Teach abroad

• What does teaching abroad involve?
• Where can I teach abroad?
• What will I get out of teaching abroad?
• How much does teaching abroad cost or pay?
• Further information

What does teaching abroad involve?

Teaching abroad can be divided into two main categories: academic and non-academic teaching.

Academic teaching is working in a school, teaching English and other subjects to children. Volunteer teachers usually teach primary school children, and placements can be relatively short (a few weeks or months). Professional volunteering placements in teaching abroad can often be quite high-level - VSO, for example, has placements for experienced teachers and headteachers.

Non-academic teaching often involves community development and outreach programmes. There are placements for inexperienced volunteers where training is given (eg you'll be taught how to plant and care for trees, then you will teach a community how to do it). There are also opportunities for you to share your professional experience and skills.

• Training local women how to use computers
• Outreach work in an HIV/AIDS awareness project
• Teaching conservation and sustainable development, which could involve showing how to carry out research, or training people in effective land management
• Helping a project in fundraising and awareness, by teaching marketing and communication skills
• Teaching business skills

Where can I teach abroad?

Most volunteer teaching opportunities are in the developing world, although some exist in underprivileged communities in the west as well.

You can teach abroad as a paid job, but most of these jobs involve teaching English for which you need a TEFL qualification (see our teach English abroad page for more). If you want to work as a paid teacher abroad, check the embassy website for the country you're interested in to find out about visa and work permit requirements. You will also need to find out what qualifications are necessary.

What will I get out of teaching abroad?

Teaching is an immensely rewarding job. Whether you are teaching children or adults, you know that you are helping to open up many more opportunities for them. Education is a fantastic way to help people work their way out of poverty, and your teaching placement will have a positive effect on people's lives for years to come.

On a professional level, teaching experience can help you progress in your chosen career, by proving to your employer that you have training and management skills. If you're training people in business skills, you will also be working in a very different environment from the one you're used to, which will show that you are flexible, adaptable and have developed your communication skills.

What does teaching abroad cost or pay?

Professional volunteering placements (such as VSO) will usually pay you expenses and a small wage, but you must commit to a certain period of time. Also VSO will only place qualified, experienced teachers.

For other volunteer teaching abroad projects, you must pay a fee. This covers the cost of your placement, including your teaching materials - there is no funding in your destination to cover such projects so costs have to be met by the volunteers.

For paid teaching jobs abroad, it depends on the country in which you're teaching, at what level and on your experience and qualifications. English teachers don't get paid a great deal, but it is enough to live on.

Further information

• See a list of companies offering teaching abroad career breaks
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