Christi Childs

TESL, TEFL, or ESL are all different terms for teaching English as a second language. Don’t have a degree in teaching? That’s okay. Many countries and organizations accept any accredited bachelors degree from an English speaking country!

TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language)
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
ESL (English as a Second Language)

Could you imagine living in China?

1.) International Travel
I love to travel and many other people do too. TESL provides an opportunity to travel and to live in a foreign country that doesn’t require you to raise support (like a traditional missions trip) or live extremely rural, like the Peace Corps (and it’s easier to get into than the Peace Corps).

2.) Financial Support
On the note of not needing to raise support, TESL actually provides opportunity to save money while traveling. Depending on the country, the income will vary. South American countries pay much less, though expenses are still covered, while Middle Eastern countries pay much more. We were particularly drawn or South Korea because the cost of living is low, and on top of airfare, transportation, food and lodging, beginning teachers make around $1800 a month!

3.) Reduces Debt Strain
For those who went to college, but feel the strain of loans, planning on spending a year teaching after school as a sure-fire was to pay off loans will help you enjoy college more. Better yet, if time allows, try to get on a 3 year fast-track program, then use the 4th “college” year teaching.

4). Resumé Building
Having a whole year of teaching under your belt is always good on the resume. Teaching overseas is even better. It shows cross cultural adaptability, willingness to work, flexibility and that you have a broad worldview. Experience in “real” jobs as a young person is valuable, and especially for those who are wanting to go into missions or anything non-profit. Many overseas missions organizations require a degree and 1 year post-college, overseas experience.

5.) Time to Build a “Support Team”
A year teaching overseas provides opportunity to begin to raise missions support. If you’re wanting to go into missions, teaching overseas provides an opportunity to get involved in a local church, and do missions, while giving you time to send letters and updates, and get people on board with your vision, so that after the year is over, you can maybe go into more full-time missions.

A Word About Loneliness
On a side note, as a single girl, often it can feel intimidating to travel, and it is. If you want to TESL as a single woman, I recommend trying to find an English immersion school, so that you don’t end up teaching all alone in some village somewhere. It’s nice to have some friends and other English speakers around, and defuses the isolation factor that sometimes accompanies TESL.

Good site for general information about
Teaching English Overseas: Adventure Teaching < < <

Website for the English immersion school
where my husband and I will be teaching in South Korea < < <