While teaching in your country can be extremely rewarding, there is something intriguing about helping children all over the world learn new facts and improve their skills. After all, teaching abroad offers an unparalleled adventure, helps broaden your horizons, and enhances your tolerance of different cultures. Asia has become one of the biggest growing economies in the world and many teachers have started seeking jobs there. This region provides teachers with many benefits ranging from higher salaries to low-cost living.
So, if you want to land a teaching job in Asia and do not know what to expect, do not worry; we have compiled all the information you might need before you take that big leap.
The Requirements
Before you make any life-changing decision, you need to understand the documents and experience you will need to teach in Asia. While not all Asian countries have the same standards regarding teaching requirements, they all agree on a few fixed guidelines.
Thus, you need to be aware of them to make sure you are eligible for the position you are applying for. Generally, such requirements include:
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Educational Requirements: These include a bachelor’s degree or a diploma from a certified university. If you want to teach English as a native speaker, your degree can be related to any field of study.
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A TEFL or CELTA Certificate: These prove that you have hands-on experience in teaching. Although the cost of this course can amount to $2000, you will gain invaluable experience pertinent to class management, teaching techniques, and lesson preparation. Some countries like Korea require at least 100 hours of classwork, so you need to check the requirements of your destination.
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A Criminal Background Check: As a teacher, you are expected to have a clean record. If you are American, you will need to pass an FBI check before proceeding. As a general rule of thumb, any felonies or misdemeanors on your record will eliminate you.
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Health and Drug Tests: To ensure the safety of their students, most Asian states will require a health test to prove that you are free of any contagious diseases. Also, you will be tested to check for substance abuse. Keep in mind to ask whether you need to take the test before or after you arrive at your destination.
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A Work Permit and Visa: To legally work in Asian countries, you need to have a work permit and a visa. These can be easily obtained once you pass the other tests and submit the required documents. In some cases, your employer can pay the fees of issuing your work permit.
How To Find a Suitable Job
Now that you know all the requirements you need before teaching in Asia, you need to find a reputable recruiter to make sure the hiring process goes as smoothly as possible. You can easily find online recruiters who are able to offer you good teaching positions in schools and get you interviews. You might be required to send your CV to your potential employer on email or get an interview via Skype. If you are going to teach in a language center, your employer might ask you to give a demo class to make sure you are qualified.
The Salary
Let’s get to the juicy details. You may be wondering if moving to the other side of the world is worth it, and the answer is: absolutely! You can get up to $4000 a month in Singapore while your salary can be anywhere between $800-2500 in China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. However, these countries have a very low cost of living, meaning that you will be able to live comfortably and even save a bit for the future.
Other Considerations
If you are looking for a rewarding teaching experience, then look no further. Asian students are polite and appreciative, which means you will not have a hard time controlling your class. They are also known to be diligent, so you will see them evolve fast. Moreover, you will have a great time discovering some local delights; Asian cultures, in general, are very rich. Thus, there is never going to be a dull moment. In South Korea, because your school arranges your accommodation before you arrive, you will not have to worry about any details if you cannot speak the country’s language.
Seeking a job in another country can be scary if you do not know what to expect. Like what if you land in a country with some strange traditions and yet you have zero knowledge about it? This could mean a serious problem on your end! That is why you need to do research on the country of your destination beforehand. Yet, Asian countries welcome thousands of foreign teachers every year, so you do not have to worry about landing a job. You just need to go over the above points before you make up your mind, but you are bound to find teaching in Asia rewarding, convenient, and lucrative.