How To Work and Travel The World, Paid and Volunteering?
Expat, Digital Nomad, Teacher or Traveller?
We will break the above down into categories for you, remember these jobs don’t suit everybody and many need experience and most of all, qualifications of some sort. However, it’s a start and a goal before you find your true market niche.
Hope you find this of help within your future goals!
Expat – definition: An expatriate (often shortened to ex-pat) is a person residing in a country other than their native country. … However, the term ‘expatriate‘ is also used for retirees and others who have chosen to live outside their native country.
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Teach English Abroad
Do you know how to speak English? Perfect! English teachers are highly sought after around the globe — and the pay can be decent or at least adequate to cover your living costs and a general lifestyle. You can get jobs teaching overseas, or even teaching classes online from your computer.
For the online jobs (mainly Chinese companies are the main source.) (you can teach through the companies platform or through Skype and usually following a curriculum put together via PowerPoint and the company.) A college degree is required but not all companies require this, and for the foreign-based jobs in a classroom environment, a TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is also required (these jobs may also include accommodation too).
Useful Resources:
- Daves ESL website – Well known for jobs throughout the world and used by many reputable companies and schools.
- Professional TEFL Language Course
- AirBnB – Perfect places to stay in every country at reasonable prices and filtered to your needs.
- Itutor is an online teaching company that offer many opportunities and are looking for teachers in most countries. to teach their language and have the skills to interact in English.
THE BEST PLACES TO TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEAS
1. South Korea
South Korea is one of the best places — if not the best — to teach English overseas. Jobs are abundant, the pay averages $1,600-2,600 USD per month, and you get awesome benefits, like a contract completion bonus, free housing, and airfare reimbursement.
A lot of recent college graduates are attracted to Korea because of the money, benefits, and the fact that Korea takes many first-time teachers. If you don’t have any experience, this country is one of the best options for you. As a place to live, Korea has plenty of things going for it: the food is delicious, the country is dirt cheap, and the people are friendly.
Plus you will find lots of other international young ex-pats there. Since you earn so much money in a country with such a low cost of living, most people leave having paid off a substantial portion of their debts! You could easily walk away after a year of teaching with your loans (school or non-school) paid off AND money for travel!
2. Japan
Japan has a reputation for good jobs which means it also attracts as many people as South Korea. Though the years of easily teaching in Japan and making quick cash are long, long over, people willing to stay at least a year can generally save a substantial sum of money.
While the cost of living can eat up a lot of your salary, especially in Tokyo, there are a number of programs out there (including the government’s JET program) that reward long-term teachers with generous benefits and completion bonuses.
3. The Middle East
The Middle East lures many teachers in for one reason: its salary packages. Middle Eastern countries offer incredibly large salaries (up to $70,000 USD per year for an experienced teacher), lots of benefits, and no taxes. A teacher can walk away with around $40,000 USD after one year.
However, this is no place for the recent college graduate. These countries want certified and experienced teachers. If you couldn’t teach at a public school in your home country, you have little chance of getting a job in this part of the world. As such, most of the teachers here are older and more settled and have families.
Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia are the most popular destinations for teaching English in this region.
4. Thailand
Thailand attracts lots of young and new teachers with its cheap cost of living, warm beautiful weather, tropical beaches, mouth-watering food, and party atmosphere.
Most of the language school teachers are ex-travellers looking to save for future travels…or travellers who thought they were doing that but ended up never leaving. The pay in Thailand isn’t that high ($1,000–1,500 USD per month) unless you teach in Bangkok or at an international school.
However, teaching English in Thailand isn’t about making lots of money — it’s about everything else: the ease of getting a job, the food, the fun-loving atmosphere, the weather, and everything in between. It’s one of the best destinations for young, new teachers, especially in a larger city, since you’ll fit right in. What’s more, you only need a TEFL or white skin in some schools. Yes there is racism in schools
5. China
As China rises in global stature, its need for English teacher grows as more and more citizens need to know the language for their job. Moreover, the culture puts an emphasis on learning it. As such, it is one of the easiest places to find work. No matter where you go, you can find work, even in saturated cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
You can earn a decent salary teaching English here (upward of $1,500-4,000 USD a month), and many jobs give completion bonuses, free housing, and airfare reimbursement.
China is a brave new world and a country in constant change. It’s a good location for teachers of all abilities — there’s something for everyone there!
I got offered a job in Wenling but had to refuse after much debating with the Chinese Government. Just make sure you have all your education documents notarised. A police check which is done from your place of birth and a medical check recently. Shame as the package was fantastic!
6. Prague
Prague has a seemingly abundant supply of teaching jobs. The city has grown in size over the last few years, attracting a variety of tech start-ups and ex-pats, which has created a lot more job opportunities for teachers.
While it’s very hard to get a job in the public school system or a university, there are plenty of language schools in the city to choose from. The pay isn’t as high as other countries in the world and there are few benefits (especially when compared to Asia or the Middle East), but you’re a stone’s throw away from everywhere in Europe.
The city is one of the most beautiful, vibrant, fun, and popular cities in Europe, which makes Prague an excellent central base from which to explore the continent.
7. Spain
Teaching in Spain is one of the best opportunities for anyone looking to work in Europe. There are plenty of jobs, the government has an active program for attracting teachers, and your visa means you can freely travel around Europe.
There are also many opportunities to teach private lessons on the side. You don’t get many benefits (or high pay compared to Asia or the Middle East), but the pay is still enough to live off of.
8. Taiwan
Taiwan is an excellent country to teach English in, thanks to lots of job opportunities (though they tend to be with young kids), high salaries, benefits similar to South Korea, and lots of other young teachers to share a social life with. The country places
sunrise at sun moon lake in Taiwan
high importance on learning English, and you’ll be able to find freelance tutor opportunities besides your regular, steady teaching job!
10. Cambodia
Qualifications for teaching in Cambodia varies and many teachers are just TEFL graduates with very little experience, a good starting block for any new teacher though.
We taught in Cambodia at all levels and the pay ranged from $700- $1500 P.M or an hourly rate of $10 -$15.Which is durable with how cheap the country is to live in. Saving though is very hard if you live a good lifestyle.
Cambodia is a country that will hire mainly white-skinned coloured people/teachers, not because they are more educated but it’s a social preference of the parents of the children and high esteem seen by the schools, shameful to say the least!
The kids made up for the parents and school owners behaviour though, as they don’t judge the difference of e-quality in their world and they are very funny and talented. A new generation:)
Conclusion:
I had a lot of fun teaching English overseas and gave me some great experiences on the road and it taught me so much about myself. You gain a lot of perspective on life by living in another culture.
While there is an opportunity to teach wherever English isn’t the native language, the destinations above draw the biggest crowds, offer the best pay, the best perks, and are the most fun.
If you are thinking about becoming an English teacher overseas, my advice is to head to one of these destinations and just do it!
Tourandtakein still has many professional contacts within most of these countries, so please drop us a line and subscribe for our weekly blogs.info@tourandtakein.com
Teaching English Online
This was something that didn’t exist when I was teaching. Thanks to the Internet, you no longer have to be tied to one location to teach online and is becoming more popular as a way to make money while working remotely. Platforms like Itutor.com. Which a degree is needed or Cambly and italki which don’t require any teaching degrees. The pay isn’t great for the latter ones but it’s something that can have you earn enough money to keep travelling.
Working Example
Online Teaching:
I started making money via a classroom environment first and then moved into teaching online, so I could travel more freely and work when I needed. Here are some details if you wish to join the company Itutorgroup. Also, I will put a link which gives more details below, the company then usually responds within 48hrs to arrange an interview or ask for more information if needed. Good Luck!
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s degree or higher
TESOL/TEFL Certification (or its equivalent) required
Minimum of 1- year teaching experience ( classroom or online )
Enthusiastic and professional, be able to work with Children and Adults
Great communication and presentation skills
Computer literate
Must have a stable internet connection
Link with lots more information:
Job Income Range
$1000 – $5000 per month, depends on the hours you put in online and your location and education background.
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Digital Nomad
Do you know how to use a computer? How to use Microsoft applications? Yes of course you do! So why not have a try at running your own blog? We’re here to help you and we’ve over 25 Years of experiences to tell:) Now we also have combined our travel knowledge with our blog and making a living off it:) Ideal to know the application of WordPress, but even if you don’t there are plenty of tutorials given by the company and on youtube
Tip of the article:
If You Work Via A Computer Do You Need A VPN?
More so if you’re a remote worker and traveller, do you need one?
Why? You may ask yourself.
We are in an age now, where nearly everybody uses some sort of computer, whether it is a desktop ( remember those? ) laptop, tablet, Ipad, Smartphone, we all have access to the internet and that means the bad people may have access to our private information, work information and our life!
- Remain anonymous online — Your real location will no longer be visible.
- Prevent spying and cyberattacks — You can protect your personal data and device from hackers, malware, and even government surveillance.
- Freely browse the internet — Unblock any site you want from anywhere, including streaming services like Netflix, torrent clients, and more.
It might sound complicated but you definitely don’t need to be a technical expert to use a VPN.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A virtual private network offers a higher degree of protection and privacy as you’re surfing the web, whether at home or outside.
Remember you don’t have to be a top sales and marketing executive. You just need in my mind, the desire to do something and to put your heart and soul into it. If You Build It, He Will Come – Field of Dreams ( Kevin Costner )
Sign up today, if you feel you need one!
General Jobs: Volunteering
This link will help you find remote access to hundreds over jobs online, in many industries!
Round the World with WWOOF:
WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange, thereby helping to build a sustainable, global community.
Other work exchange programs, like Workaway, Helpx, and Worldpackers.
