Education matters for a teacher in any situation, but it's an especially interesting story for native speakers teaching English overseas. You're probably familiar with the old "chicken and the egg" problem when it comes to getting a job. You need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get experience.
Not to worry! Here are five steps to get a master's degree while gaining experience to set yourself up for a long-term career teaching English overseas.
1. Get a Bachelor's Degree
It's nice if the degree is in English, Education, or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), but it definitely doesn't have to be! If English is your native language, you are already an expert on the subject. We have seen teachers from all kinds of academic backgrounds thrive and make an amazing difference for their students. Part of what makes that possible is step two.
2. Get a Master's-Level TESOL Certificate
This is an intensive study program with a very specific focus on teaching English in the overseas classroom. The course includes topics from how to teach phonetics to classroom management skills. You'll be ready to jump into the classroom without waiting two extra years to get your master's. This certification is part of our pre-field training process for every long-term teacher, and it's also included in the nine-month Global Ambassador Program (GAP).
3. Get a Job Overseas
Congratulations! With steps one and two under your belt, you meet the requirements to teach in ELIC's host countries. One of the benefits of going with an experienced team (including the support from the North American office and your teammates on the field) is that we already have a good working relationship with the universities in our cities. They are often quick to hire teachers from an organization they know and are comfortable with.
4. Get a Master's Degree
While a bachelor's is the minimum requirement for most foreign English teacher positions, there are some exceptions when it comes to classes at higher levels or teaching more specific topics. On top of opening doors to those classrooms, a master's degree makes teachers more hireable at any level. In our experience, the demand for teachers with master's degrees is increasing as universities and governments work to raise the quality of education in their countries.
To help equip teachers to meet this demand, ELIC partners with several universities to offer discounted tuition (up to 57%) for online master's degrees completed while teaching overseas.
5. Make a Difference with Your Career
With a master's and a few years of experience under your belt, it only goes up from here! By this point, your local language skills are noticeably improving, the culture doesn't feel quite so foreign anymore, and you have a community of students, friends, and colleagues to boot! This is a solid foundation for making a difference in students’ lives and investing in that beautiful cross-cultural community. And if you decide to move to another country, you'll be starting with the education and experience you need to dive right in.
Are you interested in starting an amazing journey overseas? Explore opportunities or get started now!
