In light of recent scams befalling many South Africans looking to teach English abroad as detailed on Carte Blanche and W24, we had a chat to Cape Talk about trends in the teach abroad business, how to avoid scams and what processes applicants need to follow in order to get a job like this.
Listen to the interview here:
Here are a few of the topics covered in the interview:
How popular is teaching English abroad?
It’s definitely been around for a long time but at the same time is growing in popularity. One of the newest teach abroad destinations launching onto the market is teaching English in Myanmar. Contrary to requirements for most teach abroad destinations, teaching in Myanmar, also known as Burma, doesn’t always require a bachelor’s degree.
How often are teach abroad jobs legit?
The simple answer is most of the time. But, even with legitimate jobs, one might find that certain schools and placement agencies have varying degrees of preparedness and support. It’s important to choose one with a team of experienced individuals in the business who vet schools carefully before sending teachers there.
How can one tell if a job is genuine?
There are a number of ways to spot a scam and save yourself a great deal of heartache. Look out for reviews online, particularly on specialised teach abroad review sites. Check for regular social media posting on multiple platforms by the company in question. Check the requirements for the job with the company you’re going through vs others in the business, if they are suspiciously relaxed compared to others, alarm bells should ring. And finally, double-check the fees, it’s not uncommon to pay a fee to enrol in a teach abroad program, so find out what the fee covers and what do you need to cover personally.
What’s the process to teach English abroad?
This will vary from program to program and destination to destination, but generally you should start with an enquiry and/or a phone call with a representative of the company. You’ll be asked to submit an application with a CV, photo and sometimes your voice may be recorded during an interview. These go towards building a profile of yourself that the teach abroad agency can send to prospective schools looking for teachers. Once accepted onto the program, you may pay a fee to secure your spot and then you’ll head overseas. Sometimes you’ll be offered a job before you depart if all your training is done in advance, sometimes you’ll be guaranteed placement but will receive the job offer once in the country, if you’re doing training there as a requirement for employment.
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