Exploring The Market For Teaching English Abroad: Why Native Speaking Teachers Are So In Demand

In today's tough job market, even teachers can have trouble finding a position at home. Instead of fighting an uphill battle, many educators are looking abroad to find work opportunities. Choosing to travel and teaching English in locations like the Middle East and Africa can be a rewarding choice for many new educators, and it's also a growing field with a lot of demand for great new talent.

Teaching English Abroad Is A Great Start To An Education Career

The economy at home is pretty rough right now. It's hard to get a job unless you have already worked in a similar field, and it's impossible to get experience without a job. Even teachers are feeling the pressure as schools become more demanding about credentials and more selective about whom they put on track to get tenure. In the US, education is no longer the safe bet that it was just a few years ago.

Abroad, however, things are very different. When you choose teaching English in a foreign country, you're not likely to struggle with securing jobs. You can often find a good, high paying position right out of college. The reason is simple: people know that native speakers are the best people to teach any language. Because you have a comprehensive understanding of your native tongue, you'll be better suited to educate your students with the proper accents and all the other details necessary to truly improve their speech.

You'll Get Experience In Education And In Living Abroad

Teaching English outside the US gives educators the opportunity to get instruction experience should they ever want to come back to teach. In fact, many US schools are impressed when they see that someone has instructed people overseas and lived there themselves. At the very least, you'll be able to learn hands-on how to manage a classroom, and that won't be lost on your future employers.

Teaching English in a foreign country is also appealing to individuals who want to travel, but have difficulty finding a job in the global market. Depending on where you choose to work, qualifications to become an educator may be minimal, and simply having a good command of the language and some experience in an educational setting may be enough. If you want to travel but don't really have the funds to support yourself during that time, teaching English may be a great way to achieve your dream.

A Struggling Economy At Home Contrasts With Booming Foreign Growth

Remember that even in the global economic slowdown, countries like China, India, Brazil, and in the Middle East continue to experience rapid growth. These emerging markets provide good opportunities for native speakers to find jobs helping foreign speakers understand English, gaining experience with instruction while having a good source of pay right out of college. If you're interested in going abroad, make sure you do your research first. There are many country choices available, and you want to make sure you pick the right one.

Chris Harmen writes about living in Abu Dhabi teaching English for the American International Development Council, helping interested educators teach in the Middle East since 1992.