Is TESL worth it?

Question

Hi. My fiance and I are thinking about teaching English overseas. I have an Honors BA in English and she is a dual honors (Arch. and History). We are hoping to go to Japan or Egypt ideally. Is this really a financially viable option. I can make $40000 a year here. I don't want to sound like this is about money, but we are young and have a lot of bills to pay, so we need something well paying.
Is the TESL certification a good way to make some money and explore the world? Is it worth it?

Answer 1

TESL is a wonderful career, with plenty of opportunities to see the world and share your language knowledge. I am currently teaching English in Korea- my spouse just happens to be stationed here. The demand for certified teachers far outstrips demand, so there are also plenty of uncertified teachers around. Most language schools do a one year contract, and the pay and benefits vary. So I would consider it a viable way to do both of the things you want to do.
That said- you and she need to consider a few things first. I don't know if either of you have any experience living outside of the US. If you haven't, then it might be a serious shock to your systems. It will be even more difficult if you don't have at least a basic knowledge of the culture, customs and most important- language- of your host country. Simple things that you take for granted will become a challenge, otherwise. You also need to consider how much support assistance you can expect from the people who hire you. They may assist in finding a place to live- but they likely won't pay for medical care, or help you find English speaking doctors or dentists. Transportation, daily living expenses, paying the bills, all those things are up to you to handle. How well do you think you will do, miles away from family and friends, and the familiar?
You will also likely be the first or only Americans your students meet. You need to be willing to be not only the teacher, but the ambassador. You will need to be willing to answer questions of all sorts- even those questions that are not normally or politely asked in our culture. Every aspect of your life will be open to questions.
Teaching a foreign speaker English is not the same as teaching a native speaker. It is not enough to teach just the technical aspects such as the grammar and phonetics. You will be teaching those things language does not say as well- the meanings of idioms, the slang, and the what I really meant when I said....
Though I don't mean to discourage you at all, I do encourage you to think hard and long to reach your decision. TESL is more than just teaching English, it's bringing the best of our culture as well. It has to be something you really want to do, and not just for the paycheck or the travel opportunities. If you want to really become part of another culture, and share in both directions, and are willing to take the bad and the good, if you are passionate about sharing your language and your life- then it's a good choice. If you are thinking it's a paid vacation with a little work on the side, then it isn't. You can't sign the contracts and then decide in a few months that you are just going to quit and go home. Even if you can manage to quit- it will be a long way to get home and they aren't going to pay for it. Some places even ask for the money back if they paid for your ticket to come. So read the contract very closely before you sign it, as it will be very difficult to break- if not nearly impossible. And if you quit, you are making it very difficult not only for the students, but for what ever teacher does eventually take your place. And the impression about Americans that you leave will not be a good one.
I hope you do decide to enter the field, really. I think it's a good experience for people to live in another culture, and share ours. But it's only for the folks who make the decision with their eyes open and their hearts in it.

Answer 2

Yes it is. There are somany countries where both children and adults love to learn english and would like to communicate in the same language.
Go with a mind, that u are there to serve. If u find a good institute I am sure they will not hesitate to pay for ur housing, and other facilities. Later u can ask for some monetary reward.

Answer 3

It does