Table of Contents
UPDATED JANUARY 11th, 2021
Teaching abroad has been an amazing experience for me. I never actually thought that I would take the route of teaching and I definitely didn’t imagine the road taking me abroad. One of the most common questions that people ask me about teaching abroad is “How did you get a teaching job abroad.” Keep reading if you are interested in working abroad. Find out the best programs, websites, and recruiters to help you snag a job abroad.
Disclaimer: Different companies vet out prospective teachers based on experience, flexibility and sometimes nationality. Your experience will be different from anyone else’s. Always remember this on your journey.
RECRUITMENT SITES
TEACHAWAY
Teachaway is a free recruitment site that is used for placing teachers in international school around the globe. Teachaway places teachers in destinations like the USA, Japan, United Arab Emirates, China, Korea, United Kingdom, and more.
I recommend Teachaway as a great recruitment site because they are who I used to land my first job in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I also love that Teachaway allows you to make a profile and they match you with compatible companies and job offers.
If you are looking to teach and do not have certification, Teachaway also has courses to help certify applicants in teaching the subjects they are applying for. They give discounts for TEFL licensing which is a requirement for teachers who don’t have teaching certifications. So even if you don’t land a job through Teachaway, check out their certification program that will help you in other positions.
Requirements to apply:
Must have:
Bachelor’s degree (any major)
English fluency
ESL certificate (like a TEFL) with a minimum of 100 hours of study
Nice to have:
Teaching experience
Teaching license/credential
Footprints
Footprints is a free recruitment site that offers jobs abroad to experienced and first-time educators.
To apply with Footprints you should have a BA, TESL, TEFL or CELTA certification or be a licensed public school teacher.
Footprints applicants have the options of teaching in China, the UAE, Alaska, Hong Kong, and Korea.
Requirements to apply:
US – State Teaching license
Canada – Provincial Teaching License
UK – PGCE or QTS (depends on the job you’re applying for)
Ireland – Teaching Council Registration
Australia – National Teaching License
New Zealand – National Teaching License
South Africa – SACE
*A TEFL/CELTA certificate is not sufficient for licensed teacher positions
Edvectus
Edvectus is a free recruitment site that matches western teachers with international teaching positions.
Edvectus places teachers in locations like the Middle East, Far East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Latin America & the Carribean, Europe, and Africa.
You can also check out Edvectus discussion boards where they post helpful articles that help you transition into your new life teaching abroad.
Requirements to apply:
Unless otherwise noted, Edvectus jobs require registered / qualified/certified teachers which means that you must have teacher training appropriate to the jobs on offer, such as a Bachelor’s or Masters of Education, a Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Education or full US teacher Certification.
GoAbroad
GoAbroad is a free recruitment site that places anyone who is interested in teaching abroad, volunteering, interning, and studying abroad.
Go Abroad is the leading online search engine for international travel programs. They bring thousands of travel opportunities to your fingertips. You can find real-life participant reviews, expert travel articles, and scholarships.
If you have a teaching license or not, Go Abroad has opportunities for EVERYONE!! Check them out to fulfill your dreams of living abroad.
Requirements to apply:
As there are many programs to apply to, each opportunity has its own set of requirements. Check out the website to find out what you need to qualify today.
Seek Teachers
SeekTeachers is a free recruitment service which helps prospective teachers with placement for international teaching jobs. Working with nurseries through to universities they specialize in placements for staff, middle and senior leadership and support staff.
Seek Teachers serves the following countries:
Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabiam Singapore South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Zambia
Requirements to apply: (Per SeekTeachers Website)
As much as SeekTeachers would like to work with and help all types of teachers, we are unable do so as the majority of our clients are overseas nurseries, schools, colleges and universities that require only specific types of candidates to be recruited through SeekTeachers, in order to get the best possible match.
We consider candidates that meet the following requirements:
Native/Fluent speakers of English
Are qualified from the following countries:
Australia
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
Scotland
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
The qualifications for experience varies based on the age of students and country of placement.
Search Associates
Search Associates is a paid service and is one of the most successful recruiting agency in international education. Working with more than 750 member schools, Search Associates provides quality recruitment and consulting services, including head of school and leadership searches.
Prospective teachers tend to use this paid service vs a free recruitment agency because of their thoroughness in matching teachers with a school that is a perfect fit. You literally pay for them to do the magic and then some.
With many recruitment agencies you are given a recruiter who looks after you throughout your process. Search Associates prides themselves on nourishing the one on one treatment that they give to each candidate they work for.
Search Associates charges a database user fee/registration fee of $225.00 (Exception: UK Office and Intern Candidates) for administrators and teachers (which include counselors and librarians),and there are no registration fees for intern candidates.
Requirements to apply: (Per Search Associates Website)
International schools vary in their requirements, and the country in which a school is located may have specific requirements to establish eligibility for a work-visa and approval by the relevant government ministry. It is essential for a candidate to have at least a B.A., a B.Sc., or B.Ed. degree, and certification/qualification from a major English-speaking country is preferred for classroom teachers by at least 60% of the schools we work with.
Degree qualifications and at least two years (sometimes more) of full-time teaching experience in a suitable ‘mainstream’ school (primary/elementary and/or secondary) are often quoted as minimum requirements. Some schools will accept newly qualified candidates as well as interns. A Master’s degree is valued for teachers and administrators, and some schools look favorably at doctorates for Head of School positions. Intern candidates normally have none of the foregoing qualifications, except that they are usually about to earn a Bachelor’s degree before starting their internship.
Dave’s ESL Cafe
Dave’s ESL Cafe is a free international job posting board for ESL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers all over the world. This site is awesome as it filters job positions based on requirements and country. Not only can you find job posting on this site but there are free resources for lesson planning and forums to connect with prospective and veteran teachers around the globe.
Most people have raved about Dave’s ESL cafe for their consistency in posting job listings daily as well as stating with transparency the amount of pay that employers are willing to provide to prospective teachers.
Additionally Dave’s Cafe links teachers to students for online one on one sessions which is beneficial for those who aren’t ready to move abroad just yet but would like to earn extra cash flow.
Requirements to apply:
As this job board posts various positions, there isn’t a consistent requirement across the board. Some listing offer positions for prospects who have a TEFL/TESOL, some require a college degree while others require neither.
ONLINE TEACHING JOB SITES
Not technically teaching abroad but definitely a way to help you experience teaching students from different parts of the world. Online teaching is a great starter to begin preparing yourself for the experience of teaching outside of your norm. And it’s pretty good money for a side gig. I suggest teaching online for the people who may want to teach abroad but need to take it slow. Also, if you are saving up for your big move…online teaching is a great way to do it.
VIP KID
VIPKID is an online education company that connects students and teachers globally through one-to-one personalized English language classes.
To teach with VIPKID you must hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree and your pay can increase based on experience and high education. VIPKID is one of the best paid online teaching jobs if you are interested in teaching English online.
With VIPKID you can work when you want, where you want – with no commitment or minimum hours.
GOGOKid
GoGoKid aims to create a connection between Chinese students and the world by providing a global learning experience. Their mission is to foster students to learn English as a tool, not as a goal.
With GoGoKid you teach students one on one lessons in English and they offer pay from $14-$25.
GoGoKid does not have specific requirements regarding the residence as long as teachers have a stable internet connection.
Q Kids
 "PINTEREST"){kind=logo}
“Qkids connects 600,000+ Chinese learners between 4 – 12 years old with thousands of other online teachers, tutors, educators, stay at home parents, college students, and all those who have a passion for teaching. If you like starting your day with smiling faces of curious kids, join the Qkids family today!” -Qkids
To work with Qkids you must be legally eligible to work in the US & Canada. You also either must have a bachelor’s degree or a teaching certification.
Qkids lesson format is a bit different from other online companies in that you may have a class from 1-4 students. You also must teach a minimum of 6 hours which is 12 classes.
Qkids starts out with a base pay of $8 per lesson.
PALFISH
PalFish is an app-based platform meaning you need an iOS (Apple) or Android cell phone/tablet in order for this to work for you. With PalFish, you can teach both one-on-one and larger groups of students. Non-native English speaking teachers are encouraged to apply.
- must be fluent in English.
- should have some teaching experience.
- must possess a teaching certificate (TESOL, TEFL, CELTA)
- must be a native English speaker.
- (no degree required)
CAMBLY
Working with Cambly as a tutor you don’t need a teaching certificate, bachelor’s degree or any prior teaching experience. “Cambly tutors are dynamic native speakers from the United States, Canada, UK and Australia, etc.”
- no experience necessary.
- no degree or teaching certificate necessary.
- must be a native English speaker.
- earn $10.20 USD/hour.
- no minimum hours, no commitment.
- get paid weekly.
- easy application process.
- only requires a phone or computer.
NO DEGREE JOB SITES
Some people may disagree with teachers being able to teach without a degree and I would kindly disagree. In some situations, knowing basic English or conversational English can go a long way. There are certain countries and programs whose aim is to place themselves or their children in a setting where they learn to speak English and this is perfect for those without a degree. These jobs are also ideal if you are eager to teach but have never had the opportunity to get a higher education. Take this chance to build your resume and your skills and enthusiasm will take you far.
DISCLAIMER: INFORMATION ABOUT THESE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE INDIVIDUAL JOB PLACEMENT SITES
ARKIAGO
Arkiago is a placement company in Japan which is known for its high education expectations. Being a native or near native level English speaker has its perks, because the skills you need for these positions are already in your possession. So, with no degree required, although a TEFL certification is a plus for any teaching job. With Arkiago job placement you can work, explore and have free housing!
Where: Hiroshima
Average pay: ~$2,000/month
TEACHING NOMAD
Although Teaching Nomad is on my recruitment list, I wanted to highlight specific locations that they offer for teaching without a degree or TEFL certification.
If Cambodia is not yet on your destination list, you should give it a second thought, because teaching English in Cambodia without a degree has its perks, and they don’t even require a TEFL Certification. Most positions offer accommodation, visa, pay for your flights and offer transportation to and from school.
FYI at first glance on the website you may see that a bachelors degree is required BUT look at the individual jobs to find the non degree requirement positions.
- Where: Cambodia
- Average pay: ~$1,200/month
ITTT
Teaching English in Mexico may be one of the easiest ways to teach abroad without a degree or certification. If you have yet to get your TEFL Certification, ITTT offers you the chance to obtain it and upon successful completion, they will find a teaching job placement in Mexico and help you through the entire process. How dope is that?!
- Where: Mexico
- Average pay: ~$2,000
If you are interested in teaching abroad or teaching students from around the world try using any of these resources. Share them with your friends and family that may also be interested.
Good luck! You got this!
Until Next Time,
Take the World
 "PINTEREST")
I often have people who ask how you started living and teaching abroad! This post gives all of the information in a very informative but compact version. It also provides information that someone who may be interested in teaching abroad or teaching students from other countries through the internet can use!
Please be sure to share with anyone who asks I think that this can be very helpful