Wondering how to be an English teacher abroad? Don’t worry—it’s actually fairly straightforward! Here’s a brief overview of how to teach ESL abroad:

Get TEFL certified. This is the most basic step in teaching English abroad, since having a TEFL certificate is a prerequisite to finding teaching opportunities abroad in almost every country in the world. You can get certified online or in-person, in as little as 60 hours or as much as 8 weeks! The right certification for you depends on your level of teaching experience, as well as your career goals.
Have a degree. Yes, a Bachelor’s degree is required to teach English abroad in most destinations that offer decent pay. However, there are some places where you can teach overseas without a degree. It may be more difficult to earn a living wage though.
Apply to teach abroad programs. You can find ESL jobs abroad without a teach abroad program, but it’ll require a lot of research on your part. It can be easy to get scammed or accidentally work illegally if you go it alone, so be sure to consider every detail. On the other hand, teach English abroad programs will find you a reputable placement, and may even secure a salary on your behalf!
Pick a destination. English teachers are needed practically everywhere in the world, so the destination is up to you! Maybe you have certain travel aspirations or dreams that you would like to fulfill. If so, that’s a good place to start!
Get your visa and passport. Again, teaching abroad programs will help with a lot of the work and logistics involved with getting a valid work visa for teaching English abroad, and can even assist you in applying for a passport if you don’t have one. Otherwise, make sure you qualify for a visa that will allow you to legally teach English in your destination—especially if you intend to earn a wage.