FAQs & Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for those choosing to teach English overseas

Q: What is ESL?

A: ESL is an acronym for English as a Second Language. It is sometimes referred to as EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for those teaching English overseas. However, for practical purposes, the terms are interchangeable.

Q: I have never taught ESL overseas before. What is it like?

A: Most teachers who go to teach ESL in another country find that it is a richly rewarding experience. Think of it as a working vacation. It's a job...but it's an adventure, too! And unlike most vacations, you're not paying for your travels but getting paid. Additionally, teaching English overseas usually means you will be working with children or adults who want to learn English, and as such you will be interacting with students who are more motivated and much better behaved than their counterparts in your own country.

Q: What exactly is the procedure for getting an ESL job overseas?

A: Initially, it's the same for getting a "regular" job in your own country. We invite you to browse this site and look at the jobs posted here. Get a feel for what's out there. Once you have found a job that interests you (and for which you meet the qualifications), send an e-mail with a resume, recent photograph, and a scanned copy of your university diploma attached. If the school is also interested, they will either respond to your e-mail or possibly call you by telephone. The school will most likely send you a contract via e-mail.

If you choose to accept the contract, sign it and mail it back along with any other material required (see below for details). Once the school has received the required paperwork, they will send you a letter of employment/request to come. This is your proof that you have been requested to enter another country for the purpose of teaching English. Take this letter to the embassy or nearest consulate of the country to which you are seeking overseas work.

Q: What are the qualifications needed to teach English as a Second Language (ESL)?

A: It varies from country to country. However, in most situations it will require that the person be a native English speaker, have a bachelor's degree, and not have any criminal record.

Q: What kind of documentation do I need to secure my visa?

A: For most countries, you will need your original university diploma. If you no longer have it then you will need to contact your university and have them make a new one for you. Once you have made contact with the school and that school has agreed to hire you, you will need to mail your original university diploma to the school so they can present it to the proper authorities to obtain the visa. The diploma will be returned to you by the school once you arrive.

For most countries, you will also need a sealed copy of your university transcripts. You will mail them along with your university diploma. The transcripts will not be returned to you.

Additionally, some countries (such as South Korea) now also require a criminal background check with apostille to insure that the person entering their country is not a criminal. The exact procedure for obtaining this criminal background check varies from country to country.

Q: What is the criminal background check with apostille and how can I obtain it?

A: The criminal background check is a document stating whether or not you have a criminal record. The document must then receive an apostille, that is, an official seal that verifies its authenticity to every country which has signed an international agreement to recognize the apostille.

Obtaining these documents is usually done at the city/county and state/province level. The process varies from country to country, but the process for those residing in the USA is as follows:

(1) Contact the state level Department of Justice (DOJ) as they can give you a list of local centers where you can have digital fingerprinting done in order to obtain the criminal background check. It may take approximately a month to receive the document in the mail. Some state DOJs place the list of centers on their website.

(2) Once you receive the criminal background check in the mail, you will need to have it notarized by a notary public.

(3) Once the criminal background check is notarized, take both documents to the County Recorder-Registar's (County Clerk) office for the county in which you reside. Here you will receive a verification document.

Note: some large U.S. counties have more than one county clerk's office. As such, you will need to go to the same office where the notary public received his/her appointment. If you are planning to visit the office nearest where you live, make sure that you get your criminal background check notarized by someone who received his/her appointment from that same office.

(4) Once you have the verification document, take all three documents to the state level Secretary of State's office to receive the apostille.

The documents are cumulative and as such you must bring all previous documents to the next place or it will not be valid. After the process is finished you should have a total of four documents stapled together: the criminal background check, the notarization, the county clerk's verification, and the state level apostille. You will mail this packet along with your diploma and university transcripts after you receive employment.


		Home►FAQs & Links Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for those choosing to teach English overseas Q: What is ESL? A: ESL is an acronym for English as a Second Language. It is sometimes referred to as EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for those teaching English overseas. However, for practical purposes, the terms are interchangeable. Q: I have never taught ESL overseas before. What is it like? A: Most teachers who go to teach ESL in another country find that it is a richly rewarding experience. Think of it as a working vacation. It's a job...but it's an adventure, too! And unlike most vacations, you're not paying for your travels but getting paid. Additionally, teaching English overseas usually means you will be working with children or adults who want to learn English, and as such you will be interacting with students who are more motivated and much better behaved than their counterparts in your own country. Q: What exactly is the procedure for getting an ESL job overseas? A: Initially, it's the same for getting a "regular" job in your own country. We invite you to browse this site and look at the jobs posted here. Get a feel for what's out there. Once you have found a job that interests you (and for which you meet the qualifications), send an e-mail with a resume, recent photograph, and a scanned copy of your university diploma attached. If the school is also interested, they will either respond to your e-mail or possibly call you by telephone. The school will most likely send you a contract via e-mail. If you choose to accept the contract, sign it and mail it back along with any other material required (see below for details). Once the school has received the required paperwork, they will send you a letter of employment/request to come. This is your proof that you have been requested to enter another country for the purpose of teaching English. Take this letter to the embassy or nearest consulate of the country to which you are seeking overseas work. Q: What are the qualifications needed to teach English as a Second Language (ESL)? A: It varies from country to country. However, in most situations it will require that the person be a native English speaker, have a bachelor's degree, and not have any criminal record. Q: What kind of documentation do I need to secure my visa? A: For most countries, you will need your original university diploma. If you no longer have it then you will need to contact your university and have them make a new one for you. Once you have made contact with the school and that school has agreed to hire you, you will need to mail your original university diploma to the school so they can present it to the proper authorities to obtain the visa. The diploma will be returned to you by the school once you arrive. For most countries, you will also need a sealed copy of your university transcripts. You will mail them along with your university diploma. The transcripts will not be returned to you. Additionally, some countries (such as South Korea) now also require a criminal background check with apostille to insure that the person entering their country is not a criminal. The exact procedure for obtaining this criminal background check varies from country to country. Q: What is the criminal background check with apostille and how can I obtain it? A: The criminal background check is a document stating whether or not you have a criminal record. The document must then receive an apostille, that is, an official seal that verifies its authenticity to every country which has signed an international agreement to recognize the apostille. Obtaining these documents is usually done at the city/county and state/province level. The process varies from country to country, but the process for those residing in the USA is as follows: (1) Contact the state level Department of Justice (DOJ) as they can give you a list of local centers where you can have digital fingerprinting done in order to obtain the criminal background check. It may take approximately a month to receive the document in the mail. Some state DOJs place the list of centers on their website. (2) Once you receive the criminal background check in the mail, you will need to have it notarized by a notary public. (3) Once the criminal background check is notarized, take both documents to the County Recorder-Registar's (County Clerk) office for the county in which you reside. Here you will receive a verification document. Note: some large U.S. counties have more than one county clerk's office. As such, you will need to go to the same office where the notary public received his/her appointment. If you are planning to visit the office nearest where you live, make sure that you get your criminal background check notarized by someone who received his/her appointment from that same office. (4) Once you have the verification document, take all three documents to the state level Secretary of State's office to receive the apostille. The documents are cumulative and as such you must bring all previous documents to the next place or it will not be valid. After the process is finished you should have a total of four documents stapled together: the criminal background check, the notarization, the county clerk's verification, and the state level apostille. You will mail this packet along with your diploma and university transcripts after you receive employment.