Do I need to have experience? Will I get training?
Most countries do not require years of experience for teaching English abroad; they will expect you to have at least 120-Hour TEFL Certificate. An online certificate will be just fine if you want to go to Africa or South America. Salaries are very low there, so schools don't ask as much. If, however, they want to see an actual teaching practicum with EFL students, unless you can prove that to them, they will not consider you. You have to ask yourself the question of whether you want a high or a low salary. Your answer will guide you to the TEFL program you have to select, either onsite or online. If you are a licensed K-12 or university teacher who wants to teach in your subject area, you will likely need to prove 2+ years of teaching experience to get hired at a private or international school.
Do I need TEFL certification to teach abroad?
Yes, to teach English abroad. Schools usually only give jobs to teachers who put in the effort to obtain TEFL Certification (Teach English as a Foreign Language). A 120-hour TEFL certificate is a standard requirement by many governments to issue a work visa. The Middle East and Asia (with a few exceptions) require an in-class TEFL certification with teaching practice. In-class courses are more expensive; however, they prepare you the best. If you can settle for a school in the very countryside of South Korea or China (as an example), the school may still be able to provide you with a work visa because the administrators know somebody in the government. Most teachers would like to work in the larger cities. Here it is extremely competitive, and schools have options. So you have to go by the rules. To teach a K-12 or university subject, you'll need a teaching certification in that subject area. However, our experience in recruiting has taught us that you can have an MA/ MS/ PhD in that subject area to substitute for certification. Schools view content mastery as the main requirement, though you obviously have to demonstrate a great aptitude for teaching if you don't have proper certification (create a video on your profile to accomplish this). They expect you to complete a 120-hour onsite TEFL course in lieu of traditional teacher training. 6
GUIDE TO TEACHING ABROAD - INTERNATIONAL TEFL TRAINING INSTITUTE
However, China is special (and China deserves special attention because it is by far the biggest market for teachers). In China's Tier 1 cities, they have a 2-year "experience" requirement for English teachers (they say you need two years of post-college "work experience," which doesn't have to be teaching). Yes, they categorize them by "tiers," but Tier 2 and 3 cities are still huge cities with high living standards. In reality, and this is backed up by our recruitment experiences with Chinese EFL schools, most schools (that aren't in the heavily desired Tier-1 teaching markets of Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong) can get you a visa, even if you have no experience. Schools can waive this because of their relationship with their local government officials.