Business to Legal to conversational English, pursuing a career as an English Teacher promises
endless variety. Whether you choose to specialize in one particular area or not, this is a field
with the scope to continue diversifying your expertise. While the grammar might stay the same,
who you teach, as well as where and how, don’t necessarily have to.
1. It’s never too late to start
One of the biggest advantages of an English Teaching career is that you can decide to become
a teacher whenever you want, at any age. Perhaps you’re in a rut with your current job, or
you’re looking for a change of pace. Whatever your motivation, teaching English is a career path
that welcomes every person from every background, so long as you have excellent proficiency
in the language.
Beyond proficiency, it’s also a job for which you don’t require a degree. It should be noted that
this may prevent you from landing certain jobs in the industry, as some schools and companies
do request one. However, if you do your research well enough or opt to go freelance and build
your clientele, it won’t prevent you from finding work. All you need to do to get started is get
TEFL qualified. This can be done at your pace, either online or in person – so extremely
workable around most schedules. After that, you’re all set.
2. Work all over the world
Teaching English is one of the best ways to travel, be it in a school, or from the comfort of a
rented apartment somewhere in Europe. The explosion in the availability of digital nomad visas
now means you can choose how you’d prefer to teach and travel. Various countries throughout
Europe and even destinations further afield such as Bali, Dubai, and Costa Rica are just a few
examples of where you can apply, if teaching remotely appeals to you. Be sure to do your
research before applying though, as different countries will have different requirements.
For those that would prefer the steadier work rhythm of an academic year, private language
schools, international schools, and teaching assistantships are all great options. In Europe, you
can find some of the highest paid jobs in countries such as Germany. Discover everything you
need to know about Teaching English jobs in Germany on The TEFL Org’s page, also known as Teach English in Germany guide.
3. Work from home
For some, traveling and teaching English around the world isn’t an option. However, that doesn’t
mean that pursuing an English Teaching career should be ruled out. With platforms such as
Google Meet and Zoom, alongside various online English teaching companies such as Preply
and VIPKid, teaching English from home is easier than ever.
It might not be the same as immersing yourself in different cultures or experiencing la dolce vita
firsthand, but you’ll still get to connect with students across the globe and learn about new
cultures through them.
As far as remote jobs go, the benefits of teaching English from home include the flexibility you
have in terms of scheduling, and deciding how many hours you want to take on. This makes it
ideal for those with responsibilities that don’t align with a typical 9-5 or even a part-time gig with
set hours. Moreover, you’ll also be saving money on commuting costs, meaning you might even
be able to put some money aside for future plans.
Remember: teaching from home will require you to have a strong internet connection and a
good computer, so you will need to make an initial investment in your technology.
Check out highviolet.com for what to do if that investment means out with the old, in with the new.
4. Learn a new language
While it isn’t a skill that every English teacher necessarily acquires, learning a new language is
an opportunity many teachers have, especially when teaching abroad. From a practical point of
view, this advantage allows English teachers to go about their daily lives in a different country
independently, without needing to rely on translator apps. It also makes assimilating and forming
relationships with the locals far easier, providing a deeper understanding of the culture.
In terms of teaching, this deeper understanding of another culture and language can be
extremely beneficial. You’ll be able to recognize patterns in your students’ mistakes, which may
be related to direct translation. You’ll also be able to empathize with their experience learning a
new language, which could influence how you teach certain students.
These advantages are also relevant to teachers working from home. Don’t take learning the
basics of your student’s language for granted; a little knowledge can go a long way and
ultimately make you better at your job, with the bonus that it’s also a transferable skill.
5. Make a difference
As an English teacher, you will be helping people to achieve their goals. With English as the
global language in business, for example, many of your students will need to be able to speak
the language proficiently. Through teaching, you will be opening doors that will allow your students to work in whatever field they want to, turning English into a tool as opposed to an
obstacle.
Additionally, teaching English is a skill that you can volunteer to help organizations such as
RefuNet, which relies on volunteer teachers who teach English to refugees, allowing them to
integrate more easily into society. How many hours you choose to volunteer is entirely up to
you, and you’d organize the lessons with your students around your availability in the same way
that you would with your clients.
Overall, teaching English is a rewarding career in many ways. You can gain life experience
through traveling, and pick up a language or even languages along the way. You can become
an expert in a particular niche, and then retrain in another when or if it no longer excites you. It
is a career that can be reshaped and remolded to whatever point of life you’re in. It is a career,
and not just a job because these advantages mean that there is space for growth. The language
that you teach may never change, but you can.
