Teach English Abroad: See the World, Make Some Cash
Paul Henderson (@vapeskorea)
Wanderlust. It can make a person go to extremes to quench their never-ending thirst for travel. While you may love the smell of jet fuel and the sound of your passport being stamped, your bank account might not always want to cooperate. There are countless ways to make money and travel at the same time. However, if you have a good grasp of the English language, you should consider teaching English abroad.
I was born and raised in the USA. After university, I found myself like many of you: stuck in a cubicle, hating my job, and dreaming about my next vacation. Then I met someone who would change my life forever. She had just returned from a year teaching English in Japan. I had never heard of such an opportunity! She was paid to live abroad and travel Japan? Sign me up!
I spent months researching teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). I had never taught a day in my life, but I was a native English speaker with a University degree, and that was enough to get me hired. After a few Skype calls, and a tedious visa process, I was on a plane bound for Seoul, South Korea.
My first job consisted of teaching basic English skills to Korean elementary students. I was offered a free round-trip flight, health insurance, rent-free accommodation, and a salary of approximately $2000 USD a month. With a lower cost of living, I could easily save roughly half of my salary a month (goodbye student loans!) I was also granted 10 days of vacation, along with numerous national holidays. That first year, I traveled around Korea, and also visited Taiwan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Over the years, I have become more professional, and currently am a program coordinator at a college in downtown Seoul. I have more than doubled my salary, and have much longer vacations. Teaching EFL has granted me the opportunity to see and experience things I would not have had the chance to otherwise.
In just the past year, I have had the opportunities to travel to Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand. I could have visited a few more countries, but I opted to return to the USA for a few weeks during my last vacation. Because of all of this travel, I have been able to achieve status on my Frequent Flyer Program of choice, which has made traveling that much better (who doesn’t love a free upgrade to business class?)
For those who are interested in the possibility of teaching abroad, know that the market is continuing to grow. English can be taught all over the world, with the most popular being East Asia. China is a great option for newbies, as you might not need a University degree, and you don’t even need to be a native English speaker. Higher paying jobs exist in the Middle East, though you’ll have to abide by the rules and regulations of the country. Each country has different requirements for who is eligible for a work visa, so you will need to research to see if you qualify.
In short, teaching English as a Foreign Language is a great opportunity to live abroad, travel to places you’ve only dreamt of, and make some decent cash in the process. EFL hasn’t cured my case of wanderlust, but it has changed my life. If you have a desire to make money and travel, I highly recommend putting EFL on the top of your list.
An Average Joe Note…
Average Joe Arbitrage invites anyone and everyone to share their ideas on travelling, making money, and living their life rewarded. Paul Henderson was grateful to share his experience’s with money and travel with us and we thank him!!!!
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