Teaching Spanish abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

What are the requirements to become a Spanish teacher abroad?

• The most common certificate for teaching Spanish as a foreign language is the ELE (Español como Lengua Extranjera or Spanish as a Foreign Language)
• The ELE certificate is designed for teaching Spanish to non-native speakers, much like TEFL is for teaching English.
• Paid professional teaching jobs without an ELE certicate or equivalent diploma are scarce, but as a private (online) tutor with good reviews you might be able to make some money

On which schools can you teach Spanish abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

• When you are going to teach Spanish abroad, this can range from a paid job as an Spanish teacher at a high school in the USA to helping children with their Spanish at a language school somewhere in Asia.
• As a non-native Spanish speaking foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an Spanish teacher at a high school in a high demand country or as a (online) private teacher.
• In addition, there are also opportunities within primary education, private schools and corporate education.
• The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

• Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
• Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
• Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
• Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
• Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
• Income: if you teach Spanish abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
• Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

• Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
• Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
• Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
• Being able to be convincing
• Being able to plan
• Being able to radiate self-confidence

Where is the best place to go when you want to teach Spanish abroad?

• China: increasing demand, mainly due to growing international trade with Latin America
• other Asian countries: Hong Kong and Singapore
• North and Western Europe: UK, the Netherlands and Sweden (high school teachers)
• United States: but competition with native speakers can be fierce
• Hispanic countries: high demand for Spanish teachers but limited options for non-native speakers

To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

• There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid or unpaid work abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefully.
• The local organisations generally don't offer any or only offer very limited insurance.
• There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
• During your work abroad in specific cases, you will need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
• Read more about Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme

In Dutch:

• Read more: Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
• Read more: Stage in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
• Read more: Werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)