A Realistic Guide for Teaching English Overseas

Twelve Super Directories to help you

Before you go:
Make a Decision and Find a Good TEFL Job
1. Learn about teaching English overseas
2. Make an informed decision about going
3. Know where and how to get started
4. Find your first EFL teaching job
5. Accept your first job - what to know first

Plan your Move and Arrive Overseas
6. Organize your life for moving overseas
7. Make the actual move
 
Plan for Success while Overseas:
8. On the Job - in your new country
9. Plan for a long stretch overseas
10. Plan for quality medical care overseas
11. Plan for your financial success
12. Plan a successful return home
and Find more information about TEFL

Click on the Scrolling Directory   Directory 

Part One:

Learn about Teaching Overseas

Is Teaching English Overseas appropriate for me?
What qualities are needed to succeed?

How much can I earn or save?

Is there job security?

What are my chances of landing a “decent” job?

What types of jobs are available?

Is it possible to find a job teaching for only a few months?  For a few years?  For the rest of my life?

Who does this kind of work and why?

What if I don’t speak the language where I want to go?

How long will it take me to find a job?

I hear only bad things about teaching overseas!  Do people respect the occupation?  Is this business full of misfits?

Can TEFL Overseas be a “real” career?

What if I am not young, white, thin, blonde, native-speaking, straight, or ?

What if I don’t have teaching experience?

What if I don’t have a degree or TEFL training?

What kind of quality of life can I expect?

Part Two:

How to Make the Best Decision for You

Where can I find good advice from someone who has nothing to sell?

Will I need some training first?

What do I bring to the table?  Finding your “special” skills.

What if I have children?  What about my partner/spouse?

How to search the job market – possible jobs – possible countries.  How would I decide?

How “safe” is life overseas for single women or families?

What is the social life overseas like?  Will I be lonely?

What is teaching like?  What is a “typical day” like?

Is life overseas healthy?  I hear you can’t drink the water?

What if I have special medical needs or need certain medicines?

What if I am a vegetarian or have special dietary wants and/or needs?

 What’s the cost of living?

What’s the downside?  What if things don’t work out?

How long does it take to “adjust” and get into the groove of overseas life?

Part Three:

How/Where do I start?  What to do once the decision is made.

How do I find where I fit?

How do I find a financial situation that suits me?

How do I select a place that fits my lifestyle?

Should I get some training?  How?  Where?  What kind?

Do I need health insurance?

Should I freelance, take a part-time or full-time job?

What about corporate classes?

Should I teach kids or adults?

Where’s the best place for a “newbie” to start?

Can I set up a job before I go.  Or should I wait until I get there?

  Part Four: 

The Job Hunt

Should I use a recruiter?

Should I send e-mails and letters?  Or call?

What about CV’s and Resumes?  The same as back home?

Can I find an EFL job in the area of  my special interest?

How do I market myself?  How can I make myself attractive to a potential employer?

What are the interviews like?    Can you give me some tips?

What about telephone interviews?

What documents do I need to have?

Should I send my original degree or certificate to a recruiter or potential employer?

Is my appearance important?  What about tattoos, piercings, etc.?

What if I am handicapped?

What is the rejection rate?

How quickly might I find a job?

 Part Five: 

Accepting a Job

What questions should I ask when trying to decide whether to accept a job?

What are “visa runs” all about?

Are contracts worth the paper they are written on?

How can I check the reputation of a potential employer?

What is “Western-style” housing?

What are split shifts? Should I accept working them?

Should I accept weekend work?

Part Six: 

Organizing to Go

Should I buy health insurance?

How should I budget for the transition?  How much money should I take with me?

How do I send money home?

Should I set up any special banking or financial accounts?

What should I do with my house?  Rent it out or sell it?

What possessions should I sell?  Which should I store?

What responsibilities do I have to my home country before I go?

Should I keep a mailing address in my home country?

Part Seven: 

Making the Move

What kind of plane tickets should I buy?

What expenses are involved in moving?

Do I arrange my working or residence visas before I go – or after?

What do I need to take with me?

What do I NOT need to take with me?

Should I mail important things to my new address – or take them on the plane with me? 

Part Eight: 

On the Job – the Scene in Your New Country

What is “culture shock” and how will it affect me?

Surviving Un
certainty

Cultural differences:  When Yes = No

Xenophobia

Jingo-ism

What should I wear to my new job?

Should I buy a car or motorcycle?

Can I make extra money on the side?

Should I socialize with the people where I work?

The Culture Game:  Can I really get a raise just by going to a Karaoke with my boss?

How do I know if it is safe where I live?

Will my job offer medical insurance?

How do I reduce my initial expenses?

Part Nine: 

Planning for a Long Stretch Overseas

How does networking work overseas?

Should I continue to network in my home country?

Does it matter where I get more training or education?  Distance programs and more.

Can I get better health insurance?

Do I need a will if I stay overseas?

 Part Ten: 

Medical Care

What kind of coverage do I need?  Should I get just a traveler’s policy?
How much coverage do I need? 

Should I get a policy that can move from country to country with me?

Where can I find a good policy?

Part Eleven: 

Planning for Your Financial Success

What kind of bank accounts do I need?
Should I get an international ATM card?

Should I invest in my new country or my old country?

Should I invest in real estate or the stock market?

How can I manage real estate from overseas?

Should I open a brokerage account?  Can I open one from overseas?

Keeping a "Plan A" - B, and C: Contract “flexibility” and other problems.

Part Twelve: 

Planning for Your Eventual Return Home

Should I continue to network – even when I am away from my home country?

What should I do about my aging parents?

Should I keep a webpage?

How do I budget the transition back home?

How can I keep up my qualifications while I am away?

What is “reverse culture shock” and how does it work?

More Information about Teaching English Overseas: 

Where to Find More Information
and
Appendix of TEFL and EFL Terminology