Many of us only dream of an international career, not realizing how readily it can happen. In the field of teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), getting started is easier than you might think. All around the globe, schools are actively recruiting teachers, and many ESL jobs go unfilled due to the overwhelming demand. The teachers hired have backgrounds as varied as the countries in which they work. Young or old, experienced or just beginning, there are ESL jobs for nearly everyone.

Due to its truly international nature, the size of the ESL jobs market is difficult to accurately estimate. Worldwide, figures from the British Council estimate that there are over a billion students actively studying English as a second or foreign language. In Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea, a report published by the Association of Educational Publishers estimates that the amount spent on English education approaches nearly a billion Euros annually. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) estimates there are well over a million adults enrolled in ESL programs in the United States alone. With a market as large as this one, the number of ESL jobs that are available is enormous.

While you can get started without previous experience or training, the more competitive positions will require it. The minimum qualification is the internationally recognized Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, or CELTA, a four week course offered extensively around the world. For teachers who intend to pursue ESL as a career, master's programs in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Applied Linguistics are recommended. These MA programs are a prerequisite for the tenure track positions available in universities around the world.

When considering where to teach abroad, different factors should be considered, including quality of life, cost of living, and earning potential. Some lesser developed countries might provide a more relaxing pace of life, but typically at the expense of a higher salary. For the highest earning potential, potential teachers should look to the schools and corporations of the Middle East, although with higher pay comes far higher minimum requirements as well. While ESL jobs are offered in nearly every part of the world, the greatest demand is currently in China, followed by Korea, and then Japan. There are few places in the world where the ESL jobs market is not robust.

Will you start an international career as an ESL teacher? The ESL jobs are out there, the only thing missing is you!

John D. Rogers has been active in the field of ESL since the early 90's. He has a MA TESOL from New York University, and a MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder of ESL Jobs World, visited by teachers around the world in search of ESL jobs, and the schools that are looking to hire them.