Can I teach English abroad without knowing the local language (or being bilingual)?
There are two common misconceptions when it comes to requirements for teaching English abroad: Well, no need to worry, we’re here to quash these common misconceptions for you! Can I teach English abroad if I don’t speak the local language? The short answer is YES! You can absolutely teach English overseas without speaking the local […]
3 common misconceptions people have about teaching English online (as told by a real teacher)
Hello! I’m Shannon – an energetic, caring, goofy and ukulele-playing teacher. I currently live in Toronto, Canada, where I work as an online English teacher with VIPKID. I love that my commute to my classroom is approximately 30 cm, from my bed to my computer desk. From the time my alarm beeps, it takes me […]
Why teaching English abroad after graduation was the best decision of my life
The decision to move and teach English abroad was inspired by many sleepless nights leading up to my university graduation. I was earning my BA in behavioral sciences and entirely unsure of what I would do next. Deciding what to do after graduation. The list of options was as follows: Apply for graduate school to […]
Everything you need to know about applying (and getting hired) for the EPIK program
Sangsangnim! Also known as “teacher” in Korean. This is a term that you will become very familiar with after you land, settle in and indulge in the incredibly rich culture as an EPIK program participant living and teaching English in South Korea. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You want to find out more about […]
Do you really need a visa to teach English abroad?
So, you’re a young university graduate eager to see the world. Unfortunately, the wanderlust in your soul is much greater than the funds in your bank account. What to do? Well, teaching English abroad is a great way to experience a foreign country and actually make money doing it. Wondering what you need to teach […]
Will I face age restrictions teaching abroad?
Teaching English abroad is a fantastic opportunity to travel to new places, impart valuable wisdom and make some money while you are doing it! But one nagging question that many would-be ESL teachers have is, am I too old (or too young) to teach English abroad? The answer is: it depends. Each country where English […]
Teaching in China with a family: 6 questions to ask before accepting the job offer
When Grace and I received our final contracts, there was a feeling of excitement that overcame both of us. Although we were making a huge, life-changing decision, many of our doubts had been put to rest as we had formulated a list of essential questions we wanted to answer before receiving our contracts. Although your […]
How to land a job teaching English abroad without experience [With job postings]
There’s that old catch-22 that gets trotted out time and time again. “You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job.” If you’re wondering whether it’s really possible to get hired to teach abroad without any experience, you’re not alone! In fact, that’s one of the most commonly asked […]
When was the last time you thanked a teacher?
While we’re all aware of America’s teacher shortage, Fareed Zakaria shines some light on the roots of the problem in Fareed’s Take (see the video below). Zakaria summarizes the problem as follows: Teachers today are significantly less appreciated than they were in the past. Teachers in America are five times as likely to have a […]
Crowded job market reveals new career opportunities for Canadian teachers
Getting accepted into a teacher training program in the first place used to be the hardest part for aspiring teachers in Canada. Nowadays, though, the hardest part is actually finding a job after you graduate. The upside is that, following several years of some truly grim job prospects for Canadian educators, teacher unemployment rates across […]