There's never been a better time to start teaching English online and abroad. According to the British Council, English is being spoken at a useful level by more than 1.75 billion people around the globe. And, as this report published by Yahoo! Finance shows, the English learning industry (predicted to reach a whopping £19.5 billion by 2027) will continue to grow over the next five years.
If you're interested in teaching English but have no idea where to start, you've come to the right place!
From deciding whether you want to go digital or move to another country and getting the necessary qualifications, to joining a teaching abroad programme or becoming a private tutor - here are five easy ways to start teaching English online and abroad.
The first step to start teaching English online and abroad is to get a better idea of the opportunities on offer. A quick search online for "English teaching jobs" will bring up hundreds of pages worth of results, with everything from online private tutor roles to full-time teaching positions abroad.
Start by making a note of any positions and benefits that sound appealing. Consider factors like working from home, moving abroad, desired salary, teaching hours and student age range.
Once you have an idea of your dream job, go back and look at the qualifications required. These vary between roles but a degree, a background in education, and a TEFL qualification are the most common.
If you don't have any of the above, don't give up on your dream of teaching English just yet! There are many opportunities out there for those who are willing to get a TEFL certificate. When comparing TEFL providers, try to choose a globally recognised organisation and a minimum of a 120-hour TEFL course.
If trying to find a job and finishing a TEFL course at the same time as arranging flights, visas and housing sounds a bit overwhelming, a Teach English Abroad programme could be the solution.
These programmes can help you get qualified, find a great position, arrange all your travel documents and accommodations. Alongside taking the worry out of many aspects of moving abroad for a new job, this is a great way to make friends as you'll often have group training.
Hoping to start teaching English online or abroad straight away? Becoming a private English tutor might be the best option for you. You don't need any qualifications and you'll be able to set your own hours and rates of pay, as well as choosing your own students.
If you're looking to go private but with a little more structure, consider an online tutoring platform, like italki. Alongside their professional teacher positions, you can also become a community tutor as a native or non-native speaker without any qualifications.
Finally, the easiest way to start teaching English online and abroad is…to just get started! You know if you could land that dream teaching job unless you apply for it. With such a high demand for English teachers, you'll be amazed at how many great opportunities there are to teach English both online and abroad.