Most organizations that employ ESL teachers abroad require that you hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Most programs also require you to be a native English speaker.
While not mandatory for all positions, having past teaching experience or holding a K-12 certification can increase your teaching options abroad and allow you more complete immersion in the education system of the country in which you work. For example, instead of working in an independent language academy, you can obtain a position within a primary or high school if you hold teaching certification. If you wish to teach at the college or university level, you will most likely need to pursue a master's or doctoral degree; however some countries, such as China, will allow you to teach at the university level with a bachelor's degree.
Many programs also require you to obtain certificates in either Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Holding these credentials can also give you a competitive edge in countries where many individuals are applying for teaching positions, such as Western Europe. If you are thinking of a long-term career teaching English abroad, you should consider pursuing a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL).
Demand for international English teachers varies greatly around the globe. Finding a position in Western Europe, for example, can prove difficult, since fluent English-speaking European nationals will be hired for most jobs. Teaching positions can still be found, however, with Western European private language schools. Teaching jobs in Asia and areas of the Middle East are more abundant, and programs with these countries, such as the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme or the AIPT Teach Lebanon Program, recruit recent college graduates for a variety of English teaching positions.
All countries mandate you hold a work visa for the duration of your appointment as an English teacher abroad, or else you run the risk of losing your teaching position or being deported. The requirements and parameters of these visas can differ by country, so make sure you research exactly which type of visa you need. The program facilitating your teaching placement might be able to help you obtain your visa. You will also need a current passport, not only for the duration of your stay abroad but also at the time of your visa application.