Although beneficial, an education degree is not required to teach English overseas. Programs seek candidates from all academic disciplines who are flexible, open to learning about different cultures, and interested in working with youth.
Certain programs require foreign language skills.
The list below is a start, but you are certainly not limited to these options. LC alumni have also found teaching opportunities in the Czech Republic (Becky Eades ’08 – English), Poland (Nick Como ’11 – management), and South Korea (Jill Murray ’09 – English; Lenny Lenihan ’02 – political science).
Chinese Language Institute (CLI)
Teach English in the beautiful Chinese city of Guilin. Positions are available at all academic levels from elementary school to university placements. CLI also offers Chinese language instruction to teachers at a reasonable fee.
Recent participant: Jennie Pernisi ’11 (international relations)
Teaching Jobs Abroad
A primary resource for finding an English teaching job abroad. New jobs are posted here every day by schools from around the world!
CIEE Teach Abroad
Opportunities for teaching from the primary to the university level are available in Chile, China, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Spain, and Thailand. Some locations offer TEFL Certification. Teachers can live in apartments or home-stays depending on the location. Compensation varies from country to country.
Recent participant: Carolyn Nelson ’09 (English/history) in Spain.
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA)
Positions available around the world. Program requirements, such as academic background and language skills, vary from country to country. ETAs receive placements generally outside capital cities at schools from the elementary to university level. This is a highly competitive program, and there are generally fewer applications for countries outside Western Europe.
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
Administered by the Japanese government to improve foreign language instruction in Japan and to foster intercultural exchange. JET participants serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT), Sports Exchange Advisors (SEA), and Coordinators for International Relations (CIR). The CIR position requires advanced Japanese language skills, while the ALT and SEA positions do not require prior knowledge of Japanese. ALTs teach at elementary, middle, and high schools while SEAs receive placements at schools or athletic centers. CIRs generally take on positions at local government offices.
Languages Open Doors
Created by the Chilean Ministry of Education in 2003. Volunteer teachers are placed in public schools throughout Chile and assist with classroom instruction and lead extracurricular activities. While in Chile, teachers live with host families to foster greater cultural learning and exchange. At the end of their program, teachers receive a completion bonus based on the length of their stay.
Recent participants: Derrick VanLeer ’09 (Spanish/art), Kevin McCloskey ’10 (Spanish).
