can a non us citizen teach english overseas?

Question

I don't know if there's anybody who has been successful teaching English overseas without having US citizenship. I was raised in this country and I consider English my first language I’m just not a citizen yet. What are my chances of succeeding?

Answer 1

I have worked overseas and have been an adiminstrator over hiring. Here are some tips.

1. Have a great picture. Honestly, this is 90% of getting hired overseas. I know to a westerner it seems a bit iffy but i promise you they will want one. It needs to be like a headshot. right above the chest and close but not too close. This is the most important thing, A BIG FRIENDLY SMILE! in front of a white background.

2.Obtain a TESOL certificate. this does two things. it shows you ahve some training and experience and you get a little more pay. They are easy to find, you can even do it online. They take about a month, some just a weekend, depends on where you are.

3. Address, make sure it is an American address and contact info.

4. ensure there are no mistakes in your writing.

5. It also depends on, and i hate to say this, your race. If your asian and you want to get into an asian country, korea and taiwan are the most profictable places in the world for EFL, then it is much harder to get a job. They see asians they don't think they can speak english well. this is NOT always true but ...

6. Ask questions about the school, the curriculum, and the teachers. ask to speak to a teacher - either through email or on the phone. This will show them you're more interested in the work than the play.

7. Under languages, say english. even if you speak another language, but english.

8. HAVE A GOOD PICTURE!

9. What country are you a citizen of? i could have give more help if i knew that.

Answer 2

Your chances of succeeding are very good because you are very interested in what you are doing. Teaching requirements vary according to country,but all countries I know of all influenced by any published works you may have contributed. Many countries now have English as their second language, so the availability of positions will be there for you since you are a native speaker.

Answer 3

you don't have to speak English to become a us citizen.

sooo

why do you have to be a us citizen to teach the English language.


so basically if you can pass the literacy test there should be no problem if you only teach a few people. cuss anymore and your running a unauthorized school which is kind of not good if you get caught by certain people.


PS you might want to find out if the literacy test still exists

Answer 4

Citizenship mainly becomes an issue with visas and work permits. So if it is an issue with the school, it isn't so much to do with teaching as much as it is administrative costs and paperwork to clear you to work for them.

English fluency isn't always the key either....as others pointed out, some "teachers of English" are simply awful. I have seen "foreigners" who can speak English teaching English in Japan...but it wasn't so readily recognizable as any English I used when teaching in the US...and I only speak English.

It helps if you have a BA/BS degree...major not usually critical. If you have some teaching experience, that's a plus, but you need to try to build in some English teaching experience...though teaching experience is NOT often required as a qualification. You can get some "teaching" experience by tutoring or volunteering in a community center where many non-English speakers are trying to learn English.

Personal relationships count for a lot. As does personal appearance....neatly dressed by local standards...and a good bit of cultural awareness and respect. The "Ugly American" is well known and not well liked in many of the countries I have visited/worked/taught in over the years. Most of the teaching work I did in Asia was all through personal contacts. My contacts had direct relations or personal ties with individuals in the decision making positions. So although my degrees were not in English, I was able to teach English in a number of universities (undergraduate and graduate levels). Audio tapes provided to these contacts enabled them to heard my very standard English pronunciation....speak slowly when making the tape....they all exclaimed how easily they could listen and understand what I said....and it turns out, it was a strong selling point.

You can make contact with foreign nationals by contacting the Embassy or consulate of the country of interest to you. They often have an education specialist who can provide you with information about teaching in their country, which schools may be hiring. Attend activities via the embassy/consulate or in the relevant national/ethnic group and start to network. Express your interest to teach English in their country and you may be surprised who you meet that knows someone who knows someone.

In addition to a resume, it would be good to have student evaluations. You can find or model one after any number of self-evaluation forms. If possible, give a teaching demonstration with some other their students. If you are very, very clever, you do a lesson that is short, sweet, and effective...where the teachers/administrators can see "instant" student progress.

If you sing....find appropriate songs to teach. Expand the lesson to not just remembering the words and singing, but to make it into an English lesson...vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and cultural background, too. And remember, songs linger in the memory much longer than many other things in life. The neat thing about singing in groups...the shy and unsure or disinterested can lip synch and not feel noticed. And in my experience, some of the disinterested got caught up in the enthusiasm of the others and next thing you know, they are sing/speaking, too.

Be aware that some organizations recruiting and placing English teachers overseas are overt and covert Christian missionary groups. Take this comment as a simple statement of fact, not a criticism. Just be aware of this point so you know what you are getting involved with when operating in a foreign country (as you are most often subject to their laws regardless of your citizenship).

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Answer 5

I don't think you wil have any problem as long as your standard of English is acceptable. I teach abroad and many nationalities teach English.
Though I did work in Tashkent and the Turkish English teachers were absolutely awful.

Answer 6

I don't see why not. I know many spanish teachers who have no connection with any spanish speaking country. As long as you have the proper qualitifications to teach in that country or school district I don't see any type of problem.