Native speakers of English are highly prized in many countries around the world. However, certain places make it easier for certain "brands" of English. Citizens of the United Kingdom will find it relatively easy to get well-paid positions throughout the European Union due to easy work visa exchanges. Americans have a harder time in EU countries because of the reams of paperwork necessary to make them legal. Hiring a Brit is almost always easier. Does that mean that Americans can’t work in Paris? No, but it means that they will certainly have to work harder to do it legally.

In some countries and situations, however, being American is an advantage. Most countries that do a lot of business with U.S. companies, like Japan, prefer the American accent.

In all, though, you should feel free to choose your dream location -- but be prepared to research the working climate both for legal and linguistic restrictions.

There are two basic ways to teach English abroad: work for a school or set up your own business. Advantages and disadvantages exist for both methods.

There are several types of English schools, ranging from commercial schools that teach quickie English to businesspeople and others, to secondary schools and universities. A contract with a school usually carries most of the benefits that you would expect -- health insurance, regular salary, vacation, payroll tax deductions. Moreover, schools will probably help you with the wrangling necessary to get your work permits and other legal niceties. Some schools also offer training and other perks like housing, transportation pay, and Internet connectivity. Your teaching day could range from 3 hours to 8 hours, depending upon the type of school in which you are working, and your contract length could be anywhere from one month to two years!

The downside is that if you sign a contract, you can be legally obligated to see it through: you can’t just quit any time you want to go travel. Read the fine print VERY carefully!

Working as a private teacher or tutor can be more lucrative, since you can eliminate the "middleman" of a school and charge what you like. You are also your own boss, meaning that you can set your own hours. That freedom has its pitfalls, however. Finding reliable clients can be tough, and you may find that you spend more time in unpaid marketing efforts than in paid teaching.

Additionally, if you want to become legal where you’re living, you’ll have to do it on your own -- and some countries make it very difficult to get residency papers if you don’t have a traditional employer. If you decide to work without the required permits, you can be deported and/or fined, but hundreds (if not thousands) of people do it. It’s not at all uncommon and depends entirely on your own risk tolerance.

While there are still some places in the world where you can show up and teach English without any "paper trail" of qualifications, those locations are dwindling in number. Most reputable schools require either a Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) and experience, a Master’s degree, or a TEFL certificate (see below). And even private clients in most countries will want to know what makes you qualified to be a teacher.

If you are considering going abroad to teach, but don’t have one of the combinations of desired skills, consider volunteering at a local charity or school. Most cities have organizations that work with immigrants and need people to help. Some may even offer free training to interested volunteers. Volunteering will also give you an idea of whether you enjoy the work without making the move around the world to do it.

You could also teach English as part of a volunteer program overseas. These placements generally require no previous training or special skills and are short-term enough to give you a taste of the real thing. Check the GoNOMAD ALTERNATIVES LISTINGS for volunteer programs with English teaching.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate and degree courses seem to be one of the fastest-growing businesses worldwide, probably because English teaching is such a big business. The courses range in length and complexity from distance-learning programs that may cost several hundred dollars to month-long intensive courses that can cost as much as several thousand dollars to two-year Master’s program requiring student loans.

Whatever your location or needs, there is probably a TEFL course somewhere that fits the bill. The real question is whether you need it.

If you have a Bachelor’s degree and a little experience, you may find that jobs are relatively easy to come by, especially in Latin America and Eastern Europe. However, if you lack a degree -- or if you want to teach somewhere that places more value on titles and certificates, as is the case in many Asian countries -- you may want to consider making an investment in a course.

The other reason to consider a course is simply to gain skill in the classroom. Many schools throw you in without any training or guidance. Ideally, a TEFL course will give you some of the tools you’ll need to be effective as a teacher, which may be comforting when you’re staring down a roomful of eager students.