ESL Teaching Job Blogs : TheWorknPlay

All

Insider Stories

Living Abroad

News and Events

Professional Jobs

Study

Teaching Jobs

Teaching Resources

TEFL/TESOL

Travel

All

ESL Visa Documents Needed for Australian Citizens

by Derek

E-2 Visa for ESL teachers (1/7)

ESL Visa Documents Needed for Australian Citizens

ESL Visa Documents Needed for Australian Citizens 1. Copy of Passport 2. Copy of Apostilled Diploma (Apostille Stamp Visible) 3. Apostilled Criminal Background Check (Original) 4. Self-Health Assessment 5. Three Signed Contracts – Please make sure to sign all three copies 6. Two Passport Style Photos 7. Isolation Consent Form 8. Visa Issuance Application Form Before you start applying for teaching jobs in Korea, make sure you have the physical copy of your diploma and your criminal record check apostilled and ready to go! Preparing Your Diploma Check here for a list of notaries in Australia. Some universities may also be able to notarize your diploma, either for free or a fee. 1. The notary public will make an official copy of your diploma. 2. The copy will be notarized. In some cases, you will sign the copy and then they will sign and notarize it. 3. Paste an apostille on the back of your notarized copy. Preparing Your Criminal Record Check Receiving a criminal record check in Australia takes anywhere from 2-7 weeks. 1. Apply for 1 nationwide National Police Check via the Australian Federal Police. The Apostille Process Have an apostille attached to: 1. The notarized copy of your diploma 2. The original, hard-copy of the Criminal Record Check. You may send in your documents to have an apostille pasted to them via Apostille Australia Certificate Service. Once you have both your diploma and criminal record check with the apostilles, you will be ready to go and can start applying for teaching positions in Korea! Once you have these documents ready, schools will know that you are serious about pursuing a position in Korea and will be able to move forward with your application.

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.K. Citizens

by Derek

E-2 Visa for ESL teachers (1/7)

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.K. Citizens

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.K. Citizens 1. Copy of Passport 2. Copy of Apostilled Diploma (Apostille Stamp Visible) 3. Apostilled Criminal Background Check (Original) 4. Self-Health Assessment 5. Three Signed Contracts – Please make sure to sign all three copies 6. Two Passport Style Photos 7. Isolation Consent Form 8. Visa Issuance Application Form Before you start applying for teaching jobs in Korea, make sure you have the physical copy of your diploma and your DBS criminal record check apostilled and ready to go! Preparing Your Diploma 1. The notary public will make an official copy of your diploma. 2. The copy will be notarized. In some cases, you will sign the copy and then they will sign and notarize it. 3. Attach an apostille to the copy. The apostille must be issued from the Legalisation Office. Preparing Your Criminal Record Check The nationwide criminal record check is conducted by the DBS. Note: The original Police Clearance Certificate must be notarized and have a federal-level apostille attached. In the UK, the entire process may take up to 40 days, so apply as soon as possible. 1. Order a nationwide criminal record check via DBS. Check-in often to make sure your application didn’t get overlooked. 2. Attach an apostille to the original criminal record check. The apostille must be issued from the Legalisation Office. Remember: The photocopy of your diploma must FIRST be notarized before you can get an apostille. Once you have both your diploma and criminal record check with the apostilles, you will be ready to go and can start applying for teaching positions in Korea! Once you have these documents ready, schools will know that you are serious about pursuing a position in Korea and will be able to move forward with your application.

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.S.A Citizens

by Derek

E-2 Visa for ESL teachers (1/7)

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.S.A Citizens

ESL Visa Documents Needed for U.S.A Citizens 1. Copy of Passport 2. Copy of Apostilled Diploma (Apostille Stamp Visible) 3. Apostilled Criminal Background Check (Original) 4. Self-Health Assessment 5. Three Signed Contracts – Please make sure to sign all three copies 6. Two Passport Style Photos 7. Isolation Consent Form 8. Visa Issuance Application Form Preparing your diploma A) University Degree (notarized and authenticated with Apostille. Note: Korean immigration will no longer accept original degrees: only photocopies notarized with Apostille.) -must be a four-year Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) in any discipline -must be from an accredited university -to get a notarized copy with Apostille: * Make a photocopy. * Have the copy notarized by a notary public (this does not have to be in the state as your university). * Send or take the notarized copy to the Secretary of State (in the same state as the notary public) for Apostille Authentication. Preparing your background check B) FBI Criminal Background Check (notarized and authenticated with Apostille. Note: all American Teachers MUST submit an FBI criminal record check. State or local checks will no longer be accepted.) -Your FBI check cannot be more than six months old when you apply for your teaching visa. -Only FBI Checks are accepted: * This will likely take two months to process. -After receiving the FBI check, get it apostilled through the Department of State in Washington, DC. It can take 6-8 weeks to get your apostille if sent through the mail, so be sure to either go in person or have a friend/relative get the apostille for you. There are also private companies that get the apostille for you in only a matter of days. -In some cases, it is possible to get the apostille through the Secretary of State in your own state. In this situation, start by having your FBI check notarized, using a form called an Affidavit. Then, send or take the notarized copy to the Secretary of State for Apostille Authentication.

by Lynzie

ESL Education (1/2)

How to land the Best ESL Job Abroad

How to land the Best ESL Job Abroad Can I increase my chances at getting the best ESL job abroad? Yes, you can. How, you ask? Here are a few ways that you can make a great first impression! 1. Get TESOL/TEFL Certified Being TESOL/TEFL certified opens doors to many countries around the world. While some teaching positions do not require TESOL/TEFL certification, being qualified offers many more opportunities. Understanding the basics of teaching English and classroom management can help you be better prepared to teach abroad. 2. Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter As an ESL teacher, spelling and grammar mistakes may cost you a job! Have a family member or a friend proofread your resume and cover letter. Also, make sure to use clear and legible fonts to increase readability. If you have experience teaching children or adults, be sure to include it in your resume to increase the chances of landing an interview. Sometimes, a short self-introduction video can help you stand out from other applicants. As the competition is quite high, nothing will set you apart better than a great introduction video. Learn more about how to film a short introduction video here. 3. Gain Real Teaching Experience If you live in a college town, there are opportunities for you to teach ESL to foreign students or guitar to your friends. Volunteering to teach or tutor in your local community also offers a great way for you to practice and learn from real-life experiences. Maybe you can start an art class in your own home! 4. Prepare for Your Interview Make sure that you make a note of the scheduled interview time and show up! Make sure that you have the correct contact information and that everything is working properly before your big interview. No matter who your interview is scheduled with, whether it be a recruiter or the actual school, be there! Before your interview, make a list of the questions you want to ask about the school and work life. Preparing for your ESL job interview abroad helps you know the right questions to ask before taking the job and making the big move across the world. You’re interviewing them, just like they’re interviewing you. 5. Research and Negotiate Researching the job field in your target country will help you better understand what questions to ask. Different countries also have laws pertaining to foreign workers and you can see whether you qualify for any benefits. If you have questions about a position, don’t be afraid to ask! If statements in a contract are unclear, you can ask for clarification or request that edits be made. These are just a few things you can do to stand out in the English teaching market and can help you secure a great teaching position abroad. Don’t be afraid to interview with several schools to see which one best fits you and your lifestyle!

by Lynzie

ESL Education (1/2)

ESL Teacher Resources

ESL Teacher Resources Classrooms are different and to be better prepared, ask your employer what resources will be in the classroom. Is there a computer? Is there a whiteboard? Is there a projector? These things can help you as you begin your teaching journey. A good question to ask your employer is whether there is a budget for classroom materials and supplies. You may end up budgeting your own personal resources to buy markers, tape, or construction paper. While most countries offer basic office supplies, taking your own resources that are harder to find abroad will make sure your classes are fun and engaged. Here are some resources that are harder to find abroad, so you may want to bring them over with you instead: 1. Flash Cards As an English teacher, alphabet flashcards can be a great resource to encourage young learners to match letters, sounds, and words. Simple activities such as rearranging the alphabet, making short words, or matching capital and lowercase letters together engages children and offers a variety of game possibilities. Flashcards are not common in other countries, so if you don't bring flashcards with you, you may have to print and laminate sets later on. 2. Card Games I found that my advanced English level students loved to play Apples to Apples and they enjoyed being able to choose the winning word. As they paired nouns with adjectives, they learned new words. Card games that can be played for a short period of time and involve learning English is a great way to encourage learners to participate actively in class. Although card games may not quite fit into your bag, you can find versions of the game online to print and laminate. Here are some other resources that you can purchase once you’ve arrived in the country: 1. Small Whiteboard/Chalkboard Each student can practice writing answers on a small whiteboard or chalkboard. Dividing the class into two teams, the teacher could have one person from each team compete to say the word that the teacher wrote on the board first. 2. Folders Folders are important for all teachers to stay organized and keep up with homework assignments that need to be graded. Keeping all of your papers organized will help save a headache later. 3. Alphabet Magnets Inherited from previous teachers, my alphabet magnets were a great resource for competition as the children raced against each other to spell words correctly. 4. Dice If you are playing a point-based game, dice can help the students wrack up points to win and compete. I created several games in PowerPoint that required the students to work together to earn a certain number of points to receive stamps for our hagwon’s reward program. 5. USB Drive Being able to store all of your documents and files in one place is great for ESL teachers. USB drives are small and portable. You never know when you may need to save information! 6. Stamps and Stickers Cute stamps can be found almost anywhere! Not only can stamps be used for homework but also for points. At the end of each class, each teacher at my academy would reward the students with stamps, with which the children could exchange for prizes. What child doesn’t love stickers to stick on their face? These resources can help you stand out and help you become a great ESL teacher for your students! With a little imagination and creativity, you can turn a boring class into a simulating and exciting learning environment.