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Preparing Yourself to Teach English Abroad

Posted by Kiva Richard - 16:27 on 19 April 2012

Applying for a passport

It probably goes without saying that you need to have a valid passport in order to travel to teach English abroad. However, you may not have considered checking the expiration date. If your passport has expired, or is nearing its expiration date you will need to apply for a new one. Passports can take up to 90 days to process so make sure you do this well in advance so that it doesn’t postpone your TEFL adventure!

Visas

A visa is a travel document that allows you to work and live legally in a foreign country. In order to teach English in most countries, a work visa is required. Depending where you are travelling, the requirements to obtain the correct working visa may vary so get in touch with the embassy and find out what you need. Like passports, the processing can take a few months so leave yourself plenty of time before setting off to get this sorted. Sometimes your TEFL employer may offer assistance in finding you the right working visa and some visas can even easily be obtained on the spot once you arrive in the country. The FCO website has a lot of useful information and details about the visa requirements to for British citizens travelling abroad.

Getting TEFL qualified 

In order to obtain a good job teaching English abroad you will need to get qualified with TEFL Scotland. Most TEFL employers require a minimum of 120 hours+ of TEFL training, ofcourse the more hours you have the higher the qualification. Any one of our recommended TEFL Courses will be recognised internationally and allow you to find that dream TEFL Job. As well as giving you the qualification that will impress employers, our accredited TEFL courses will also supply you with the skills and confidence to teach English as a foreign language anywhere in the world. After completing your TEFL course with TEFL Scotland you will also get access to our TEFL Jobs Centre which is an easy way to apply for TEFL jobs and is a free service that only our graduates can use.

Prepare yourself mentally

Expect the unexpected! Whilst teaching English abroad you will encounter all sorts of different cultures, people and religions. Try to research your destination as best you can, and make sure you get clued up on local customs and traditions so that you don’t end up accidently offending anyone. The more you can find out about your country, the better. Make sure you are open minded and don’t worry if you encounter a little culture shock to start off with, it’s only normal!
Teaching English abroad will be a unique and exciting experience that will most likely open up your eyes to a world you never knew about. If you catch the TEFL bug don’t be surprised if you find yourself extending your stay or returning for a second term.

Start your journey teaching English abroad with TEFL Scotland.
Check out our TEFL Course Options or book now.

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