Teaching EFL in Asia FAQ
Q: Will I enjoy teaching in Asia?

A: This is the main question floating in most people's heads. Of course, the only way to answer it, is to give it a try. But that doesn't help much, does it?

A wise first step is to use the Internet to research the country or countries you are thinking of moving to, or better still, go to the library. Focus on geography and cultural sources first. Look at photo books, travel guides, maps, artwork and such things. Pretend you are back in junior high school doing a Social Studies project. Consider your feelings toward connecting a teaching stint to a longer journey through multiple countries. Get your imaginative juices flowing, and you should soon know if you feel drawn to a place or not.

Don't come for the money. Lots of people do this, and they seldom have a good time. I have met teachers who follow the currency fluctuations almost daily, always dwelling on how much they are gaining or losing in their home currency. Don't bother. The truth is, you will probably spend most of your earnings in your host country. And not surprisingly, a lot of teachers spend most of the rest of their earnings travelling somewhere else in Asia, because the travel opportunities are just so enticing.

If you come, expect to feel frustrated at times - especially in the beginning. As they say, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. You will best enjoy teaching in Asia if you see it as a learning experience for yourself. And learning experiences are not supposed to be easy, right? No matter what, your first few weeks of teaching will be stressful, as culture shock mixes with the language barrier, and you have so many first impressions to make, all while feeling swimmy from the jet lag. This is a good time to keep a diary. Your initial feelings will soon become your sweetest, most electrifying memories.
Q: Do I need a TEFL certificate?

A: Not to get started. A lot of great teachers get started without a TEFL certifcate. In fact, this is probably the most logical approach, since you aren't sure yet if you really want to teach EFL long-term. Furthermore, it is questionable how much a person can benefit from a TEFL training course without some previous experience to reflect upon. The best TEFL trainees are those with a bit of experience under their belts.

That said, a TEFL certificate is definitely recommended if one chooses to stay in the profession for more than a year or two. For those who intend to focus on teaching EFL to young learners, it can be difficult to find a quality training course that gives proper consideration to the special needs of young children in the classroom. I can vouch for one especially good online TEYL (Teaching English to Young Learners) course, because I have done it. Please visit Advanced Teacher Training to learn more.

You will need a Bachelor's degree or equivalent for most jobs. This is a government requirement in Taiwan, Korea and Japan. If caught teaching without one, or without the proper permits for that matter, you could face hefty fines, deportation and risk being blacklisted from that country for several years.
Q: Should I use an agency?

A: It is not recommended to use teacher-placement agencies because they actually increase the chance of something going wrong. If you simply choose a destination and go, (perhaps having made some prior email inquiries) you would have to be quite dim to meet with total failure. On the other hand, if you use an agency, you may have little control over where you teach, how much you earn, what schedule you are given, or even who your roommates are. You also stand a good risk of getting scammed by the agency. This is not at all uncommon. Using an agency opens you to the chance of being manipulated and/or victimized. This is not to say that there are no reputable agencies, but please do beware.

Q: How do I find a place to live?

A: This depends on where you move to. Some schools will offer free apartments for their teachers. This is much more common in some countries than others. If you plan to arrive in the country first, and then start looking for a job (And why wouldn't you do it this way?), you should research housing ahead of time.

Count on staying at a guesthouse or hostel for up to four weeks after you arrive. This is not a bad thing. It's a good way to meet people who won't be your coworkers, and it will encourage you to see the sights a bit before getting chained to a job. You will most likely also meet "itinerant English teacher" types who will fill you in the local teaching scene. These are not the best people to talk to however; get out and visit some schools with you resume in hand. More on this later.

Back to housing. The most popular housing option is to simply rent an apartment and try to live like a local. Finding an apartment is never quite as difficult as it sounds.

Before you arrive, you should find the Websites used by the expatriot community of your chosen destination. There will typically be a site or two centered around English teaching, and a BBS or two used by foreigners (and locals) to discuss the rigors of living in that foreign country. Some of these sites will have housing sections. There are often rooms available in shared apartments with other foreigners. Browse the listings to get a feel for things.

You can use the BBS's to post questions, but do this only after several hours of reading. The more specific your questions, the better the answers you will get. Some suggested Web sites are found at the bottom of this FAQ.

Once you arrive, you may want to look at other options beyond living with other foreigners. If you plan to learn the local language, this is highly recommended. Try visiting the local universities and finding the bulletin boards where students post housing ads. Or try neighborhood real estate offices. Just pop in, tell them what you want, your price range and give them your number. (It's a good idea to get a cell phone number soon after arriving.)

Often, subdivisions will have public boards for vacancy postings, so if you see a neighborhood you like, just walk around looking for signs. You will probably need a local friend to help you make the calls. If you want to live with locals, run an ad in the college newspaper, or just ask around. Lots of people will want you as a roommate so they can get some extra English practice into their lives. But of course, you're going to be practicing their language too.

Q: How do I find a job?

A: This is usually too easy. The bigger problem is choosing the right job. This means a schedule that suits you, a pay level you are satisfied with and a location you accept. So the key is knowing what you want. Again, this means research. Browse the expat Web sites until you feel informed enough to know what sort of job you are looking for.

In most areas there will be a "standard wage" that most practicing teachers consider fair. Many schools will be offering less and some more. This should be your target wage but you might be willing to settle for a bit less if you especially like a school or get other perks such as paid planning time, or longer vacations. If you accept a lower wage just because you're new in town, you will feel bad about it later when you meet other newbies making a better wage than you.

Is it better to choose where you want to live first, or better to find a job first? This probably depends on the current state of the job market. If jobs seem scarce, you might want to get one first. Check the papers and make some calls. If schools seem especially interested in you right away, you might want to take your time choosing.

Looking for jobs is quite easy. There are always a few listed in the English newspapers, but more and more school are using the Internet to find people. You should find the key Web sites for EFL jobs. Some are listed at the bottom of this FAQ.

One of the best ways to get a job is to simply visit schools, resume in hand. This is a great way to find work in your own neighborhood.

Useful Links

Worldwide

www.eslteachersboard.com

 

Taiwan

www.forumosa.com

A very active BBS with extensive housing and job sections. The Taiwan politics section is a must read if your considering moving here and wonder what's up with the China question.

www.tealit.com

This Web site is widely used by schools to advertise teaching positions available immediately. Due to it's popularity, the site recently started charging schools to post jobs, so some smaller schools may have stopped posting here. Teachers can post resumes, and there is an extensive housing section too.

Other recommended links:
 

Korea

Teaching English in Korea

This is the full monty from Foreign affairs Canada.

Japan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Introduction So you want to teach overseas?
FAQ Answers to your questions.
How do I teach? Tips on methods, lessons, games, and more.
Culture shock! What to expect and how to deal with it.
EFL vs. ESL What do all these letters mean?
   
For the schools... Tips on how to manage your foreign teacher.