Is English the most spoken language in the world? Researchers aren’t sure exactly, but it’s definitely one of the most popular languages on our planet. It is estimated that around 2 billion people are learning English worldwide right now. Because of its widespread use all over the world, teaching English is a job with a lot of job security and almost endless career opportunities, even for people who just graduated.
Teaching is great for personal development
Whether you decide to teach English for a short period or a long period of time, teaching is always a good way for further personal development. Skills like public speaking, communication and organization, being able to understand and connect with persons who have a different cultural background as you, and having the ability to manage a large group are highly sought after in many different kinds of jobs.
Online or in person
Teaching English can be done both online or in person. Both have great career prospects, and it’s up to you which one you prefer. Here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of teaching online and in person.
The advantage of teaching English in person is that you have direct contact with your students and often their parents, too. You can bond with your fellow colleagues over a particularly difficult student (or parent!) and you can help each other out when it’s time for parent-teacher conferences. You’ll get lots of experience and you’ll be able to quickly build up your resume with real jobs and references. Plus, the network of colleagues can come in handy when you’re looking for a new challenge.
The disadvantage of teaching English in person is that you are bound in a specific place and by office hours. This limits your personal freedom as it’s not possible to take a spontaneous trip somewhere or go grocery shopping in the middle of the day when it’s more quiet. If you’re a person who likes structure and predictability, this might be an advantage for you.
The disadvantages of teaching English in person are the advantages of teaching English online. By teaching online, you can teach whenever and wherever you want. The only thing you need is a laptop with a decent camera and microphone and a stable internet connection. You can either work from home or from pretty much anywhere else in the world. Depending on what kind of online teaching job, it could also mean you have more say in when and how much you work. For example, online tutoring platforms are usually pretty flexible with how many hours you put in.
The disadvantage of teaching English online is the lack of colleagues and human connection. Working from home or traveling the world as you work is great, but it can get a bit lonely.
Still not sure if you want to teach English online or in person? Here is a great article that could help you make that decision.
You can go abroad
So you just graduated and now you’re ready to take on the world? Great! Teaching English gives you a lot of opportunities to literally take on the world. The English language is often used as a mutual language all over the world when two persons don’t have the same native language. It’s spoken all over the world. This means that the job opportunities are also all over the world.
Teaching English abroad is a great way to start your career as a fresh graduate. You’ll not only get teaching experience, but you get to experience the word, too. Moving abroad means getting out of your comfort zone, and that’s where you start to learn about yourself. You can live and learn in a faraway country for several years and really get to know the culture and the locals. As a teacher, you’re often regarded with high standing and you have an immediate connection with locals and colleagues. Or you can travel around the world, only staying in the same place for however long you feel like as you teach English online.
Are you not a native speaker or you don’t have an English degree? Don’t worry, you can still teach English abroad. Most online tutoring platforms and international schools ask for a TEFL-certification to prove you are proficient in English. TELF stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and it is the most sought out way of teaching English abroad. For example, did you know that Asia is the largest and probably most lucrative region in the world for teaching English abroad? Thailand is one of those countries that always has a high demand for English teachers. Read more about Thailand at Teaching English in Thailand: Things to know | The TEFL Org.
Why is teaching English abroad good for your career? Firstly, it provides real international work experience and “real world experience”. By teaching abroad, you’ll see different parts of the world and learn how to adjust to that. International organisations are also looking for people who know a little more about the world and have experienced how it is out there. When you’re ready to settle down somewhere, whether it be your home country or another country, having international experience sets you apart from other traditional candidates. Also, having international teaching experience provides you with some interesting and unique talking points during future job interviews. In short, teaching English abroad and having international experience always looks good on your resume.
Conclusion
Teaching English is a great way to advance your career since English is such a popular language. You can teach English online or in person. Teaching English is also a great way to discover the world and travel or live abroad for a while. You’ll meet great new people and international experiences always look great on your resume. Teaching English will also help you with personal development with skills such as public speaking, communication and organization, being able to understand and connect with persons who have a different cultural background as you, and having the ability to manage a large group.
Sources:
https://www.tefl.org/teach-english-abroad/teach-english-in-thailand/
https://unfoldedmagzine.com/online-english-courses-vs-in-person-english-classes/
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35429233
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000gkv4
