Teaching English as a Second
Language (ESL) Abroad:
A How-To Guide for Finding Teaching Opportunities for ESL
Programs
Positives and Negatives
It can be a wonderful experience
 BUT, not all programs are as legitimate or
as good as others


Disclaimer: this research is my own and
does not reflect certification by H-SC nor
H-SC’s Study Abroad office
Part 1: Types of Programs
Too many programs out there to provide a
list
 My project is to arm you with the type of
concerns you should research in your search
to find ESL programs
 Internet is the chief tool for research

Type-1a: Government Sponsorship
Government sponsorship gives program
legitimacy
 Integral to governments’ attempts to build
international relations
 Ex: Japan Exchange and Teaching
Programme
 H-SC alumni

Type-1b: US Government ESL Program
Sponsorship
The Department of State provides a very
helpful resource for teaching abroad
 Ex. 1: The Fulbright Teaching Assistantship
 Ex. 2: Peace Corps

Type-2: University or College
Sponsored ESL Programs
Just as some colleges offer study abroad
programs (University of Richmond), some
offer teaching ESL abroad programs
 Ex. 1: Sweetbriar Teaching Assistantship in
Spain
 Ex. 2: Marshall University’s Appalachians
Abroad Teach In China Program

– H-SC alums Matt Hubbard and Ben Shega
Type-3: Study Abroad / Teach
Abroad Program Providers
Council for International Education
Exchange (CIEE)
 There is a natural progression for
companies like CIEE from offering study
abroad options to teaching abroad

Type-4: Individual Institutes

Hundreds upon hundreds
Part II: Vetting Programs and
the ESL Abroad Rubric

Even more than the first 5 types of
programs I introduced, when researching
individual institutes, you need to know what
kind of questions to ask.
Rubric 1: Sponsored by a greater
entity?
Ex. 1: Youth Services International and my
experience in Spain
 Turned out to be very legitimate because
YSI is a service branch of Opus Dei, the
International Catholic Organization

Rubric 2: Let’s Talk Money
Paid?
 Only compensated for living expenses or
stipend
 I have to pay you to work for you?
 *Cultural Concern: Different values of
currency

Rubric 3: Requirements
Language requirements
 Teaching English as a Second Language
(TESL) certification
 American Teaching certification

Rubric 4: Culture Differences
Different contractual expectations
 Ex. Chungdahm Institute in South Korea
and perhaps the Greater Asian Region
 Different currency values and contractual
negotiations

Rubric Graphic
Administration
Pay
Program
Fees
Application
Deadline
Requirements
Length
Fulbright
Teaching
Assistantship
US
Government
Living expenses
compensation, no salary
No
Mid-October
Great Academic
Track Record
1 Year
JET Program
Japanese
Government
Salary: $40,000
Late-November
Desire to learn
Japanese, some
teaching
experience
recommended
At least 1
year,
renegotiable
Defense Schools
US
Government
Salary
No
Full American
teacher’s
licensure
Career
profession
CIEE
CIEE
Compensation for living
expenses; salary varies by
program
$2,800$4,600, but
varying by
program
Fall, but varying by
program
Some programs
require foreign
language skill
Most are one
year, but
some are
renegotiable
Sweetbriar
Teaching
Assistantship in
Spain
Sweetbriar
College
Compensation for living
expenses
$2000
March 1
Spanish
proficiency
1 year