Teaching English Abroad, 2nd Ed

I always recommend this book to people who tell me they are thinking of getting into teaching English as a foreign language. I think it provides a fabulous overview of the industry, and the pros and cons of teaching abroad. The book helped me to narrow down what was most important to me in an overseas teaching position. I found the personal anecdotes to be illuminating, and they were one of many factors that eventually steered me away from teaching in Asia or the Middle East. ... Although the book does have a slant towards a British audience, this book is NOT only useful to Brits. I am an American, and it helped me to get my first job teaching in Europe. It also helped me decide where to get my TESL certificate. I sent away for more information from many of the TESL certification schools listed in this book, and eventually decided to do a Trinity College certification course in London rather than an equally expensive but non-Trinity, non-Cambridge course in the US. I have never regretted this decision for a minute, and in fact it led to an excellent job with excellent perks in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Yes, like most of us unlucky Americans, I eventually had to face reality and give up the dream of working in an EU country!)It is true that Griffith could spend more time focusing on job opportunities in non-EU countries, especially Latin America. Hence, only 4 stars out of 5. However, this book is an excellent starting point for those considering teaching English abroad. Naturally, no single book can cover all bases. It goes without saying that your experiences in a foreign country will be as unique as you are, and may differ wildly from the teachers quoted in the book. But for my money, this is the best introduction to teaching abroad in one single publication. Read and enjoy, and if you end up in a scrape in some dicey teaching position abroad, don't say that Susan didn't warn you!

Clearly set outUp to date contactsCrisp, clear writingExcellent for getting a job teaching english abroad!

This book is a great general resource, with complete listings of schools for gaining TESL/TEFL certification and education, as well as potential jobs at schools around the world. The info is very realistic, and talks about the general benefits and pitfalls of teaching abroad, with many amusing first-hand accounts. All the info is pretty up to date, (this edition is in 1999) however the author is British and all references for North Americans are secondary, while info for those in the UK is a bit more comprehensive. Also, the author promotes 2 major schools which are located in the UK. All around a worthwhile investment, though.

I have an earlier edition--the third edition, published in 1997. I have read it cover to cover several times in preparation for my first teaching assignment abroad. It is very well-organized, starting with information on TEFL training courses all over the world, then providing information on how to prepare for your trip--how to get through international paperwork, suggestions on what to pack and which grammar books to try, tips on how to mentally prepare yourself, and finally it presents an overview of the demand for English teachers and the availability and quality of jobs in dozens of countries. Not only informative and well-organized, but also well-written; it is a delight to read.