Teaching English Abroad
How Does It Work?

With 1.5 billion people enrolling in English classes worldwide, the demand for English teachers is so high that English speakers from virtually all backgrounds who gain a TEFL certification can get a professional job teaching English abroad. Here is an overview of the steps you will take to reach your goal of teaching English abroad.

This process may vary depending on your personal circumstances and where you wish to teach. Bear in mind that in most cases the process of getting TEFL certified & gaining employment teaching English abroad is typically 3-6 months, so if you're planning on teaching abroad this year, the time to begin researching and talking to an advisor is now.

STEP 1
Research & Download Your Free Starter Guide

Before you ever enroll in a TEFL class or apply for a job, it’s critical that you gain a clear understanding of what your options are and how you can get there. It’s also important that you put together a plan and a timeline. International TEFL Academy provides the most extensive resources, tools and information about teaching English abroad & TEFL certification to assist you with this process. Experienced advisors will be there to provide personal assistance and guidance throughout the process.

Goals:

• Determine where you can realistically teach abroad given your age, citizenship
• Research TEFL certification options, including Online TEFL certification and In-Person classes.  Which class works best for you given where you want to teach?
• Learn about critical elements of teaching abroad like salaries, hiring seasons and the process of getting a job teaching English abroad.

Tools:  Here are some great tools for researching Teaching English abroad: 

TEACH ABROAD STARTER GUIDE Download Now A 30-page guide to all aspects of teaching English abroad and TEFL certification.	COUNTRY CHART Download Now Compare English teaching jobs in 50 countries, including salaries, hiring requirements, visa info & more.
FAQS & ARTICLES Access Now Check out hundreds of articles & FAQs about teaching English abroad & TEFL certification.	COUNTRY PROFILES Access Now Check out country profiles for teaching English abroad in more than 50 countries worldwide.
FINANCIAL GUIDE  Download Now From salaries to start-up costs, learn all about the financial aspects of teaching abroad.	LIVE TEFL WEBCAST Learn More Tune into a live interactive webcast covering job markets, TEFL cert., job placement assistance & more.
ALUMNI STORIES Read More Check out blogs, articles, & Q&As with ITA Alumni teaching English in 80 countries worldwide.	ALUMNI VIDEOS Watch Videos Check out country profiles for teaching English abroad in more than 50 countries worldwide.

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STEP 2
Consult with an Expert Advisor

While you engage in your research, you will work with an experienced Admissions Advisor who will answer your questions and provide guidance with choosing your TEFL class, making a plan and putting together a timeline.  All International TEFL Academy Advisors possess extensive experience living, working and traveling abroad and are extremely well-versed in all aspects of teaching abroad, from job markets to TEFL certification. Navigating the ins-and-outs of teaching abroad can be confusing or even overwhelming, and our team is here to HELP YOU and to provide straight-forward, realistic feedback in addressing your questions and concerns regarding:

• Where can you teach?
• Finances, start-up costs, and salaries
• Choosing the right TEFL class
• Visas, documents, health insurance, housing, documents & other practicalities
• Putting together a Timeline

MEET OUR ADVISOR TEAM

Tools: Here are some great tools for researching TEFL Certification

TEFL CLASSES AROUND THE WORLD Learn More Check out accredited TEFL courses in 25 locations worldwide.	170 HOUR ONLINE TEFL CLASSES Learn More Learn about ITA's accredited state-of-the-art TEFL certification class.
TEFL CERTIFICATION FAQS Read FAQs Read expert-written articles & FAQs about all aspects of TEFL certification.	TEFL CLASS DATES/TUITION  Learn More Check out dates & tuition for 11-week Online TEFL classes & 4-week In-Person classes in 25 worldwide locations.

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STEP 3
ENROLL: PREP FOR YOUR TEFL CLASS & JOB SEARCH

ENROLLMENT: Pay tuition and turn in enrollment documents – your Admissions Advisor will guide you through this process.

1. Read our Registration Procedure and Terms and Conditions

2. Enroll Online Here or call your advisor directly at 773-634-9900

Prepping for your TEFL Course & Job Search

ONLINE TEFL CLASS PREP - Review Pre-Course Grammar Module - Student Affairs Department is available to help with any    questions relating to the course - Researching Practicum options

IN-PERSON TEFL CLASS PREP - Contact onsite course director to make housing    arrangements and address other practicalities - when do    you need to arrive, what do you need to bring etc. - Make travel arrangements - Pay final balance 30 days prior to your course start date

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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