Free Housing and Language Classes in Exchange for English

If you're looking for a cultural experience and are only able to commit to teaching for a short time then swapping English classes for room, board, and language lessons might be for you. Learning the language isn't as hard as you may think it is. Take a look at the language hacking guide by Benny the Irish Polyglot the owner of Fluent in 3 Months.


Bolivia

• La Paz: The Point Hostel is always looking for cool, outgoing and responsible people who speak a couple of languages and can commit at least a month. They offer competitive wages, a bed, half board (breakfast and lunch), free entrance to the best clubs and discos, and much more. They need hostel managers, bar managers, barmen, and receptionists.

Brazil

• Porto Alegre: V. Baumhardt Ensino de Linguas is looking for teachers to teach English for one or two semesters. You'll get free housing, visa assistance, Portuguese lessons, and a small stipend.

Chile

• Santiago: Manhattan English Institute email them on elbajaramillos@hotmail.com (thanks go to dannyboyinchile). They offer free housing and Spanish lessons.

• Various: English Opens Doors offers home-stay with a Chilean family, meals, health insurance, TEFL training, an online Spanish course and a participation bonus of 60,000CLP for each month of service.

China

• Various: Omedia offers English in exchange for Chinese lessons or Taichi.

Costa Rica

• Torguguero: Meybel Hostel and Hostel El Icaco have been known to offer free housing in exchange for English lessons.

Czech Republic

• Prague: Jazykava Contact them op info@jazykava.cz (thanks go to Chris Westergaad). They currently offer inexpensive Czech lessons and are working on a language exchange. Try reading Chris Westergaard's info on teaching in Prague as well.

Guatemala

• Xela: Don Diego hostel (thanks go to OleLarssen). They offer free housing in exchange for English classes.
• Xela: Utatlan Spanish School. If you will be in Xela for more than two months then you can either get paid for the hours you teach or exchange them for Spanish classes

Mexico

• Due to the low cost of living, more and more people are going to Mexico to retire. Check out Retire in Luxury in Mexico for more info.
• Chipas: Dunham Institute contact them on academic-coordinator@dunhaminstitute.com. They have a language exchange where you get free housing and Spanish lessons. You must commit at least five months (from August to January or February until July).

Peru

• Arequipa, Cusco, Lima, Mancora, and Puno: The Point Hostel is always looking for cool, outgoing and responsible people who speak a couple of languages and can commit at least a month. They offer competitive wages, a bed, half board (breakfast and lunch), free entrance to the best clubs and discos, and much more. They need hostel managers, bar managers, barmen, and receptionists.
• Arequipa: In return for working at the La Casa de los Pinguinos Hostel you get room, full board and several excursions (rafting, cycling and Colca Canyon). Working hours: 7.30am - 10am and 4.30pm – 9pm, 6 days a week. During your stay you will work in the front desk and bar. Your main job is to give information to tourists. Requirements: fluent English, basic Spanish, ideally German, and non-smoker. The room has a double bed, cable TV, WiFi and private bathroom. 3-6 months.
• Chachapoyas: International Language Center contact them on ilc.chachapoyas@gmail.com. You are paid about 200 usd a month to teach 25 hours of English, German, or French a week. Housing is about 50usd a month. Spanish lessons are also available. Email Angel for more information.
• Huaraz and Lima: Britannia Teachers Peru is an NGO that teaches English to students in the poorer areas of Peru. Contact them on contact@britannia-teachers-peru.com.
• Piura: I.E.P. Bilingue Brilliant Star in Piura contact them on ashley.pohlmann@gmail.com. They offer free housing, board, and Spanish lessons.

Poland
You stay for 6 days in a 3-star hotel in Poland (board + lodging paid) in exchange for conversing in English with Polish participants. You need to a native speaker though.More info at Angloville.

Spain

• Various: Pueblo Ingles has 8 day teaching exchanges throughout Spain throughout the year. You'll get free food, accomodations, and a coach ticket back to Madrid.

United States

• The US State Department has a list of exchange programmes.

Vietnam

• Phan Thiet: Tri Cong has been said to offer free housing and a stipend in exchange for English classes (thanks go to ajc19810).

World

• Peace Boat offers a chance to teach on board as well as visit a number of countries. Volunteer positions last three months.

Volunteering, English Camps, and Teaching Exchanges

• CSIET has comprehensive information about exchanges. 
• Volunteer South America which has a fantastic list of free and low-cost volunteer opportunities. 
• You can find more info in Volunteer Opportunities for Teachers.
• If you want to earn some money then summer and winter camps might work for you since you don't have to sign a contract for a long time. 
• If you're an experienced teacher try a teaching exchange.

Updated 8 October 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

How to Create a Teaching Portfolio

What To Include in Teaching Portfolios
Try to collect material from each job. It’s better to have more items that allow you to pick and choose when going to a job interview, than have too little to show. Look for a professional binder that allows you to add or take out pages as needed. Rather than punch holes directly into papers, it’s better to buy plastic sheet protectors to put your papers inside.

• Academic papers and projects
• Certificates from conferences or short courses
• Cover letter
• Criminal background check
• CV
• Degree
• DVD of you teaching
• Lesson plans and materials you created
• Letters of recommendation
• List of conferences and workshops given / attended
• List of publications and summary of each publication
• List of textbooks you've taught with
• Observations by other teachers or admin
• Evaluations done by admin
• Evaluations done by students
• Evaluations done by other teachers
• Photocopy of your passport
• Photos of you teaching
• Students' work
• Syllabi
• Teaching philosophy (discuss language learning and teaching)
• TEFL certificate
• Transcripts

Updated 15 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Teaching Abroad, Perks, and the Cost of Living

Remember that salary isn't the only thing to consider. Here's an interesting post about good salaries in Amsterdam.

Freebies

• When you don't have an item to pay for such as a car.
• Medical Insurance
• Free housing or housing allowance
• Utilities allowance
• Free internet
• Free meals /meal allowance
• Transportation allowance
• Computer and printer provided
• No taxes or lower taxes. Here's information for Americans.
• Grants. There are grants for people who work abroad such as the Christianson Grant.

Perks and Benefits

• Pension plan
• Chance for advancement / pay rise
• Flight reimbursement or a travel allowance
• Few teaching hours
• Chance to earn more by teaching private classes.
• More free time
• Longer vacation
• Chance to travel to other nearby countries
• Overtime

The Cost of Living
Going out to eat back home might cost you at least $20 plus tip. In other countries you can get a nice meal for less than $5 and no tip is required. Things, such as transport, movies, going out to drink, or going to a spa might be significantly cheaper. In fact many people enjoy their lives much more overseas even though they are getting a lower salary because they are able to afford luxuries more often.

When you add up the freebies, perks and benefits you might be pleasantly surprised to see that teaching overseas is often more lucrative than staying at home and chance are you'll enjoy your life more. Many people use their time overseas to pay off debt and save money for retirement while still having a good time.

Updated 15 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Are You Ready to Teach English Abroad?

In some countries going abroad is a part of life. For example, in New Zealand, people between the ages of 16 and 25 often go abroad for the Big OE (overseas experience). Some come back and some don't. If going abroad to teach English sounds like something you'd like to do check out the info below as well as 30 days to move abroad.

Going abroad has many benefits: you'll learn how to solve problems, be tolerant of different cultures and customs, be flexible, adapt, accept the unknown, learn another language, and many other things such as those International Schools Resource wrote about in things you can learn while teaching overseas.

Do You Have What It Takes to Teach English Abroad?
While there are many reasons to teach English abroad here are the top reasons NOT to teach abroad. Be sure to check out these questions you should consider before teaching English abroad, read what Expat Guy says, and find out what makes a good TEFL teacher. There are certain characteristics that you need if you're going to live abroad such as the ones listed below. If you're serious about teaching English abroad read all about teaching English abroad.

• Adaptable
• Adventurous
• Constructive criticism
• Creative
• Culture
• Customs
• Easy-going
• Empathy
• Energetic
• Flexible
• Focused on creating good lesson plans
• Goal orientated
• Humourous
• Independent
• Knowledgeable
• Language skills
• Optimistic
• Organised
• Passionate about teaching
• People skills
• Professional development
• Punctual
• Self sufficient
• Team player
• Enjoys travelling

Culture Shock
Your attitude is just as important as your teaching ability. If an employer doesn’t think that you will be able to overcome culture shock they may not hire you. Culture shock is a normal part of moving abroad. Everyone suffers from culture shock but those who don’t end up overcoming it often end up breaking contract and going home. Make sure you're prepared so that it doesn't happen to you.

Updated 7 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Cold Calling to Get Teaching Jobs

Do your research. Make a list of at least 10 CEOs or employers that you'd like to contact. Online forums, such as Dave’s ESL Cafe are good places to learn about schools. If you are in country, then talk to other teachers and find out which schools are worth applying to.

If you’re only applying to schools that advertise positions you’re missing a lot of good jobs. When you apply to an advert you’re competing with lots of other teachers. By cold calling you’re taking a chance that the school might have an upcoming position that hasn’t been advertised yet and are beating other teachers to the punch.

It's best to go in person if possible. If you want to talk to someone it's much easier for them to say no if you send an email or call. Sometimes it's impossible to go in person, if that's the case, look at these tips from Cool Careers for Dummies by Marty Nemko PhD and Richard N. Bolles.

What to say when you call
One way of getting straight to the person in charge is calling before and after work. They often come in early and you won't risk getting a secretary. Calling from 7:30-9am or 5-7pm often works.

If you get a secretary try being less formal. Saying something like, "Hi, is John available?" might make the secretary think that you're a friend or family member and put you right through. You could also say, "I could really use your help." This statement empowers them and helps turn even the strictest secretaries. Using humour may help as well, "This might be one of the wierder calls you've gotten." could make them crack a smile or even tell you about some of the weird calls they've gotten.

When you do get through to the person you want to talk to be enthusiastic. The fact that you're calling them and asking them for an opportunity means that you're a go-getter. Most people who have positions of power have also taken risks and admire people who do so. Try saying "Someone must have given you your first chance and I'm looking for someone to give me mine." You could also offer to work for free. After all, you'd probably learn more from them than a college course and the college would charge you to study with them. They might even offer you a job afterwards.

If they can't help you out, then ask them if they could recommend someone who could help you. Whether or not they give you the contact details, thank them anyways for their time. If you get a name, then call them and mention the person who gave you their name.



Emailing
Send a personalised letter of introduction and your CV. Keep in mind that you might not receive an answer, but the key factor to remember is that you are making contact. You might try calling or arranging a meeting with the director as well.

Follow Up
Send another email or call them. If they don’t have any vacancies now or in the near future ask to be notified when vacancies do arise.

Updated 14 December 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Learning the Local Lingo while Teaching ESL

This is part 2 of learning the local lingo and is guest post written by James Zerfoss. For more tips take a look at the language hacking guide by Benny the Irish Polyglot, the owner of Fluent in 3 Months.

Some people teach ESL because they would like to learn the local language. This is a great opportunity for many native English speakers. The one drawback is that you will be spending four or five hours a day teaching English. That means that you will be required to speak English during those hours. Furthermore it will likely put you in a community of English speakers. I think this is one major determining factor as to how well students acquire a foreign language.

I am currently attending a university in Taipei every morning to learn Mandarin and working as an English teacher in the afternoon. The one major obstacle I see for most people, not only for native English speakers is that many people spend most of their free time speaking their native language with friends from their country.

Few students actually spend much of their free time speaking Mandarin. Of course I realize that learning the language of the host country is not everyone’s primary goal. Some people are just in another country to have fun and learn about the culture. For the more serious language learner you really need to distance yourself from the pack. You need to make local friends and try to spend your weekends with locals and not your fellow countrymen. You can do this by doing your favorite hobbies. You can join a hiking club, find local drinking partners, local musicians, or local skateboarders.


Language Partners
They can be helpful but I believe that many people in Asia have mixed reviews on language partners. Since their English is likely to be better than what you can speak their language sometimes they take advantage of the situation. I have not used language partners much in Taiwan but had language partners in South Korea since there were no Korean language courses available where I lived.

The one drawback to doing a language exchange is that if you are not serious about grammar you may really miss some important points. There are grammar aspects that taking a course that tests you on certain grammar can help with. That said, I know people who really liked grammar or who were translators that really hammered away at learning the grammar.

University Courses
In some countries it is possible to attend courses at a university language center in the morning and work at a language school in the afternoon. This will cost you more but it will guarantee that you listen to two or three hours of the local language a day. This is not an aspect to be overlooked. If you are a true beginner it will take you some time to make local friends that do not speak English.

Friends
One good way to learn the local language is to make friends. In some areas of the word this is easier to do than others not to mention that people all over the world are looking to practice their English. In some countries it can become a struggle to get people to stop speaking English to you. In my experience Asian countries are the best for getting opportunities to speak the local language. Part of this is that many Asians are not very confident when it comes to speaking English.

If you show that you are confident at speaking their language, they are likely to speak to you only in their language. That even happens when their English is better than you can speak their language. In some European countries the opposite happens. Some Europeans are so confident in speaking English that as soon as they hear your English accent they will try to speak to you in English.

Input
It is all about input. While speaking is great, if you really want to get good at a language you need input. You need to have people talk to you. You can also listening to music and watch DVDs. Another thing you can do is join a local club or take a class about something that you are interested in. I have met some Koreans and Chinese with great English who have never been to an English speaking country. How did they do it? Well they have been watching American movies for years, even decades. Not to mention that movies and friends will teach you local lingo that you are not likely to find in a book.

My Experience
I have studied German in Germany, Spanish in Peru, Korean in South Korea, and Mandarin in Taiwan. I learned spoken German by having a German girlfriend in Berlin. German was also my major in college. After studying German Literature for two years at the University of Delaware I moved to South Korea. I lived in the country side for one year and learned a lot of Korean from language exchanges and Korean friends. Later I lived in Gwangju and learned a lot of Korean from a good friend Tae-yung.

Now I have been living in Taiwan for over a year. I hope to study at Taiwan Normal University for the next two years and then take the American Foreign Service Test.

*I realise it should be EFL, however, many people use ESL when they're talking about EFL.

Updated 22 January 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

TEFL Certificates, Diplomas, Masters, and PhDs

If you're considering online education do your research since some places will not accept distance degrees. For example, the Ministry of Education in the UAE doesn't accept them but the Ministry of Higher Education does. This means that you can't teach K-12 with a distance degree but you can teach at university. Distance learning schools has some good info as well.

• If you want to teach at a university masters are useful. Consider getting your online masters in TESOL.
• If you want to teach children get a PCGE or PCDE.
• If you don't have a degree read is a degree necessary?".
• You might also want to learn a bit of the local language.

There's lots of information in this article. Click on the text below to be taken to that particular section. All programmes listed below are taught exclusively in English. Most of the masters degree programmes can be done completely online or only require you to be on campus for a few weeks.

• TEFL Certificates
• TEFL Diplomas
• Management Diplomas
• Teacher Training Certificates
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) / Teaching Licenses
• Master Programme Basics
• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Costa Rica
• England
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Israel
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Peru
• Saudi Arabia
• Scotland
• South Africa
• Spain
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United States
• Wales
• Distance EdD /PhD Programmes

TEFL Certificates

• If you're interested in getting an initial qualification please read choosing a TEFL course.
• International House has a range of these courses. Most can be taken online and some of them are free.
• Oxford University offers an English Language Teachers Summer Seminar.
• University of Edinburgh offers a variety of short courses.
• University of California Riverside also has a couple certificates aimed at primary and secondary teachers.
• University of London has an EAP Teacher Training Course available.
• The US Department of State has an E-Scholarship Programme available to non-US citizens.

TEFL Diplomas

• ACTDEC
• Advanced Diploma (ES) TESOL - 450 hours from TEFL Training College
• DELTA (two month full-time)
• Distance Delta (two weeks on-campus and about 8 to 10 months of online study)
• Notting Hill College offers a TESOL Diploma that can completely be done online.
• Fellowship Diploma in TESOL Education Studies from Trinity College 
• OnTESOL
• Online Delta (for some reason module one is twice as expensive as the Distance Delta. Luckily you could do module 1 with the DD and modules 2 and 3 with the OD)
• Trinity LTCL Dip TESOL
• University of California Riverside has a couple of affordable programmes as well.

Management Diplomas

• IDLTM is offered by Cambridge
• IH London offers courses in Educational Management.
• International House has a DOS course in Spain and online.

Teacher Training Certificates

• IH London also might offer one if there is enough interest.
• International House offers one in Barcelona and it's only a week.
• SIT offers an intensive course that takes a couple of months.

Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) / Teaching Licenses

• These are necessary to teach an international school.
• You can do a GDTL almost completely online now with USQ in Australia.
• University of California Riverside has a couple of affordable programmes as well.
• International Teacher Certification from Cambridge might be another option.

Master Programme Basics
Many people feel that 1 year programmes are inferior than 2 year programmes. However, you have to remember that it's quality, not quantity that matters. "If you factor in skills, such as project and time management, that are required to complete a British Masters within its tight timescale, judgements on quality based on a course's length appear shaky. (Masters of Europe, 2005)".

Be sure to consider how much time you will be expected to devote each week. It’s also worth asking about the graduates. If many people start a programme but few finish you might want to look at another school. There are a many programmes out there: online, on-campus, and blended learning (those that are a mix of the two).

Make sure that you select an accredited programme and ask about online support. There’s nothing like writing a paper and not being able to submit it because there’s a problem with the system. Your professors should be accomplished in the area they teach, have substantial teaching and training experience, as well as publications. Having an adviser who can answer questions is also good.

Don’t go for the cheapest programme out there since you usually get what you pay for. If you’re a US citizen look at IEFC. Scholarships and paying in installments might also be an option. Some universities (such as those in Asia) have been known to offer discounts simply because you're a foreigner. You can often transfer credits from another university, a certification course, or a diploma course (Cambridge ESOL has good info.) Other universities offer credits for proven work experience.

Master Degrees from Australia

• You can find universities in The Good Guides, Markogilvie, andGradschool.com.
• Here's a post about costs of MAs in Australia compared to those in the UK.
• Deakin University - MA of TESOL, or MA in Professional Education and Training, or MA in Teaching, or MA in Education, or MEd in Educational Leadership and Administration, or MA in Special Needs
• Macquire University - MA in Applied Linguistics
• Monash University - MA in Education
• University of New England - MA in Applied Linguistics
• University of Southern Queensland - MA in Applied Linguistics
• University of Tasmania - MA in Education with specialisations in: Professional Learning and School Improvement, Science / Mathematics, Online / ICT, Adult Learning, Global Education, Educational Leadership, Health / Well-being, Literacy, TESOL, and Education Research.
• University of Technology, Sydney - MA in TESOL / Applied Linguistics
• University of Wollongong - Master of Adult Education, Master of Educational Leadership, Master of Higher Education, Master of Information Technology in Education and Training, Master of Literacy Education, Master of TESOL, Master of Vocational Education and Training

Master Degrees from Canada

• You can find universities in Petersons and Grad School Finder
• Athabascau Univeristy - MA in Integrated Studies
• Trinity Western University - MA in TESOL
• University of Calgary - MA in Education Specialisations in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Educational Contexts, Educational Leadership, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Technology, Second Language Teaching. TESL, and Workplace and Adult Learning.
• University of Toronto - MEd in Second Language Education

Master Degrees from China

• If you're interested in learning Chinese, take a look at the free courses offered by Rocket Languages.
• Oregon-Hanyang - MA TESOL
• Lancaster University in China- Double degree with Lancaster and Shanghai Jiao Tong University - MA in Applied Linguistics.

Masters Degrees from Costa Rica

• Empresarial University of Costa Rica- MA in Education.

Masters Degrees from England

• Here's a post about costs of MAs in Australia compared to those in the UK.
• You can find universities in Education UK, GTTR, Prospects, and Gradschool.com.
• Aston - MSc in TESOL, or Teaching English for Specific Purposes, or Teaching English to Young Learners, or Educational Management or MSc in Applied Linguistics
• Charles Darwin University - MA in Education, MA in Applied Linguistics
• Lancaster University - MA in English Language or MA in TESOL or MA in Language Testing.
• Lancaster University in China. Double degree with Lancaster and Shanghai Jiao Tong University - MA in Applied Linguistics.
• Lancaster University in Hong Kong - MA in TESOL.
• IH London - Educational Management.
• Notting Hill College - MA in TEFL
• Open University - MA in Education
• Oxford Brookes University - MA in TESOL
• Sheffield Hallam University - MA in TESOL
• University of Birmingham - MA in TEFL or MA in Applied Linguistics
• University of Exeter - MEd, MSc in Educational Research, MA in Leadership
• University of Leicester - MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics
• University of Liverpool, in Israel (TASP: Teaching and Studying Programmes)- MA in English Language Teaching (There has been some controversy about this degree so do your research carefully.)
• University of London - MA in TESOL.
• University of London - MA in TESOL
• University of Manchester - MA in TESOL
• University of Nottingham - MA in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching
• University of Portsmouth - MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL
• University of Reading - MA in Applied Linguistics, or MA (Res) in Applied Linguistics, or MA in English Language Teaching.
• University of Sunderland - MA in TESOL, MA in International Education, MA in Education.
• University of York - MA in Teaching English to Young Learners

Masters Degrees from Hong Kong

• Lancaster University - MA in TESOL.

Masters Degrees from Ireland

• Here's a post about costs of MAs in Australia compared to those in the UK.
• You can find universities in HEA, Postgrad, or CAO

Master Degrees from Israel

• Tel Aviv University - MA TESOL
• University of Haifa - MA TEFL
• University of Liverpool, in Israel (TASP: Teaching and Studying Programmes)- MA in English Language Teaching (There has been some controversy about this degree so do your research carefully.)

Masters Degree from Japan

• If you're interested in learning Japanese, take a look at the free courses offered by Rocket Languages.)
• Colombia University - MA in TESOL
• Temple University - MSEd in TESOL

Masters Degrees from Korea

• The ebooks Coming to Korea and Living in Korea have lots of good info.
• Catholic University of Daegu - MA in TESOL. They have agreements with the University of Pennslyvania, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, State University of New York, Potsdam.
• Daegu Haany University - MA in TESOL
• Dankook University - MA in TEFL
• Korea University Graduate School of International Studies -  MA in International Studies
• Hanyang-Oregon - MA TESOL
• Seoul National University of Education - MA in TESOL.
• Sookmyung University - MA in TEFL
• Sungkyunkwan University with Georgetown - MA TESOL
• Woosong University - MA in TESOL-MALL. They have a dual degree option with St. Cloud State in Minnesota.

Masters Degrees from Mexico

• Universidad de las Americas Puebla - MA in Teaching

Masters Degrees from New Zealand

• You can find universities in Kiwi Careers
• Massey University - MA in Literacy Education, MEd, MEd in Educational Leadership
• University of Auckland - MEd in TESOL
• Victoria University - MA in TESOL or MA in Applied Linguisitics

Masters Degrees from Peru

• If you're interested in learning Spanish take a look at Synergy Spanish, the Language Hacking Guide, and Rocket Languages.
• FUNIBER - MA in TEFL. FUNIBER has a consortium with the University of Piura, Peru and the University of Jaen, Spain.

Masters Degrees from Saudi Arabia

• School for International Training - teaching fellowship with Saudi INTERLINK Language Center at Al Yamamah University (YU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It consists of two summers of full-time study in Vermont and two academic years of full-time teaching at YU. You get a salary, housing, and discounted tuition. More details can be found at "teaching fellowships"at Interlink.

Masters Degrees from Scotland

• Here's a post about costs of MAs in Australia compared to those in the UK.
• You can find universities in Scotland Gov't
• University of Dundee - MA in Education
• University of Edinburgh - Med in TESOL
• University of St Andrews - MLitt

Masters Degrees from South Africa

• Stellenbosch University - MA in Linguistics
• UNISA - Tehy offer many courses. Here are just a few. MEd. in Education Management, MA in Education Management with dissertation, MA in Linguistics, MA in Linguistics and Translation Studies, MA in Applied Linguistics, MA in Sociolinguistics, MA in TESOL, MA in Curriculum Studies, MA in Comparative and International Education, MA in Early Childhood Development.

Masters Degree from Spain

• If you're interested in learning Spanish take a look at the free courses offered at Rocket Languages.
• FUNIBER - MA in TEFL. FUNIBER has a consortium with the University of Piura, Peru and the University of Jaen, Spain.

Masters Degrees from Thailand

• Papay University - MA in TESOL or MA in Linguistics. This degree is only offered on-campus.

Masters Degrees from Turkey

• Bilkent University - They have 4 MAs: MA in Curriculum and Instruction with Teaching Cert, MA in Curriculum and Instruction, MA in Educational Management, MA in TEFL

Masters Degrees from the United States

• There are many, many universities in the USA; below are just a couple programmes. MA TESOL, 50 States, Graduate Guide, ELearners, My College Guide, Petersons, and Gradschool.com also have good info.
• American College of Education - MA in Education
• American Military University - MEd Teaching.
• American Public University - MEd in TESOL, MEd in Education Administration and Supervision, MEd in Guidance and Counseling, MEd in Elementary Education, MEd in Gifted Education, MEd in Instructional Leadership, MEd in Reading and Literacy, MEd in Secondary Social Studies, MEd in Special Education,
• American University - MA in TESOL.
• Anaheim - MA in TESOL
• Arizona State University - MA in Bilingual Education, MA in ESL, MEd in Early Childhood Education, MEd in Educational Administration and Supervision, MEd in Board Certification for Behavioral Analyst Focus, MEd-Educational Administration (Principal, PreK-12), MEd in Secondary Education, MEd in Teaching and Learning, Autism Spectrum Focus, MEd in Elementary Education.
• Azusa Pacific University - MA in TESOL, MA in TESOL while in Thailand
• Buffalo State - MS in Adult Education
• Columbia International University - MA in TEFL/Intercultural Studies or MEd in Curriculum/Instruction or MEd in Educational Administration
• Concordia University Irvine - MEd Curriculum and Instruction
• Concordia University Portland - MEd in Educational Leadership, MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (concentrations in Environmental Education, Science K-8, Career and Technical Education, elearning/Technology Education, Mathematics K-8, Reading, The Inclusive Classroom, Methods and Curriculum, and ESOL).
• Dominican University - Master of Arts in Education in English as a Second Language
• Drexel University - MSc in Math, MSc in Human Resources, MSc in Learning Technologies, MSc in Teaching / Learning / Curriculum, MSc in Educational Administration, MSc in Global and International Education, Higher Education, MA in Science of Instruction, MSc in Special Education.
• Emporia State University - MA in TESOL
• Fort Hays State University - MA of Liberal Arts with a concentration in ESOL, MSc in Education with a concentration in ESOL
• Framingham State College - MA in TESL or MA in Special Education or MA in International Teaching. Here's the website for the MA in TESL for those living in Korea
• Georgetown with Sungkyunkwan University - MA TESOL
• George Washington University - MEd
• Grand Canyon University - MEd in TESOL
• Hamline University - MA in Education and MA in ESL.
• Indiana University - MA in English Education, Foreign or Second Language Education, or Literacy / Reading Education
• Lincoln Christian - MA in TESOL
• Mercy College - MS in TESOL.
• Nortern Arizona University - MEd in Bilingual / Multicultural Education
• Northwestern Universtiy State Lousiana - MA in Education, MA in English
• New School - MA in TESOL
• Oregon-Hanyang - MA TESOL
• Penn State - MEd in Curriculum and Instruction Children's Literature, MEd in Instructional Systems, MEd in Adult Education, MEd in Curriculum and Instruction Teacher Leadership, MEd in Earth Sciences
• School for International Training - MA in International Education, MA in Teaching, MA in TESL, MA in TESL in Public Schools. SIT also has a teaching fellowship arrangement Al Yamamah University (YU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Scranton University School of Education – MS in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction or Educational Administration
• Shenadoah University - MA in TESOL
• St. Cloud State University - MA in TESL, licensure in TESL (scroll down)
• SUNY at Albany - MS in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology and MS in Childhood Education.
• TEFL Training College: Master of Education in TESOL. You can pay in full or make payments. 
• Troy University- Master in Postsecondary Education, Counseling and Psychology, Adult Education.
• St. Cloud State in Minnesota. has a dual degree programme with Woosong University - MA in TESOL-MALL.
• University of Cincinnatia - MA in TESOL.
• University of Georgia - MEd.
• University of Massachusetts - MA in Applied Linguistics
• University of Missouri - MA in TESOL, MA in Early Childhood Education.
• University of Southern California - MA in Teaching.
• Webster - They have agreements with universities all over the world. So you might be able to find a programme.
• Western New Mexico University - MA in Interdisciplinary Studies
• Wheaton College - MA in TESOL.

Wales

• Here's a post about costs of MAs in Australia compared to those in the UK.
• Bangor University - MA in Linguistics
• Swansea University - MA TEFL

Distance PhD / EdD Programmes  
(Thanks go to saint57 from ELT World for this info)

• More info can be found at ISR: distance degree programmes.
• Glasgow, Scotland - Doctorate in Education
• King's College London, UK - EdD, Doctorate in Education
• Macquarie University, Australia - D App Ling, Doctor of Applied Linguistics
• Middlesex University, UK - PhD, EdD, and many other doctorates.
• Swansea University, UK - PhD in Humanities
• Texas A and M University, US - Executive EdD in Curriculum and Instruction
• University of Auckland, New Zealand - PhD in Education or Doctor of Education
• University of Calgary, Canada - EdD, Doctor of Education
• University of Exeter, UK - PhD in Education and more info. They also have a EdD, Doctor of Education
• University of Liverpool, UK - EdD, Doctorate in Education
• University of London, UK - EdD, Doctor of Education
• University of Otago, New Zealand - EdD, Doctor of Education
• University of Southern Queensland, Australia - EdD, Doctor of Education
• University of Tasmania, Australia - EdDDoctor of Education

Updated 20 December 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Warning Signs of Bad Schools

Here are some warning signs I've heard of over the years. YOu might also want to look at ISR's article called WARNING!! Signs that Tell You Not to Take the Job.

Boss

• Everyone's afraid of the boss. Respect is one thing; fear is another.
• Threats or sexual harassment. Threatening to fire you for no reason is bad enough. If you're on a tourist visa and you want to quit and they threaten to go to immigrations. Don't put up with sexual harrassment either.
• Same advert week after week. If you see them advertising again and again it’s probably because they can’t get or keep teachers.
• Living with your boss. Don’t live in the same apartment as your boss.

Classes

• Same advert week after week. If you see them advertising again and again it’s probably because they can’t get or keep teachers.
• Classes in your house. The employer needs to provide space for lessons.
• Mixed classes. If you have people with basic English thrown in with very advanced students that's not good.
• Mandatory events. Every once in a while is ok but when it becomes a habit that means they’re trying to get you to teach for free.
• No material. They want you to create everything and don't follow have any structure whatsoever.
• Lots of changes. Tons of cancelled classes, changed times, salary differences, and so on.
• Lots of unpaid training and meetings. Some are ok but be aware of those that have excessive unpaid training and meetings.

Contract

• Visa promises they can't keep. If they promise you a visa make sure you get one.
• Contract penalties. Don’t sign a contract that has lots of penalties when you quit or one that only has info about how they can let you go but nothing about how you can quit.

Money: Warning Signs

• Bank accounts. They want to use your bank account or have you open a new one and give them the info.
• Pressure. Some places try to convince you that you’ll never find another job anywhere else.
• Late pay. Talk to the teachers and ask if they get paid on time.
• No receipts. Even if you're working on a tourist visa you should sign something.
• Salary’s vague. You should be told exactly how much you’ll make.
• Paying for copies. They should make them for you.

School

• There's no sign out front. A school should prominently display their name outside.
• Bad first impressions. Peeling paint, dilapidated furniture, or a bad neighbourhood aren't good signs.
• Learn English in 6 months. While some people can learn English that quickly the majority of people can't.
• Dangerous places. The institute is located in a bad neighbourhood or they want to you to teach classes in a bad neighbourhood.

Teachers

• Lots of new teachers. If most of the teachers have been there for less than three months, that's not very good.
• Disgruntle teachers. If everyone's complaining it says something about the school.
• No foreign teachers. Not always a warning sign, but I'd rather work at a school that has (had) a foreign teacher.

Signs That You're Being Scammed

• Pay up. If you're asked to pay money, it's probably a scam.You might also want to look at Scam.com and Scam Warners.
• Get rich quick. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. End of story.
• Rich African. Another warning sign.
• Dead spouse. If the person is a recent widow / widower who needs you to take care of their children. Be very careful.
• Western Union, Moneygram, etc. If they require you to accept or send money this way it's usually a scam. Visa fees are paid to the embassy, immigration fees are paid directly to immigration, and travel fees are paid to the travel agent or airlines.
• Cheques. The schools asks you to write, mail, or cash a cheque on their behalf.
• Parcels and packages. They want you to accept or send parcels or packages. NEVER do this. You never know what could be in the package and you could end up in a local jail.
• Dealing with individuals. When dealing directly with a person, rather than a school you have to be extra careful. While it's true that people often hire tutors or au pairs, about 99.99% of the time they go through agencies. Go through an agency. You might have to pay a fee but it will be worth the peace of mind.

Updated 15 November 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

How to Deal with Job Burnout

Are You Suffering from Job Burnout?

• Do you dread going to work?
• Do you feel sad or depressed on a Sunday?
• Do you regularly feel exhausted at work?
• Do you find yourself getting bored at work?
• Do you find yourself hating things that you used to enjoy?
• Do you find yourself criticizing your job, boss, or place of work?
• Do you find yourself annoyed by your co-workers?
• Is your personal life being affected by your feelings about work?
• Do you find yourself envious of people who are happy at their job?
• Do you now care less than you before about doing a good job?

Reasons for Job Burnout

• Tedious jobs
• Difficult jobs or bosses
• No recognition for what you do.
• Changes at work (such as restructuring or new management)
• Changes in your life, such as your interests, goals, or values.
• Not having your skills and abilities used at work.

Fixing / Avoiding Job Burnout

• Make changes. You might need to change your job or even your career. You may consider taking some time off and travel.
• Take care of your body: Eat healthy food and drink water. Avoid sugar, junk food, and caffeine. Get enough sleep and go to the doctor for annual exams.
• Take time out: Do something that you enjoy, whether it’s reading a book, going shopping, out to a movie, for a walk in the part, or just doing nothing. Travelling around the world is also possible, especially now with budget travel options.
• Make goals: List what you want to accomplish both professionally and personally. Take steps to reach those goals.
• Talk to people: This is a great way to relax or vent.
• Know your strengths and weaknesses: It will make your job easier.
• Spend time with friends and family: Invest in your friendships and relationships.

Updated 18 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Life After Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TEFLing is a wonderful experience and a great way to learn about new cultures, however, some people look for new career opportunities after a while. Here are a couple options if you're looking to move on. You might also want to look at jpvanderwerf2001's post on Dave's ESL Cafe.

Jobs in Education

Many teachers stay in education. Their classroom experience gives them knowledge that will help them in their second career. More ideas can be found in how to improve your TEFL career.

• Administrator
• ADOS (Assistant Director of Studies)
• Blended Learning Instructor. (E-learning, distance education, etc.)
• Business English
• Course-book writer
  
• Curriculum designer
• DOS (Director of Studies)
• EAP Instructor (English for Academic Purposes)
• ESP Instructor (English for Special Purposes)
• Examiner (IELTS, FCE, etc...)
• Government worker, such as a teacher at DLI in the US.
• International school teacher
• Manager
• Material designer
• Owner of a language school
• Publisher
• Teacher trainer
• Teacher trainer trainer
• University professor
• Writer

Jobs in Related Fields
As a teacher you have many skills applicable to other fields such as the ones below.

• Chain school positions (such as HR or accounting) at schools such as EF (English First), IH (International House), or BC (British Council)
• Editing / proofreading / writing
• Human resource management
• Intercultural communication
• International Relations
• Linguistics
• Management
• Public speaking / presentations
• Publishing (related to curriculum or materials design)
• Record keeping
• Statistical analysis (related to assessment and testing)
• Training
• Web design (related to CALL)

Changing Careers
Teaching gives you many skills such as management and organization. Like any job it will come down to how well you can sell yourself and make your teaching skills sound relevant. Try talking to people in the field you want to enter, doing some research about the current requirements, or taking a couple of courses. Persistence pays off.

Cool Careers for Dummies recommends calling people who work in fields that you want to get into. See if you can ask them about their work. If they say yes, here are some things you can ask them.

• How did you get into this career?
• Can you walk me through a typical day?
• What do you find to be the best and worst things about your career?
• Can you think of anything I should know about this field that is unlikely to find its way into print?
• What skills have you found crucial to succeeding in your career?
• Can you think of anything you know now that you wish you'd known when you were deciding to enter this field?
• Tell them about your background and interests. Then ask: Do you think I should consider this field? Any other fields I should consider?
• Are there any particularly interesting specialities within your field?
• Any advice about the smartest way to prepare for this career?
• Are there entry-level jobs in this field that provide particularly good learning experiences?
• In this field, where are good job openings listed?
• What kind of salary can I expect?
• How is the field changing?
• Why might someone leave this field?
• Do you kow someone else you think I should tak with or something else I should read before deciding whether to pursue this career? Any events I should attend? Any organization I should join?
• Any other advice you'd give someone entering this field?

If the converstion goes well, you could ask whether you can spend an hour watching them at work. 


Update your CV
You need to take the time to update your CV and reflect what type of job you'd like. It might be worth hiring a professional CV writer. Think about how you present yourself. Take a look at these from ryleeys at Dave's ESL Cafe. While both options are true, Option 2 portrays the jobseeker in a better light.

• Option 1: Bob spent 3 years picking through trash to find cans to sell.
• Option 2: Bob spent 3 years organizing a recycling program in inner city neighborhoods.
• Option 1: Bob spent 4 hours a day staring at Chinese kids while trying to prevent them from peeing in the classroom, followed by 6 hours of heavy drinking 7 nights a week.
• Option 2: Bob gained valuable classroom management experience in elementary education. He also gained valuable insight into dealing with the nuances of a different culture.

Updated 21 November 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.

Are You Too Young to Teach English Abroad?

Most TEFL employers will want you to be at least 18 though some places require you to be older. In Malaysia for example, you have to be 27 in order to get a work visa.While age is not usually the deciding factor, your education and experience is. Read what more people have to say in this thread at Dave's ESL Cafe.

Do You Have a Degree?
Chances are if you are only 18, you probably haven’t finished your BA and don’t have teaching experience. Therefore, your pay to be on the low end of the pay scale. Your lack of BA is probably the biggest challenge you'll have to overcome. Many countries require a BA for you to get a work visa. If you don’t have a BA don’t even think about trying to use fake degrees. Consequences for getting caught trying to pass a fake degree can range from a simple warning to being banned from that country.

Making Your Age Work For You
You need to convince employers that your age is an advantage rather than a hindrance. Since you’re young you’re more likely to be able to adapt to a new environment and learn quickly. Don’t forget that attitude counts a lot so stress that you are positive and confident. You need to be emotionally mature enough to work in a completely different culture. Classes get cancelled, visa problems come up, salaries may be delayed, dates are put off, books don’t arrive, housing issues arise. Being flexible and patient will make your life much easier.

Training Will Help You Get the Job
If you lack work experience, don’t forget to mention any volunteer experience, sports, or club involvement you have had. Education is also important so talk about specific courses that you took such as English Literature. With the push towards EAP (English for Academic Purposes) and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) courses such as Business, Accounting, Tourism, or Law may also help you. Taking a TEFL course will also help you. Don’t forget to mention your ability to organise, lesson plan and manage your class. Remember to include other details, such as foreign languages spoken, driver’s license, work permits, and when you can start.

Updated 4 February 2012

Teaching Resources: If you're looking for teaching resources, check out my top resources and my favourite TEFL Tips posts.