Accredited TEFL CERTIFICATION ONLINE $29

So, you’re tired of staring at the same office walls and wondering if there’s more to life than quarterly reports and microwave lunches? Well, congratulations – you’ve stumbled upon one of the world’s best-kept secrets: teaching English abroad. It’s like being a professional traveler, except you actually get paid instead of slowly draining your savings account while posting “authentic” travel photos on Instagram. 

What Exactly Is Teaching English Abroad? (And Why Everyone’s DOing It)

Teaching English abroad is exactly what it sounds like, minus the terrifying part where you think you need to be Shakespeare to pull it off. You’re essentially helping non-native speakers master the beautiful chaos that is the English language – from “I before E except after C” (which has more exceptions than rules) to explaining why “ough” can be pronounced seven different ways.

The best part? You don’t need to be a linguistic genius. You just need to be a native or fluent English speaker with the right certification. Think of yourself as a language ambassador, spreading the joy of irregular verbs and confusing idioms across the globe.

Step 1: Get Your TEFL Certification

Here’s where things get real: you cannot-skip-this-step unless you have a teaching license. But even then, you really shouldn’t skip this step. Get a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate (TEFL certification). Our accredited 120-hour TEFL certification course is just $29, so money is not a reason not to undertake online TEFL training.  

Honestly, many countries legally require TEFL certification for work visa, some schools may be reluctant to hire you without it – especially the good ones, and with TESOl certification, you’ll actually know what you’re doing in the classroom. So, why not complete an affordable TEFL certification that doesn’t cost more than a night in a hotel. You want proper training from actual professional teachers – like studyTEFL! Quality doesn’t have to break the bank. Study TEFL online certification is your ticket to a whole new world.

Step 2: Pick Your Adventure (AKA Choose Your Country)

This is the fun part – deciding where to plant your English-teaching flag. Each destination comes with its own perks, challenges, and level of spice tolerance required.

Asia: High demand, great savings potential, and food that will ruin all other cuisines for you forever. Countries like South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam are TEFL goldmines.

Europe: Cultural immersion, weekend trips to neighboring countries, and the joy of explaining American idioms to confused Germans. Spain, Italy, and Czech Republic are particularly welcoming.

Latin America: Warm weather, incredible coffee, and students who are genuinely excited to learn. Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia offer amazing experiences.

Middle East: Higher salaries, tax-free income, and enough money to pay off those student loans. UAE and Saudi Arabia are top choices for serious savers.

Step 3: Master the Job Hunt (Without Losing Your Mind)

Finding a teaching job abroad isn’t like applying to work in a bar (and that’s not a dig: we all did that as students!) – it requires strategy, patience, and the ability to sell yourself without sounding desperate.

Use our growing TEFL jobs board to find teaching English jobs abroad and online teaching positions. Recruitment agencies do the heavy lifting for you, but read the fine print – some agencies are saints, others are… less saintly. Again, we have you covered with plenty of links, and we add more all the time as part of our improvement plan.

Step 4: Nail the Interview (Even at 3 AM Your Time – Which is a thing, by the way!)

Teaching interviews abroad often happen via Zoom at ungodly hours because of time zones. You’ll need to convince someone you’re professional and competent while potentially wearing pajama pants (they can’t see your legs, so why not?).

They’re looking for enthusiasm for teaching and cultural exchange, flexibility and problem-solving skills, a basic understanding of grammar and teaching methodology (think online TEFL certification), and perhaps the ability to not panic when technology inevitably fails mid-interview!

What they’re not looking for is someone who just wants a gap year vacation, someone who is clsoed-minded and inflexible, and someone who doesn’t like kids (if applying for teaching English to kids positions!).

Step 5: Handle the Paperwork (The Less Fun Part)

Bureaucracy is the same worldwide – confusing, time-consuming, and oddly specific about document colors. You’ll typically need your university degree (apostilled/authenticated), a TEFL certificate (from a reputable, accredited program like ours – brag, brag), a police background check, a medical check (and be warned that they test for HIV in some countries as well as for certain drugs), passport photos, and references.

Start this process early because government offices worldwide operate on “island time,” regardless of their actual island status – and that includes the UK and USA.

Step 6: Prepare for Culture Shock (And Embrace It)

Culture shock isn’t just about different foods or funny outlets – it’s about discovering that your American concept of “personal space” is hilarious to Italians, or that your British sense of queueing is completely lost on Brazilians.

Classroom culture varies too. Some cultures revere teachers like academic royalty, while others see you as ‘the help’. Students might be pin-drop silent or enthusiastically chatty, and your teaching style will need more flexibility than a yoga instructor.

Why Proper TEFL Training Makes All the Difference

Anyone can stand in front of a class and speak English, but not everyone can actually teach it effectively. Professional TEFL training from experienced educators like us at studyTEFL gives you confidence, proven classroom management techniques, engaging lesson planning strategies, and an understanding of how people actually learn languages (including their motivations and limitations). We provide you with so many useful, relevant activities for different contexts, and we even try (through lesson flows) to give you practice handling challenging classroom situations (with a little imagination involved, of course).

Skip the unaccredited or more expensive TEFL courses that give you little more: with studyTEFL you get quality TEFL training, affordable TEFL training from professional teachers, and online TESOL certification that is verifiable 24/7 on our website. A TESOL certificate from an accredited TESOL course is an investment in your success, not just abroad but in any teaching career you might pursue. StudyTEFL is dual-accredited. We are also registered in the UK with a government branch (UKRLP). We are qualified to teach you.

Ready to Take the Plunge?

Teaching English abroad isn’t just a job – it’s a lifestyle upgrade with a paycheck attached. You’ll gain global perspective, develop invaluable skills, and probably become fluent in the art of eating with chopsticks or perfecting your “gracias” pronunciation.

The world is waiting for qualified English teachers, and with proper TEFL certification from accredited TEFL programs run by professional educators (like studyTEFL), you’ll be ready to answer that call. Don’t let inadequate training turn your teaching adventure into a survival challenge.

Your future self – the one posting photos from a Bangkok market or celebrating a student’s breakthrough moment – is waiting for you to take that first step.

Ready to start your TEFL journey with proper online TEFL training that won’t empty your bank account? Your teaching adventure begins with choosing the right certification – make it studyTEFL.

Ready to escape the cubicle and start your teaching adventure? Explore our comprehensive, affordable TEFL certification courses designed by professional teachers who’ve actually been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale.