Teaching English in Asia - Some Questions to Ask
 Questions to ask yourself
- Do I feel qualified/equipped to teach English as a Second Language? (see qualification options below).
- Am I ready for the initial culture shock?
- Am I prepared to learn a new language?
- Am I prepared to accept a new culture and customs as part of my daily life?
- How well will I cope with being away from friends and family?
- Which country/area offers the best weather to suit my desires?
- Would I like to live in the city or country/suburbs?
- Will the food be a problem?
- Do I want to teach children, adults or both?
Questions to ask your potential company
- Are they an established school?
- What age range are the potential students?
- Are teaching materials provided?
- Is accommodation provided? (A request of a photo or housing format is a good idea)
- Is electricity/water/gas/phone included with accommodation?
- Is insurance/health care provided for?
- Is the airfare provided?
- How often is the salary paid and what day?
- How much holiday and vacation time is offered?
- Is there a training wage? (This is a subsidized wage paid during training)
- What is the relationship between hours worked and salary?
- Where are their offices and can I select where I will be placed?
- How many branches do they have?
- How many staff do they have?
- Do they arrange the visa paper work?
- Do they allow teachers to teach additional private lessons?
- What is their policy on documentation? (i.e. it has been known for companies to take your passport off you when you begin work. Is this something you agree with and are prepared for or would you prefer a company where you keep all your documentation?)
Additional questions to ask if operating through a placement company:
- How long have they been in operation?
- Are they officially registered to be an agency or placement service?
- Who is on their client list? E.g. Which universities, high schools, primary schools etc.
- Is there an office in your placement area?
If possible, request a list of foreigners that have been recently placed so you can contact them and ask questions. It is also a good idea to use the internet to find participants and ask their opinions. Good questions to ask would be:
- Were there any problems with the company?
- Are the conditions good and easy to work in?
- Was the salary paid on time and have there been any financial problems in the past?
- Would they recommend the company and if not, why?
Further Resources
ESL Cafe is a great resource for feedback on companies from others who have taught English as a second language in Asia. It is an excellent resource to find safe jobs and provides discussion boards for everyday people to discuss their experiences. It is highly recommended that you look at this website before beginning your job search.
Qualification Options
If you are interested in gaining a qualification to prepare you to teach English overseas, we would recommend the following:
CELTA - Cambridge Certificate in English Lanuage Teaching to Adults.
This is run through the Language Institute at The University of Waikato. More information on this course can be found here.
Postgraduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching (PGDipSLT)
This is run through the General and Applied Linguistics Department at The University of Waikato. More information on this course can be found here.
Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics)
This is run through the General and Applied Linguistics Department at The University of Waikato and is most suitable for those who are interested in Teaching English as a Career. More information on this course can be found here.
Other institutions also offer qualifications including Certificates and Graduate Certificates. For more information on other courses available, visit Careers Services website at www.careers.govt.nz, or to go directly to the page, click here.
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