Teaching English Abroad
How Does It Work?
Prepping for your Job Search (All Students)
Join International TEFL Academy Alumni Association to begin receiving newsletters and networking on social media with thousands of ITA students and alumni teaching around the world.
Work with Student Affairs Advisors on initial preparations and research
Tasks: Procure documents (passport, criminal background check – if necessary), develop cover letter & resume.
Tools: Job Search Guidance Manual, webinars (live & recorded), Student Affairs is available to provide guidance and answer questions. (See Step 5)
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STEP 4
Join ITA Alumni Networks
You become a member of the ITA family the second you enroll in your TEFL class. You're joining a community of 20,000+ ITA alumni & fellow world travelers who are teaching in more than 80 countries worldwide. This means you can immediately connect with other alumni, make some friends before you head abroad, and get your questions answered by fellow alumni who have been in your shoes and are eager to help you out.
Here are some ways you can get connected right away:
Facebook Groups: Connect with ITA on Facebook to chat with thousands of ITA alumni in our exclusive, country-specific pages and topic threads. You can find an index of our alumni Facebook groups broken down by country here.
ITA Ambassadors: ITA Alumni Ambassadors are our eyes and ears on the ground in many of the premier markets across the globe. These experienced teachers and world travelers have teamed up with the ITA staff to provide guidance and support to future ITA teachers. ITA Ambassadors provide first-hand information about living and teaching English abroad and are ready to help make your transition overseas easy and worry-free!
World Alumni Day: Every September, we celebrate ITA World Alumni Day. ITA alumni hosts hold parties on the same day in different cities around the world. This is a great way to get to know all of the ITA alumni in your community and make some new friends. All ITA Alumni are invited and encouraged to attend. Our 2017 World Alumni Day was celebrated in 27 cities across the glone and brought together hundreds of ITA alumni to share stories and enjoy a fun night out!
Alumni Blog Content & FAQs: Check out articles, blogs, and Q&As from hundreds of ITA alumni who are teaching English abroad.
Alumni Meetups: Get together with ITA alumni in your city abroad to share stories and maybe a beverage or two! The ITA Alumni Association sponsors meet-ups around the world to help our alumni connect. Learn about scheduled gatherings and how to organize your own with our support.
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STEP 5
Complete TEFL Certification
• In-person TEFL courses: 4 weeks, full-time
• Online TEFL course: 11-13 weeks, part-time
• You must pass the class to receive your certification
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STEP 6
Receive Job Search Guidance & Interview for Positions
International TEFL Academy provides comprehensive lifetime Job Search Guidance to all students and graduates.
- Work with an experienced Student Affairs advisor
- If taking an international in-person course, the local staff will assist with gaining employment in the local job market.
- Tools: Job Search Guidance Manual, Webinars, School Directories, Job Boards, Recruiters,
- Tasks: Write cover letter & resume, get documents (passport, criminal background check, academic records – if necessary), network with ITA students and alumni through exclusive social media channels
- Contact schools, apply for jobs, interview with schools
- In most cases, those looking to teach in Europe & Latin America will go to their country of choice and interview in-person during a major hiring season
- For countries in Asia, the Persian Gulf and some countries in Latin American & Europe (examples: Russia, Turkey, Chile), you will interview from home by Skype & Phone.

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STEP 7
Get Hired & Teach English Abroad!
- Review job offers & contracts (Student Affairs will assist you)
- Accept job offer
- If you have accepted a job offer prior to leaving your home country, you will need to make travel & visa arrangements as necessary
- If you are already in-country, you will typically begin teaching immediately
- BEGIN THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME TEACHING ENGLISH ABROAD!
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