English is one of the easiest languages in the world to speak and as such, there are many people wanting to be tutors on the subject. While the professional sector doesn't pay much, the private sector does. Often people will pay a tutor more to teach them one on one or in small classes then go to a college course. If you're a hard working individual who has the patience to do this, it can be a very lucrative way to earn a living.
This is a good career choice, especially in countries where tutors are in high demand and parents want the best for their children. In many countries, the population density is much higher than it is in the United States so families will often hire one tutor for a group of children. In most cases, they are making their children learn the language because it is becoming the most used language, especially in trading. Not that English is replacing any other language, it's just easy to speak, and thus everyone can learn it easily.
However not all English tutoring jobs are for children. Many government agencies and embassies around the world require their employees speak English before performing their duties. The reasons for this are quite obvious as these employees may be traveling around the world. They may be dealing with people who speak fluent English on a daily basis.
Of course, it's important to remember that there are various forms of English to learn. Many people think that English is just what is spoken in North America and that's it. This is hardly the case as the form of English that is spoken in North America is much different from the form spoken in England. In fact, many consider the version that is spoken in North America to be inferior to the version spoken in the European countries.
All of this being put aside, teaching another language to someone whether you're being paid to do it or not is a very rewarding experience. Many people build their entire careers around learning to teach other people new languages such as English. The availability of teaching jobs for the English language varies from country to country. This mainly depends on the time of year and economic climate.
Countries that have many tourism attractions and activities typically need tutors for English and other languages during the highest levels of activity. As tourism slows, they begin to lay off the tutors until the same time next year when they are needed again. This ensures that their workforce receives a refresher, and any new employees are brought up to speed. This is essential for any industry that deals internationally.
In order to land one of these professions you have to show that you are a very capable tutor. If you show that you can speak more than English, this is a big plus even if you're only applying for an English speaking position. You want to look professional at all times and have a good resume. Dressing to impress is also a very big part of this process as getting a job internationally is much harder than at home.
Typically, you want to wear a suit, be clean-shaven, and well groomed for the interview. Have a full list of your qualifications, letters of recommendation, and your resume complete with cover letters ready to go. This will show you are on top of things and ready to begin your job as soon as possible. Also make a mental note to be as polite as possible. This is essential to any job but extremely important in foreign countries.
Regardless of what language you are going to be teaching or where you are going to teach it you need to remember several things. When going to an interview for teaching jobs always be polite, respectful, professional, clean, and have any papers that you think you may need to give out on your person with copies. Above all stay calm, and you will make the best impression that you can. Remember that tutoring others in another language often has its own rewards.
