Travelling throughout Asia is very popular; it’s a beautiful continent with lots to see, incredible history and culture and offers fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experiences. However, taking off and seeing a whole continent throughout the year is simply impossible for so many people. Money is always the key sticking point, but what if you could travel to your heart’s content and earn money as you go? Teaching English abroad is the perfect solution to see in the world and maintaining a healthy bank balance.
TEFL qualifications equip you with many skills to teach English in Asia in person or online, meaning that all you need to earn money is a reliable, fast Internet connection. Whether you are chasing the sun or want to learn more and immerse yourself in other cultures, there are so many benefits to teaching English as a foreign language abroad. As a native speaker with a TEFL qualification, you will be in high demand and find it easy to secure work, so let’s look at the process needed to teach English as you travel through Asia.
Five Simple Steps
1. Take your TEFL certification
2. Plan your travel itinerary
3. Look for work
4. Locate accommodation to suit your budget
5. Don’t forget the visas and health and travel insurance
1. Take Your TEFL Courses
The Level 5 TEFL course is a very valuable qualification that you will be able to make use of throughout the whole of your career. Even when you have finished travelling, teaching English online or abroad can be an advantageous way to earn a living or top up your primary income as a side hustle; you can gain your TEFL certification online. The courses we offer are accredited and regulated by recognised organisations, including OFQUAL, so you can be assured that your qualification is reputable and genuine. There are various ways to qualify to teach English abroad or online. Still, we recommend the 120-hour TEFL course as a minimum to ensure that you have all the skills necessary when you head out on your travels to Asia. Because the courses are online, they fit neatly into your life and can be studied during the evenings and weekends if you need to continue in your current job.
2. Plan Your Travel Itinerary
There are many fantastic opportunities for TEFL-qualified teachers looking to work in Asia. It’s also a great place for newly qualified teachers who may need more experience in some other locations worldwide. China, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia all offer a wealth of excellent vacancies. When planning your itinerary, remember that you need to keep it relatively flexible as you will be looking for your next role as you go. But that said, with a recognised qualification under your belt, gaining actual teaching experience in every country visit, securing a new placement should be easy. It would be best to be upfront with any school about how long you are willing to stay in the area, but plenty of short-term contracts are on offer. It’s also common for a teacher to fall in love with the location of one of the placements and end up staying longer than they originally planned, so be prepared to be flexible.
You will quickly discover the requirements for each location, but there are plenty of vacancies for those who still need to have a degree, provided they have the TEFL qualification. Language schools are always an excellent place to look for work and are found in almost every country. Often language schools operate evening and weekend classes because their main pupil base will be adults who work full-time or students looking to improve their English with other commitments during the day. This could be great if you are looking to travel and work because, during the day, you will be free to explore and be a tourist before returning to work in the evenings.
Some students opt to teach English online and secure a role with a company before they leave the country. This means you have access to work wherever you travel, provided you have a stable Internet connection. Of course, you can combine teaching English online and in person on a part-time basis. Just be careful to abide by any working Visa regulations laid down by each country. As well as the countries mentioned above, jobs can be found in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.
3. Look for Work
Many interviews take place online, and companies are more than happy to recruit staff in this manner. Of course, if you’re teaching English online, you will be a virtual staff member. If you are concerned about your teaching abilities, you could find work teaching English online before committing to making your first travel plan. This means you can practice and gain confidence; it will be slightly different face-to-face. You can also earn extra money to help with the initial travelling expenses. When you are ready to start heading to Asia, you can look for your first job, as this will give you the information needed to apply for your Visa and make plans for accommodation, travel, and health insurance. There are plenty of job listings online where you can find the best role. If you start in one of the most popular locations like China or Japan finding a job should be easy.
As well as language school opportunities can be found in government-sponsored programs and are well-known across Asia. International schools generally do not hire English teachers as the whole curriculum is taught in English. Still, if you have a speciality like science, maths or art, you may be able to find work in an international school, providing you have a degree-level education yourself. There is also the opportunity to pick up cash in hand work as a private tutor.
4. Locate Accommodation to Suit Your Budget
Many jobs teaching English abroad, including those in Asia, will come with some form of accommodation assistance. Schools sometimes provide short-term shared apartment rentals for their teachers, so you must be prepared to live with strangers. This is a widespread experience in Asia, especially if you are working for a government-sponsored program. If your employer provides accommodation, make sure it is clear what expenses you need to make provision for—keeping costs to a minimum when living and working in Asia generally means living like a native and eating at home or using smaller restaurants and Cafes. Avoid any chain restaurants that have been bought over from the West. Stay away from tourist and ex-pat areas for your general shopping, and you will find that costs are easily affordable.
If you are looking to source your location, it’s worth bearing in mind that teaching English online requires a quiet space to offer a professional service. This means that hostels or room-sharing situations are going to be inappropriate. Internet connectivity varies vastly, and if you are teaching in person in the location, you don’t need to worry too much about the quality of the Internet as it’s only going to be for personal use. However, suppose you hope to make a living teaching English online while travelling. In that case, you need to ensure you have a robust Internet connection that will enable you to work professionally.
5. Don’t Forget Visas, and Health and Travel Insurance
Regarding visas, the criteria will vary depending on the location. It generally depends on how long you plan to stay in one place; temporary visas only cover around six months, whereas permanent visas give you 12 months. When applying for a visa, you generally need confirmation of employment or sponsorship from the school you are going to work for. It can take around 4 to 6 weeks to sort out visa issues, so you need to be aware of this before you leave for Asia. If you are planning to change your country, consider the visa application in your itinerary plans.
Health and travel insurance are both important considerations when you leave home. Travel insurance generally caters for very short-term travellers, so this may only cover your flights and travel process. If you plan to base yourself in Asia for some time, you need to look into international health insurance, as you will need comprehensive coverage should you need medical care. It’s unrealistic to think that if you spend six months to a year in a foreign land, you will never need to see a doctor or visit a hospital, and this can be incredibly expensive if you do not have the correct cover in place. It’s worth researching every country you plan to visit and learning more about their healthcare.
