Teaching English Abroad with no Degree
by Douglas Berger Douglas Berger Psychiatrist Tokyo, M.D., Ph.D., isTeaching
English Abroad with no Degree
Teaching English Abroad
With no Degree – How to
Click
here for more info about teaching English abroad with no degree
When it comes
to career choices, you’d be hard-pressed to find one more interesting than that
of a TEFL teacher. TEFL teachers travel to all kinds of remote and exotic
locations around the world to teach English to children of all shapes and
sizes. While the teaching itself is very rewarding, the main draw towards
teaching English abroad lies in the adventure; it’s a practical and sustainable
way to travel and see the world without going absolutely broke. So
how does one get into teaching English abroad with no degree? Two common requirements
are a TEFL certificate and a bachelor’s degree. The TEFL certificate is no
problem; it consists of completing a (usually) online course that takes from
about a couple weeks to a couple of months, depending on the individual’s drive
and motivation. The degree, on the other hand, is not as simple; it takes 4
years to obtain, which is a lot of time and money to invest for a job that
doesn’t pay all that much (compared to western standards, TEFL jobs provide
very livable wages for their respective countries). Luckily there are still
options for people interested in teaching
English abroad with no degree!
Non-degree
holders can go one of two routes; applying in person, or taking an internship.
In this article, we will go over the pros and cons of each option so one can
figure out the best way to begin a career in teaching
English abroad with no degree.
Applying in Person
Degree
restrictions are usually visa restrictions in place by foreign governments.
It’s a requirement for issuing working visas to candidates not in the country
as a means of controlling who they let in. Luckily, once you’re already in the
country, you can worry about your paperwork after landing employment. Applying
for jobs in person is exactly what it sounds like, you would go to schools that
are hiring with a resume and cover letter and conduct an in-person interview.
If the schools like you, they will offer you the job before commencing with the
paperwork to get you a work permit. Now, this can be a grey area legally, you
would be coming into the country and applying for jobs on a tourist visa which
may be illegal in some countries (do your research first!), but you will
eventually get your legitimized work permit through the aid of your school. Now,
this is a good option for people who have great interview skills. It’s not only
a great way to bypass degree restrictions but any visa-related restrictions at
all (native English speaker, age, etc.). A lot of schools will claim that they
are only looking for degree holders, but the truth is that if the right
candidate shows up interested in teaching English, and they have a position
open, many schools will happily hire them. There are, however, some cons to
this route. The main one is the question of legality. Every country is
different and has different laws on what foreigners on a tourist visa can and
can’t do, so make sure to do your research before embarking on an adventure to teach
English abroad with no degree. Another downside is the possibility of being
scammed. With the TEFL industry booming as it is today, it was only a matter of
time before the more unscrupulous people of the world saw an opportunity to
make money/get free labor out of foreigners living in a new and unfamiliar
environment. There are legitimate schools and academies who will straight up
lie to prospective teachers about anything from salary to included perks (paid
holidays, paid airfare, etc.) to make or save a quick buck. The easiest way to
avoid getting scammed is to use your common sense. If it sounds too good to be
true, it probably is! Another downside to applying in person is the sheer
hassle of it. One must go to a new country with a years’ worth of luggage and
supplies and shunt it around from hostel to hostel while applying for jobs,
looking for apartments, and adapting to their new environment. It can mean
weeks (or potentially months!) of scouring employment boards, doing laundry in
sinks and being kept up until 4 in the morning the night before an interview by
backpackers bringing the party back into the dorm room. Still though, if you
are determined to teach
English abroad with no degree, it can be a good way to achieve your goal.
Internships
For the less
adventurous, those who can’t see themselves landing in a new country without
knowing anyone or anything, or unwilling to be potentially scammed by shady
businesses, internships can be an option.
Internships
can vary wildly. Some can simply be a one-month volunteer position while others
may be as much as a week of training followed by being placed in a full
salaried teaching position. It’s a great way to both get a feel for teaching to
see if you like it and get your foot in the door by meeting and working with
great potential future employers who will be very willing to overlook the fact
that you have no degree. Internships are usually offered by TEFL academics, so
if you’re interested in teaching
English abroad with no degree, make sure to thoroughly research your TEFL
provider to make sure that they offer internship options that are right for
you! There are a few cons to internships as well though. For one, they can be
pretty pricey, ranging from the high hundreds to the low thousands. On top of
this, internships usually don’t pay as much as a regular teaching position, and
some may not pay anything at all. That’s not to say all of them are low paid,
some of them offer very livable wages in their respective destinations, so once
again, make sure to do your research first! Another con is that while
internships may bypass the bachelor’s degree requirement (internship teachers
will usually go to their destination of choice on a student visa), there are
still other requirements like age or specific passport requirements that not
everyone may be able to meet. Internships are therefore a great option for
those interested in teaching
English abroad with no degree who is a bit younger and have a bit of money to
spare in the way of getting their foot in the door to a great teaching career.
So, while one
might be initially discouraged by TEFL academics who only promise job placement
to degree holders, don’t be discouraged! As the old saying goes, “Where there’s
a will, there’s a way”!
Teaching English Abroad
With no Degree – How to
Click
here for more info about teaching English abroad with no degree
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Created on Nov 2nd 2019 22:45. Viewed 366 times.