing an overseas destination you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy local music, art, fashion, food, architecture, and whatever else interests you. Whether your location of choice is Argentina, Italy, the UAE, or South Korea, you are sure to find plenty of job options that allow you to spend as long as you like within the culture of your choice.

To learn a language

Believe it or not, one of the biggest motivations for teaching English abroad is the opportunities it brings for learning a second language for yourself. It is common knowledge that the best way to learn any language is to be immersed in it for an extended period of time and teaching English abroad certainly gives you that no matter what your chosen language. By living and working in any country you are certain to pick up the local language to some extent without even trying. However, if you want to become fluent there is no better way than by living among native speakers for a year or more.

For the satisfaction

It is always worth remembering that teaching a foreign language can be a very rewarding experience, unlike many other jobs you might have had in the past. Being able to witness the improvement in your students' language, partly due to your own hard work, is something you are unlikely to forget. Many teachers decide that a spell of volunteer teaching is also well worth considering, as the impact you can have on the lives of people in less wealthy countries can be truly moving. Although we all like to get paid well at the end of the month, also gaining satisfaction from your endeavors is something that many people can only dream about.

To smarten up your resume

For some TESOL course graduates their teaching adventure can last for many years, while for others it is a short-term thing that ends with a return home to whatever career or study is waiting for them. Whatever your future holds, adding some classroom teaching experience in an overseas country to your CV/resume is something you will never regret. It will show potential employers that you are a motivated and open-minded person who is not afraid to put themselves out of their comfort zone. Not to mention the fact that your time overseas involved helping other people to reach their full potential.