Can You Teach English Abroad With Your Partner?

Many ESL teachers who work overseas do so as a couple. There are also plenty of English teachers who aren’t in a relationship who go with a friend. Completing a TEFL course is just the first step to going on a journey full of possibilities and it’s not something that you have to do alone.

Heading off overseas with your partner to teach English abroad has many factors that you have to consider. Read below to find out how you can make it an exciting journey you can share together.

TEFL Training

There’s nothing wrong with travelling solo, which you can read our tips for doing safely here, however, if you’re going with your partner then you should both consider teaching English to support your adventures overseas. Teaching English as a foreign language is a great income opportunity and you would be able to experience everything together. The TEFL Course is open to anyone who wants to do it. You can both achieve the TEFL Certificate and travel together to teach English.

Doing the TEFL Online Course together means you can help each other through any difficult parts. You can study and learn with each other while clocking up those hours to achieve the 120-hour course limit. You’ll know what the other person is going through, be able to offer encouragement when required and you can celebrate together when you both get your TEFL Certificate that qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language abroad.

 

Teaching Abroad with your partner

TEFL Jobs

It can be hard enough for one person to find the ideal TEFL job when looking for a place to teach English as a foreign language in a school, let alone for two. However, it doesn’t have to be a disaster if only one person manages to land an ESL classroom job. Thanks to everyone switching to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are open and adaptable to teaching English online, so if one can’t get a desired job in a classroom, they could teach online instead to help pay the bills.

It’ll be easier for both of you to find a TEFL job if you look for work in one of the country’s major cities. There’s generally a high demand for teachers in the more populated cities of Europe, Asia and Latin America compared to somewhere out in the country or near a tropical beach. If you can both do your research and narrow down your choices to a city you both are happy to live in, then you should both be able to teach English abroad.

You’ll have to work at different schools, or one could teach private students while the other in a public school setting, but having a bit of separation is not a bad thing. You’re already living together, travelling together, and sharing in this abroad experience together it’s okay to have a little separation from each other. This will also allow you to face your own day-to-day challenges, and grow independently while still doing so together, and your collective network of friends will expand as you make your own friends at work.

Helps Abide Any Homesickness

Whatever it might be, there will come moments during your travels when homesickness hits you. Having a friend to help you through those tough moments will allow you to deal with any culture shock experiences.

It’s such a comfort to have someone who understands you on a level no one else around you does. Travelling together will also raise your confidence and push you towards experiencing everything that your strange and unfamiliar environment has to offer.

 

Teaching Abroad with my partner

Other Jobs

The TEFL Certificate can just be your key to moving abroad, it doesn’t have to be your only option. Your partner or friend could use their TEFL Certificate just as job security while searching for other work. Many TEFL Teachers who moved somewhere for many years ended up working in a completely different field. For example, hospitality is an industry, especially in Asia, where English-speaking staff are often highly desired and needed.

Accommodation

One of the main ways you can cut down on living costs is by sharing accommodation. This is especially handy if the teaching jobs in the country you’ve decided to move to don’t offer any accommodation allowance. Sharing the living costs such as food and utility bills will help you save even more money.

More Enjoyable

This doesn’t apply to everyone as some people are extremely independent and love travelling solo. If that sounds more like you then take a read of our blog posts related to the single traveller so that you can maximise your time abroad.

The vast majority of people do prefer companionship though and would love the opportunity to share the experience. It can be especially challenging and rewarding if you decide to do this with someone you’re in a loving relationship with, but this can strengthen your relationship in so many ways.

By deciding to teach English abroad with your partner, you can make this huge life change a little less intimidating and much more enjoyable.

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In general, you don’t need a degree to teach English abroad or online. Our certification stands alone and you can get employment without pairing it with a degree. However, some TEFL employers do prefer their teachers to have a degree. More importantly, for some countries, it’s a visa requirement. This means you can’t obtain a work permit without a bachelor’s degree or higher. Some of these countries include China, Japan, UAE and Vietnam. 

Our advice is if you have your sights set on a certain country, look into the visa requirements first before putting time and effort into finding a job there. This will save you time and disappointment. If it’s a school preferability, and not a visa requirement, there’s sometimes some leeway. 

You do not need any prior teaching degrees or experience to teach abroad. Once you have your TEFL certificate, you can secure work as a TEFL teacher. A BA in Education would enhance your CV, but it’s not a necessity. Completing a TEFL course that includes teaching practice, like our Hybrid TEFL Courses, will also help your CV.

If you want to experience different cultures and see the world, teaching English abroad is for you. Not only will you get to explore new places, you’ll also meet new people and get the chance to make a difference to the lives of language learners. A TEFL certification lasts a lifetime. So, you can dip in and out of teaching abroad whenever you feel like it. 

It is not necessary to speak any other languages. You’ll be able to find a job and work comfortably without knowing the language spoken in your chosen country. Of course, it is always an advantage, even if it’s just the basics. We recommend learning a few phrases before you move abroad like hi, thank you, goodbye and sorry.

You’re never too old to gain new qualifications! Some TEFL employers do have age restrictions, but there are ample opportunities for more mature teachers. There are also the options to teach English from home as a private tutor or online tutor.

We recommend one of our Hybrid TEFL Courses if you would like to teach English in Europe. These hybrid courses give you the best of both worlds. You’ll get the training and certification you need, as well as teaching practice through the 10 Hour Virtual TEFL Course. 

The accredited courses are the quickest way to get TEFL certified, and are accepted by schools and institutes worldwide. Choose from a 120, 180 or 240 hour accredited TEFL course depending on the level of training you require. 



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