12.1 Teaching English locations – 12.2 Applying for teaching English jobs – 12.3 CV/Resume tips and interview techniques

Paul Murphy

7 years ago

Congratulations on successfully passing the eleventh module! 🙂

In this TEFL Employment twelfth course module, we will be taking a look at (12.1) Teaching English locations, (12.2) Applying for teaching English jobs, (12.3) CV/Resume tips and interview techniques. It is essential that you thoroughly read through all the information presented within this module, before then completing the Module Quiz and proceeding to the (bonus) Teaching Business English unit. If you have any module-related questions, please contact your personal tutor through the CONTACT LESSON TEACHER button. Good luck and we hope you enjoy completing your twelfth module! 🙂

(12.1) Teaching English locations.

Teaching English presents a fantastic opportunity of seeing the world, while funding your travels along the way. The global demand for English teachers is high and the salaries can be high too, depending of course on who and where you teach. Popular teaching English destinations tend to be grouped together on the Asian and European continents, but wherever you want to teach English, it is highly probable that TEFL jobs are available there. At tefl online pro we have helped thousands of graduates find teaching jobs worldwide, and there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t join them.

There are so many destinations worldwide where you can teach English, and the types of destinations are as varied as people’s destination tastes. Here is a list we chose of ten places to teach English that are definitely worth considering taking a look at.

Japan.

Japan has emerged from its years of recession with a now buoyant teaching English industry and teaching salaries here can be among the world’s best, with some teachers earning as much as US$5,000 per month. As a new teacher though, you should expect to be earning well below this figure and we conservatively estimate that you can expect a monthly starting salary in the range of US$2,000 – US$3,000. A college degree is mandatory for the work visa, as well as an international TEFL certificate.

Spain.

Spain is one of Europe’s most popular countries for studying and teaching in and offers hourly teaching rates of between 15 to 25 Euros. An international TEFL certificate is the main requisite for landing a job here as a college degree isn’t mandatory. The main bulk of teaching work is centered in Madrid and other major cities. Many teachers do choose to teach English in Spain because of the opportunity to learn or further their Spanish. Spain is a vibrant country to teach in and is famous for its legendary cuisine and nightlife.

China.

To teach English in China, you are required to have a college degree and international TEFL certificate. In the past 5 years, there has been a boom in schools providing English as a Foreign Language classes and there is an abundance of work for English teachers. An average teacher’s starting salary comes in at US$2,500 and as in Japan, it is possible to begin earning much more than this figure once you become established. However, where China beats Japan is with its low cost of living, meaning this is a great location to save.

South Korea.

To teach English in South Korea, it is mandatory to have a college degree and international TEFL certificate. It is also required that you hold citizenship from a recognized English-speaking nation: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, UK or USA. You can expect to earn a minimum of US$1,800 per month if teaching outside of Seoul and a minimum of around US$2,000 per month if teaching in the capital. South Korea is famous for its sweet and sour kimchi and boasts a fantastic cuisine culture.

The Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is nestled bang centre in the heart of Europe and has – since its Velvet Revolution in 1989 – been a magnet for teachers of English from around the world. The only requirement for teaching English here is that you hold an international TEFL certificate. Wages are a bit on the low side, ringing in on average at around US$15 – US$20 per hour, but the cost of living is relatively low (even in Prague) and its location means that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to weekend trips and holidays.

Vietnam.

Vietnam is the new financial tiger powerhouse of Southeast Asia and has seen a huge increase in demand for English teachers over the last few years. When comparing to other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam offers the best bang for your buck in terms of how much you can earn and how much your daily costs will be. New teachers arriving to Vietnam can expect to be earning up to US$1,700 per month and this means that you can realistically expect to be saving around US$500 per month.

Colombia.

Whilst there are more higher paid locations to teach English on the South American continent, Colombia gets our thumbs up because it is a country recovering from years of turmoil. The offshoot of this means that English teachers are now being welcomed with open arms to come and teach here, with only an international TEFL certificate mandatory. The costs to live here are low, the coffee is amazing, the wildlife is breathtaking and the people are generally very friendly. Expect to be earning just under US$1,000 per month.

Taiwan.

The average teaching English monthly salary in Taiwan hovers at around US$2,000 – US$2,500 per month, which is pretty good value considering the low cost of living. Mandatory requirements for entry level teaching English jobs are a college degree, international TEFL certificate and a clean criminal record. Native English teachers are given preference to teaching jobs but non-native speakers will also have the opportunity of teaching here. Its location in Asia also makes it a great base for trips around the region.

Thailand.

Location number 9 is a nod to the Land of Smiles.Thailand has built up over the years a name for itself in the world of TEFL as being one of the heavyweight places to teach English abroad, and we can’t see that reputation waning anytime soon. Wages vary tremendously depending on where you are teaching, but for Bangkok expect to be earning up to 50,000 – 60,000 Baht per month. The cuisine is awesome, the coastlines breathtaking and those smiles are definitely genuine.

Teaching Online.

The last location on this list is basically any location where you have your laptop and access to the internet. Teaching English online is a booming industry and takes away all of the legwork required when looking for teaching work in the traditional form. The other positives are that you can teach wherever suits you best and the hours are often flexible. The only real negative is that you lack a support base which a traditional school provides. Teachers typically earn between US$15 – US$20 per hour through teaching English online.

Now, let’s take a look at one of these countries more in depth, to give you a better idea of what to expect when you narrow down your choice of teaching location to one country:

Teaching in Thailand.

Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand shares a border with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar. The country is incredibly diverse in regard to its landscapes, traditions, cuisines and even in the types of weather systems which descend in monsoonal formations during the year. Quite simply put, Thailand has everything; from lush mountainous rainforests to exotic tropical beaches. The scenery is breathtaking, the tropical weather harsh yet reassuring and those famous smiles are definitely genuine.

To legally teach in Thailand, you must have taken an international TEFL certification course from a reputable course provider. A college degree (in any subject) is also required for the work visa if you choose to teach legally in Thailand. We do receive reports of some people heading out to Thailand to teach under the table (illegally) and while it is possible to do this by leaving the country every month to renew your 30-day Tourist Visa, it isn’t really recommended as one time you might be returning from a visa run and be denied entry if the immigration officer notices too many entry and exit stamps in a row in your passport. If you don’t have a degree and do want to teach in the region, we definitely recommend teaching in Cambodia.

Teaching in Bangkok.

As the capital, Bangkok is the major teaching English hub in Thailand. Salaries here are higher than any other part of the country, and teachers starting out can expect to be earning between 30,000 – 40,000 Baht per month. Expect this figure to increase to between 50,000 – 60,000 Baht per month once you get established. Bangkok is more expensive compared with say Chiang Mai, but for a capital city it represents amazing value for money. Our tip: take a weekend trip to Hua Hin, a 4.5-hour bus ride south of Bangkok.

The types of teaching English jobs in Thailand are as varied as there are ways of preparing Pad Thai, but teachers tend to start out teaching either at language schools or at state schools. Language schools definitely pay better, but at state schools you often receive additional perks such as paid holidays and free accommodation. We think that there isn’t really that much difference financially between the two options and that your choice of where to teach should ultimately be dependent upon the choice of where and who you want to be teaching. We do tend to mention this a lot, but it cannot be expressed enough that you should not expect to be teaching English on a beach. Yes, there are options to teach English in towns and cities close to the coastline, but the way some TEFL schools imply through their homepage photos that you will be full-time living it up on the beach is very misleading. Some of our graduates have found work along the coast, but this is the exception rather than the rule and most job offers are advertised for positions in the major cities, which are usually at least an hour from the sound of waves lapping the shoreline. There is also the option of teaching English at universities and private language teaching, and both these options usually become available once you are in the country and once you have built up a decent amount of contacts.

Teaching in Chiang Mai.

Ah, Chiang Mai! Whenever you speak with a local Thai about Chiang Mai, you often see them looking off far into the distance with a mystical longing for another trip to the city that seems to sit center in the heart of all Thais. Chiang Mai is an extremely popular expat hangout and while there are many options to teach English – expect to earn around 30,000 Baht per month – there are also so many teachers saturating the market. It is a city with a 60’s vibe and we definitely recommend taking a trip up to Pai when you are here.

While it’s true that it was much easier to set up shop here as an English teacher in the past, it is still a relatively easy place to get established and with the Thais being outrageously friendly, you won’t find it difficult to find a lot of support and advice when getting started. Please remember that at tefl online pro we assist our graduates with ongoing job support, help and advice, so if you are wanting Thailand teaching English advice then feel free to reach out and contact us. You can look for work before arrival to Thailand, but we don’t think there is any need to do this and you will easily find yourself being able to hook a much better teaching position once on the ground. Thailand is an affordable destination, assuming you avoid the main tourist hubs, and this will provide you with a lot of breathing space to settle in and find your perfect teaching English job. How we recommend finding a job in Thailand is to contact a bunch of schools beforehand, travel out to Thailand, receive your (free) 30-day Tourist Visa upon arrival and visit the schools and see which one you would feel most comfortable teaching in. Once you have gone through the interview process and secured the position you will need to leave the country and apply for your Non-Immigrant Visa Type B, which can be applied for and picked up at any Thai embassy abroad (in Malaysia for example.) Thailand has its fair share of discount airlines and AirAsia are just one of them, which we have flown and can recommend. If you have a larger budget, then either Thai or Bangkok Airways would be our recommendation. Once you are issued with your visa, you can then return to Thailand to arrange for your work visa to be processed, which only takes around 7 days to complete.

Teaching in Krabi.

Located on southern Thailand’s west coast, Krabi Town is a busting market town set straddled close to the semi-attractive beach at Ao Nang, the picture-postcard Railay Beach and a short hop on one of the many dodgy ferries which run to some of the most beautiful islands you can find in Thailand. There isn’t a whole lot of work around in this relatively small town, but it should be noted that Krabi Town is becoming somewhat of a magnet for people teaching English online and has an excellent support base for teachers.

A major advantage of making Thailand your home is the balance between “old” Thailand and “new” Thailand. Examples of the old are the Buddhist traditions, the rickety government busses, the wooden stool street food stalls and the crazy annual festivals which include the whole of the country taking part in the world’s largest water fight (Songkran) on the Thai New Year’s national holiday. Examples of the new exert themselves in the form of luxurious shopping malls, a clean and punctual Bangkok metro system and Sky Train and high-speed internet in built-up public places. Tourists tend to visit Thailand having never really come into contact with the authentic Thai way of life, but as an English teacher, you will experience Thai life on a daily basis. Many people (incorrectly) assume that Thailand is a very liberal country, but it is in fact quite a conservative one and particular rules apply for different scenarios. As an example, you should never show the soles of your feet to anyone – especially not in the direction of a Buddha statue or Buddhist temple – and it is unaccepted to touch a Thai on the head. Thais don’t generally shake hands and instead clasp their hands together at their heart’s center. There are Lèse-majesté rules, so make sure never to insult the royal family if you want to avoid a long stint in a Thai prison. Saying this though, Thai’s are extremely tolerant of non-Thais and they do understand that their laws are not always understood by foreigners. This is an amazing destination to look through the glass onion and experience a lifestyle completely different to the one you left back home.

Teaching in Isaan.

Isaan is located in the northeastern region of Thailand and has the rather dubious reputation of being the kingdom’s poorest region. It’s a little like what Moldova is to the rest of Europe in terms of the trend for its local population looking outwards to seek employment in other parts of the country. This is definitely a less-trodden region of Thailand and the rewards are definitely there for anyone seeking employment. Its larger towns provide solid employment options, with local wages reflecting local costs.

As with the majority of Asian countries, you will be expected to dress smartly for classes. When first arriving in Bangkok, we definitely recommend having a tailored suit/skirt/shirt/blouse made up by a reputable tailors, and for a fraction of the price back home you will have bespoke clothes which fit you like a glove and which will last you for a very long time. This is a particularly good tip for anyone conscious of airline baggage weight charges: you can purchase your clothes and footwear when you arrive to Bangkok without issue.

Teaching in Trat.

Trat: the small city known for being a stopping-off point for reaching the Cambodian border or ferrying it over to Koh Chang island. Trat: the large town which is so very often ignored. It’s a shame really because this artsy town is one of the best kept secrets in Thailand. There isn’t that much work available but what is, is paid at around the same rates as you would expect in Chiang Mai and it’s super-cheap with excellent seafood and an awesome location: not only being close to Koh Chang but also to its lesser-known beaches.

Access to our International Job Guidance Team kicks in as soon as you have completed your tefl online pro certification course. This is one element of our service which distinguishes us from the competition and to date, we have a perfect score in helping to find our graduates teaching English positions abroad.

Firstly, we issue your course certificate and official letter of recommendation within 7 days of course completion. Your course certificate is internationally recognized and is your ticket to teaching English abroad. The official letter of recommendation acts as a 5-star review of your performance, and includes a breakdown of your course study. If you already know where you will be teaching, we get to work straight away on researching schools and current available teaching positions. If you haven’t already decided where you want to teach, we will work with you by suggesting locations and working with you to see where the best fit will be for you. We assist with getting your CV/Resume up to scratch, and providing essential tips on the best method of making first contact with schools, how to follow up on a teaching English application and how to approach the job interview with your best foot forward first. In addition, we can conduct a work visa search for you, which will save you a lot of time and unnecessary headache in the process.

Our International Job Guidance Team service is available for you at any time during your teaching English career. It doesn’t just stop once you have secured your first teaching position.

We have years of combined teaching English and travel experience and are experts in the field. This means that you will be receiving top-notch, expert help and advice through the tefl online pro International Job Guidance Team when you want to secure a teaching English position abroad.

(12.2) Applying for teaching English jobs.

When applying for teaching English jobs, there are a few guidelines that we recommend in order to increase the likelihood of winning the teaching position you have your heart set on.

Firstly though, we would like to mention that unless you are applying for a teaching position in countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, there is absolutely no reason at all to go through a recruitment agency: there are just so many teaching opportunities out there that you can easily find a well-paid teaching English position without one. And especially with our help and support.

We would also like to take this opportunity to speak a little about job placements and internships.

We don’t organize job placements or internships and the reason for this is because if we were starting out as English teachers again, we wouldn’t accept a placement or internship teaching job. There are just so many teaching opportunities out there, so why accept a job which will offer a lower-than-standard starting salary? Many schools do offer both these options as a way of guaranteeing employment for their graduates, but we don’t recommend either option because in many examples the school gets a cut of your wages as the middle person in the agreement, and also because these types of employment almost always come with extremely strict contractual terms. An internship to gain experience or a placement to guarantee work might initially seem like an attractive offer, but when you take your TEFL certification with a company that provides ongoing job support there is absolutely no reason to play it safe and opt for second best.

The first point of contact when applying for a teaching English position usually comes in the form of email communication.

Make sure that your email address is professional looking. We recommend opening a new email account, specifically for your job search. Try finding an available email address where you are able to add your first and last name. If that one isn’t available, you could add your middle name or your date of birth. Or alternatively, you can open an email account with your full name and the name of the country or city where you will be applying for work. Gmail is an excellent option for opening a new email purposes.

Once you have your email account up and running and are ready to start emailing schools, to stand out from the crowd, we recommend adding, ‘Qualified English teacher applying for a teaching position at [name of school]’.

Schools might receive hundreds (or even thousands) of emails from prospective teachers every year and most of the emails received will have been sent Bcc to many other schools too. You need to personalize your email and demonstrate from the outset that you are serious about teaching for that particular school. It is of course much easier to simply mass-email a whole load of schools, but by addressing each email individually, you will be starting off on the right foot.

We also recommend Googling the school you are applying to and locating the name of the individual whom it would be most appropriate to address your email to.

Please be advised that one of the first things that schools will do when receiving your email, is to go onto social media and try to find the ‘real’ you. We recommend taking a look at your privacy settings on your social media, to prevent any ‘not so professional’ photos or posts from being in the public domain.

There really is no need to include a cover letter and we particularly advise against adding one as an additional attachment along with your CV/Resume. The body of your email content will act as a cover letter of sorts, and we recommend keeping your email brief and to the point. You should:

begin by personally addressing the school’s contact person.
write about why you are interested in applying to the school.
write about your international TEFL qualification training (and any relevant teaching experience if you have any).
write that you can provide an official letter of recommendation upon request (we will provide this for you upon course completion).
write why you will be an excellent asset for the school.
write when you can begin teaching English for the school.
direct the reader to your attached CV/Resume.
conclude the email by expressing that you are looking forward to receiving their reply and hopefully look forward to becoming a member of their teaching team.

And that’s it. That’s all you need to write. Again, schools receive many, many emails from hopeful applicants and they do tend to skim-read most of the emails which they receive. If your email is brief and to the point, they will be more inclined to open the attachment to read more about you in your CV/Resume.

It is important to note here that – depending on where you want to teach English – it might be considered the norm to apply from either inside or outside the country you are applying to for work. In both scenarios, it is essential that you follow up. Don’t just send off your email with CV/Resume and sit back and wait for the school to get back to you. It’s likely that they will get right back to you, but it’s also sometimes the case that your application might be left waiting in a folder and that someone will eventually get round to replying. If you haven’t heard back from the school within three days of sending off your email, follow up with a follow-up email or phone call – or personal visit (if you are applying from within the country).

Again, we provide unrivaled post-course help and support for all of our graduates, so feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions regarding teaching work, visas, application procedures, etc. Our International Job Guidance Team is here to make the process of finding teaching English work a smooth one for you.

And one final point, before we take a look at CV/Resume tips and interview techniques, is that if you are applying for teaching work while in the country where you want to be teaching, make sure that you get a hold of a local SIM card so that schools can more easily contact you. Having a local phone number will give the impression that you are established in the country and will further increase your chances of being offered teaching English work.

(12.3) CV/Resume tips and interview techniques.

It’s important to note that there are some (slight) differences between a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume (or résumé).

The function of a CV is to chronologically cover your entire career – including work experience, education, accomplishments, etc., and acts as a static document – often containing more than one page – only updated when new skills are acquired.

The function of a resume is to briefly summarize your skills and experience; customizable to the needs of the specific job which you are applying for. Resumes don’t follow a particular rule format and often contain just the one page.

Whether you choose to use the CV or resume format, it is essential that you contain certain features as outlined in the following:

Full name (photo?).

You should add your name as it is written in your passport. We don’t recommend adding a photo because it could result in discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race or other factors.

Contact details.

In this section, you should add your home address, email contact and telephone number.

Objective.

Your Objective could state what kind of teaching job you are seeking, and what skills and experiences you have that make you ideal for that position. An objective might also include where you have been and where you want to go in your career.

Education.

This is where you can add any higher education qualifications, such as a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s if you have one. It is also here that you can add your international TEFL certification achievement!

Skills.

We definitely recommend tailoring this section to the particular type of English teaching job which you are applying for. As an example, if you are applying for a position where you will be teaching children, you could add any previous experience involving children (such as having taught children, or been an au pair/nanny) and you can also add the skill which you will be acquiring in the second additional unit of this course: Teaching Young and Younger Learners Unit.

Experience.

This is where you get to list your work experience. Any professional work experience will be fine to add here, but if you have taught before then that should be heavily focussed on.

Languages.

Only include this section if you have studied a second language, or if you are multilingual. And mention your language(s) learner level.

Interviewing is the opportunity to influence and persuade the employer that you are the best candidate for the position.

Your interview will either take the form of an online interview, or in-person interview.

The advantage with online interviews is that no one really feels 100% comfortable when video-speaking over the internet. This means that it levels the playing field a bit more in your favor. Also, logistically, you are at the same eye level as each other and you get to choose the setting and seating for your interview.

These are some pointers to note when being interviewed for a job online:

Dress for success. Dress formally and make sure your hair is neat and tidy. Applying the right amount of makeup (for both men and women) can ensure that your face stands out and that you make a better impression with your interviewer (don’t do a ‘Richard Nixon’ by not taking advantage of makeup to enhance your features).
Obviously, you will need to ensure that you have a sufficient internet speed to ensure a smooth online interview experience. Skype is the usually-preferred method of conducting interviews online, so before your interview try Skyping a friend or family member to check that your internet speed won’t interrupt the video/sound flow.
The environment which you choose to have the interview conducted is also vitally important. Optimal would be a silent office environment, but if you don’t have access to such a place then the next best thing would be at your kitchen table. Be mindful though of your background and try choosing a position in your place of interview with a neutral background.
Always wait for the interviewer to finish speaking first before you answer or ask a question.
Position your laptop or tablet so that you are looking directly into the screen. Mobile telephones are not the best medium for conducting an interview online, but if you find yourself without another option then make sure that your phone is in a fixed, well-positioned angle.
Address your interviewer with Mr., Mrs., Ms. or by their professional title, until given permission to call them by their first name.
Greet the interviewer with a smile and direct eye contact: it is important to project confidence and enthusiasm at this first encounter.
Be aware that most interviews are 50% talking and 50% listening. Be an active listener and provide concise and focused responses to the interviewer’s specific questions.
Be comfortable with silence. Don’t feel the need to fill silence with extended responses or nervous chatter. When you become uncomfortable with silence after responding to a question ask the interviewer, “Have I sufficiently addressed the question? Do you need any additional information?”
Speak with a strong and clear voice to project confidence.
A short pause before responding to a question to collect your thoughts is fine. Don’t rush to answer a question that requires some thought and reflection on your part.
Avoid telling jokes, using poor language or slang, talking about controversial topics, speaking negatively about a present or former employer, talking about personal issues or family problems, or acting desperate for a job. None of these will be well received by the interviewer.
Show what you can do for the organization, rather than explain what they can do for you. It’s all about the value you can bring to them.
Focus on accomplishments and achievements. Employers predict future success through past performance.
Be specific, concrete, quantitative (when possible) and factual in your responses.
Concentrate on the skills the employer needs and desires, both technical and applied.
Develop a list of questions to ask the interviewer .

When interviewing face-to-face, in-person, refer to the relevant points in the above list and:

Leave plenty of time to get there. It’s much better to arrive early than to be rushing because you’re late.
If you smoke, don’t smoke at any point prior to the interview.
Be prepared to enter the building 15 to 20 minutes early – not sooner or later.
Greet the receptionist, and anyone you meet at the company, with courtesy and respect. Treat them as if they have the authority to offer you the job.
Confirm the pronunciation of the interviewer’s name (if questionable) with the receptionist.
Use the restroom. This is one last chance to check your general appearance.
Use your time in the waiting area to do additional research on the organization. Check out marketing materials, company awards on the wall and anything else that provides a glimpse of who the company is.
Be aware of how employees are behaving. This will give you insight into the culture of the organization.
Greet the interviewer with a smile, direct eye contact and a firm handshake. Remember, it is important to project confidence and enthusiasm at this first encounter.

Congratulations on reading through the twelfth module!

Now it’s time to take the Module 12 Quiz, after which you will gain access to the (bonus) Teaching Business English unit.

Important! We recommend reading through the twelfth module again to ensure that you are fully prepared to take this quiz.

Click on the VIEW THE LESSON QUIZ button to proceed to the Module 12 Quiz…