The allure of teaching abroad is one that most of us have thought about at one time or another. Whether in between careers, deciding what to do after graduation or you are already teaching abroad but don’t meet all of the pertinent criteria, beware of the dangers that exist for anyone thinking of teaching illegally.
Part One:
Anyone looking to make money quickly can do so in a reasonable amount of time teaching ESL abroad. In Asia and the Middle East, accommodations are often provided leaving you with only the utilities left to pay each month. In Europe, the standard of living is quite cost effective as essentials and food are often more affordable than one might expect.
The right qualifications are all that is needed to access these otherwise inaccessible markets. Being a native speaker of English from a Native Speaking Country, such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia are often necessary. A university degree, a TESL or CELTA certificate and a proven track record in teaching ESL is often essential. This especially holds true when applying to teach in places like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Dubai.
However, other places, like South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia often make allowances. Being from one of the mentioned English countries above and a university degree in any field with little to no experience is often acceptable as the need for ESL teachers is so great. As a result, two things often occur. People who teach in Asia do so under false pretenses of having a qualified university degree and or continue to teach privately 'under the table' to make that extra bit of money. The following segments will focus on these two very real aspects of ESL teaching in South Korea and the consequences of both.
Whether your in Spain enjoying the sun and beaches or in South Korea trying to make a few extra dollars in order to pay off those loans back home, teaching English 'under the table' is another cause for concern in many countries hosting ESL teachers. In Spain, the result of this has been stricter immigration laws, especially for foreigners from North America entering the country.
In South Korea, it quite literally means jail time. Stings are being set up to catch western teachers in the act, going so far as to offer handsome rewards to any Korean national willing to turn a western teacher in. (Ten Million Won I believe)
One recent case was a gentleman who had been teaching in South Korea for several years. Upon deciding to return home to North America he informed his long term client that he would no longer be available to teach the family's child. Despite having worked for this family secretly for so many years and having a good relationship with them, the family, angered by his refusal to accept their pleas to remain in South Korea, decided to report him. Last I heard he was still being held in custody.
The urge to make more money often outweighs one's sense of safety, and if you are thinking of teaching abroad it is wiser to be a team player than attempting to work alone.
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