LanguageCorps Programs

FAQs

Below are quick answers to some frequently asked questions. If your question isn't included on our list, send us an email, and we'll get you an answer!

LanguageCorps Programs

What’s unique about LanguageCorps?

There are many organizations around the world that can train and certify students in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) methodology. Likewise, there are recruiters in many countries, and online, that promise to place EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers into paid teaching assignments. But this ad hoc approach often leaves you “on your own” to make critical choices without a lot of information or assistance:

Will there be anyone available to answer my questions as I prepare to depart my home country?
Will I receive assistance in obtaining a visa to work overseas? Who will pay for this?
How will I find acceptable and affordable local accommodations? How will I build a network to socialize and share information with other teachers and peers once overseas?
How will I handle a local legal issue or medical emergency?
Will I receive help and guidance with contract negotiations so I receive the best teaching position and salary possible?

With our Flagship Program, you don’t simply get TESOL training and guaranteed job placement. You enjoy the best balance of a challenging adventure in teaching and cultural exchange, receiving unique training empowering you to thrive as a professional abroad. Each Teacher defines their own LanguageCorps experience – but they do so within the security of a guaranteed paid job, a highly organized system, and a supportive community. (top)

What are the fees for LanguageCorps Programs? What do those fees cover?

The fee for LanguageCorps' Flagship Programs (available in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Mexico) is US$4,395. Unlike some firms that only provide training, or others that operate only as job search or placement agents, our Flagship Programs provide you with TESOL training and certification, guaranteed job placement, and a highly coordinated, close-at-hand support structure that helps assure an enjoyable, rewarding and secure overseas teaching experience.

For those who do not need the extensive services of our signature Flagship Program, LanguageCorps offers a TESOL Certification Program with program fees that range from US$1,690-2,495, depending on location, plus accommodations. We offer our TESOL Certification Programs in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The program is a thorough 4-week course of classroom training and observed practice teaching. Upon your successful completion of the course, you’ll earn a TESOL Certificate which is internationally recognized.

The fee for our Short-term Volunteer Program (available in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam) is US$2,195 for eight weeks. These programs include abbreviated TESOL training, accommodations, placement in a volunteer (unpaid) teaching position, cell phone, medical insurance, visas, excursions, and local support while in country. .

For all Programs we require a non-refundable deposit of US$500 to reserve your scheduled start date. The balance of the program fee is payable four weeks prior to your scheduled departure date to travel to our Training and Certification Center. (top)

What is the deadline for applying?

The deadline for acceptance into LanguageCorps and receipt of deposit is 45 days prior to the start date. To ensure placement in the program you desire, we advise applying two to six months prior to your intended start date. Late placements are sometimes possible, so if you are applying less than two months before your desired start date, please contact us immediately. (top)

What’s the difference between the LanguageCorps’ Flagship Program and TESOL Certification Program?

LanguageCorps’ Flagship Program is our raison d’etre. Our goal as an organization is to

a) offer Teachers a rewarding experience living in, working in, and learning about a new culture;

b) afford them a unique opportunity to learn and apply new skills; and

c) challenge them to develop a wider, first-person perspective about the diversity of cultures and populations around the world – all within the security of a highly organized system and supportive community: our Flagship Program.

LanguageCorps’ Flagship Program, which is usually 10-12 months in duration, includes a wide array of training and support, from pre-departure and visa assistance, to guaranteed job placement, to ongoing local community support. The Flagship Program also includes an intensive four week TESOL training and certification course, which is an important part of ensuring our Teachers are of the highest quality, and are perceived by their employer schools as such.

TESOL certification is important, and not to be undervalued. But it is only one component of the inclusive Flagship Program.

The TESOL Certification Programs are all intensive four week courses that include classroom instruction in TESOL methodology, as well as teaching practice with EFL students. While these programs do not include the comprehensive support services that are available through the Flagship Programs, you will receive job search assistance, and accommodations can also be arranged, if needed. In addition, 30 hours of local language training is included in the TESOL Certification Programs in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. (top)

What if I cannot commit to a full year for LanguageCorps’ Flagship Program?

If you only have 2-3 months available, one of our Volunteer Programs (available in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Ecuador) may better suit you. However, if you have 7-8 months available, we can usually accommodate that time frame. (Some schools require a 6 month commitment, which means you would be abroad for 7 – 8 months, including training time.) We encourage longer stays, in order to allow full immersion into the culture of your host country! (top )

Can I do just training or just job placement?

We offer a TESOL Certification Program in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, as well as a Job-Plus Service for certified TESOL, TEFL or CELTA teachers – see below. (top)

I already have TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification; does LanguageCorps have a program for me that doesn’t require me to repeat the training?

For teachers who already have current and valid TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certifications, LanguageCorps offers a unique Job-Plus Program in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This program takes care of all of the details surrounding your paid teaching assignment overseas - appropriate visas, local orientation, guaranteed placement into a paid teaching position at a select school, excursions, and ongoing close-at-hand support from our team of Corps Advocates. The fee for LanguageCorps' Job-Plus Service is US$2,495. Please contact us for additional information. (top)

Are there other costs in addition to the Program fee?

You must provide for your own travel from your home to your arrival point, where LanguageCorps will provide transportation to our Training Center. And you must provide for your own travel back home at the end of your teaching assignment. (NOTE: For Flagship Program participants - some hiring schools may offer partial or full reimbursement of airfare costs as part of your overall compensation.)

In some teaching assignments, you may have accommodations, and/or free access to dining facilities, as part of your compensation. But more commonly, you will have to pay for your own food and rent. In addition, an apartment you select may require additional “up-front” payments such as security deposits and fist-month’s rent. As in all walks of life, be sure to have enough funds to get through to your first monthly paycheck!

Of course, you will have to pay for any personal items and services (cleaning, laundry, etc.) you may want, and for your own entertainment, vacation or leisure travel, gifts or other personal shopping. (top)

What about accommodation costs?

During the training program, Flagship Program participants receive free accommodations in or near our Training Center. After training, some hiring schools may provide free accommodation as part of your compensation. Otherwise, you must pay for your own rent in a local apartment or rooming house – and your assigned Corps Advocate will help you make those arrangements. Some housing situations may require a refundable security deposit from you. (Note that in some cases where housing is not provided, your direct pay may be somewhat higher, or the hiring school may offer a separate housing allowance). (top)

How does LanguageCorps help me find a teaching assignment?

During your training program, the local staff will begin working with you to update your resume and contact schools. For TESOL Certification Program participants, while you will be given job search assistance and the names of schools to contact, the ultimate job search will be up to you. However, if you are persistent and flexible, you should be able to find a teaching position.

For Flagship Program participants, the local Corps Advocate or placement staff will schedule interviews with select schools. Given the high caliber reputation of our LanguageCorps teachers, our staff’s knowledge of and experience with local EFL teaching opportunities and our focus on job placement, we are confident that by the time you complete your certification / orientation or very soon thereafter, you will have received at least one, and usually more than one, offer(s) for a paid EFL teaching assignment. Our Corps Advocates can also assist with the oftentimes complicated contract negotiations, to ensure our teachers receive the maximum benefits and pay they are qualified for.

Occasionally, local market conditions or scheduling of EFL teaching programs and opportunities are such that it becomes a bit more difficult to secure placement into a paid teaching assignment at the precise time a new LanguageCorps teacher is available. If that happens to you, be assured that our placement staff will continue to work with you, even more diligently – and once more, we guarantee you will secure a paid EFL teaching assignment. While we continue that placement effort, we will make arrangements for you to continue to have free local accommodations near the Training Center. (Assuming you are doing your part in the job search!)

Sometimes a teacher will work in two or more part-time positions instead of one full-time position. In this case, LanguageCorps will continue to pay the full cost of housing until at least 10 hours per week has been offered.

LanguageCorps does NOT offer guaranteed job placement for TESOL Certification Program participants, or for Flagship Program participants who choose to work beyond the focus area. (See Locations.) (top)

Do I have to be able to speak the local language?

No. In fact, many schools hiring EFL teachers prefer that they not speak the local language. They (and LanguageCorps) prefer an immersion approach to teaching EFL, in which only English is spoken in the classroom. Schools are concerned that if an EFL teacher is also fluent in the local language and uses that common language to communicate during class, students may not feel the same incentive to really learn English.

As part of the Flagship Program, you will receive local acculturation and language training, both as a learning exercise for you, and to help you acclimate yourself to the local area. Also keep in mind that your assigned Corps Advocate is always nearby to help you.

Many schools can offer additional free or low-cost local language training. (top)

Is LanguageCorps a recruiter?

No! LanguageCorps is a full service provider of TESOL training and certification, and as part of our Flagship Programs, we also provide guaranteed job placement, and local support for EFL teachers, who are our clients. While recruiting new teachers is certainly a part of what we do, paid recruiting of teachers is not a part of our business model. Recruiters, or recruiting companies, get paid by a school (their true client) only when a teacher (like you) accepts a job there. The recruiter’s primary incentive is to serve its client school – and to convince you to accept whatever job is available from the school that pays the highest recruiting fee, whether or not that job meets your preferences. For our Flagship Program participants, our objective is to serve our teachers by finding the job that best meets personal preferences regarding location, compensation and working conditions. (top)

Can I talk to a LanguageCorps teacher, and hear about the experience?

We’d be delighted to put you in touch with some of our past teachers. However, out of respect for our teacher’s time, we prefer to give out contact information after your application has been accepted. You can read about some of the experiences and adventures LanguageCorps Teachers have had by visiting our REALITY CHECK page. (top)

TESOL, TEFL, and EFL

What is EFL?

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is widely accepted terminology connoting the array of instructional practices, tools, and certifications by which persons who are not native English speakers gain and validate a proficiency in speaking, reading, writing and comprehending the English language. EFL proficiency can also imply an ability to function in a culturally appropriate manner in English-speaking locales.

EFL classes tend to be culturally unified, allowing teachers to gear instruction specifically to the needs and learning styles of their local-market students. EFL Instructors must therefore be well versed in the educational and cultural expectations of their students. Typically, EFL teachers take on the responsibility of being their students’ primary source of English exposure. (top)

What is the difference between EFL and ESL?

English as a Second Language (ESL) differs from EFL, in that ESL implies the teaching and learning of English in an English-speaking region (e.g., the US), while EFL more commonly applies in non-English speaking regions. EFL and ESL involve different challenges and strategies for teachers and learners alike. (top)

What are TESOL, TEFL, and TOEFL?

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) are often used as interchangeable terms. While they differ slightly from one another, both are established, internationally recognized standards for methodology and practice to teach English language skills to non-native-English speakers. TESOL certification is widely regarded as a rigorous standard for teachers, and requires prescribed curriculum, and a minimum six hours of supervised practice teaching in an actual student-classroom environment. A TESOL certificate is widely recognized by EFL teaching schools and programs as the mark of a well trained, highly qualified EFL teacher.

On the student side, the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a widely recognized test of proficiency in the English language. At most US and U.K. colleges and universities, a verifiable passing mark on the TOEFL exam is a requirement to matriculate for all students from non-English-speaking countries. (top)

Living Abroad

Where will I be living? What are the accommodations like?

During your training and certification program, you’ll live in a private room, hotel room, multiple-bedroom apartment or with a host family near the Training Center(accommodations vary by country). Our accommodations meet the upper standard of what is available in the host countries, including western-style bathrooms. For Flagship Program participants, accommodations are included. For TESOL Certification Program participants, accommodations can be arranged for an additional charge which varies by country.

Once you complete your training and certification and leave the Training Center to begin your paid teaching assignment, you’ll live in an accommodation provided by the hiring school, or in an apartment that you’ve rented for yourself. Generally, these accommodations are furnished apartments, with the amenities you’d expect. Often, these apartments are air-conditioned, and Internet connections can sometimes be arranged. In some cases, you may share an apartment with one or more roommates; but typically, you’ll have a private bedroom and bath. Accommodations that are provided by the hiring schools tend to be located at, or very nearby, the schools. Obviously, an apartment that you rent for yourself will be located wherever you choose. For Flagship Program participants, our local staff or Corps Advocate will assist you in finding accommodations. (top)

What about the food? What will I eat, and where will I get it?

The local food in your destination will be – well, local. If you have an adventurous palate, then you’ll certainly have ample opportunities to try new foods, and sample new tastes. At the same time, since all of our Training Centers and most schools are located in or near major cities, there tends to be a wide variety of restaurants, food shops and grocers that cater not only to local cuisine, but to western tastes as well. Be assured you usually won’t have to look too far to find pizza, pasta, vegetarian cuisine, or an American-style barbeque! (top)

What support does LanguageCorps provide?

LanguageCorps’ Flagship Program has been designed to give you the skills and abilities to confidently live in a new land.

The goals of the program are to:

Help you create a rewarding experience living in, working in, and learning about a new culture
Teach you new skills
Lead you toward the development of a wider, first-person perspective about the diversity of cultures and populations in a new and different part of the world

To help you accomplish these goals, LanguageCorps' Flagship Program provides extensive training and orientation, job placement, and ongoing logistical support.

TRAINING AND ORIENTATION

Four weeks of TESOL training and certification
Language and Cultural Awareness Training designed to:
1.Give you the local language skills necessary for daily life
2.Put you in the learner’s seat, re-acquainting you with the challenge of acquiring a new language
3.Let you be part of the learning process
4.Provide a major cultural overview and orientation to local customs – what’s polite and acceptable, how to fit in, the importance of making an effort toward understanding, etc.
Excursions: During your TESOL training, LanguageCorps will escort trainees on multiple excursions, to explore different regions of the host country and to provide valuable experience in living and traveling in the host country.

JOB PLACEMENT

Following TESOL training, LanguageCorps offers three job placement options:
1.The first features guaranteed job placement at a select school within our primary focus area. Assistance included as needed and requested: resume development, scheduling interviews, transportation to interviews, job selection, school contracts, and housing.
2.Job-placement assistance in other, specific areas. LanguageCorps staff/alumni living in other regions are often available to assist you in finding a job. If you fell in love with a certain area during the “country exploration” trips, LanguageCorps will work to help you find a job there.
3.Explore a new region, using the skills you learned in LanguageCorps training. Create your own, unique experience – trusting that LanguageCorps advice and support are just a phone call away.

ONGOING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

Airport pick-up and transportation to the Training Center
Comprehensive health insurance and medical-emergency evacuation coverage for a full year
Accommodations during training, and until you have secured a job or for one week following training should you choose job-placement options 2 or 3 (see above)
24/7 Corps Advocate emergency support for a full year
All fees to obtain the initial visa for assignment country, and visa document preparation assistance, including Ministry letters where needed. (Visa renewals are often paid by your employer.)
LanguageCorps group “get-togethers” throughout the year
“Stay In Touch” package that includes a personal, international cell phone with paid initial phone time, pre-programmed with the Corps Advocate’s number, as well as internet access at the Training Center or a local café
Pre-departure Information Package including an overview of the country, pre-training guide, packing suggestions, vaccination information, etc., and personal assistance with pre-departure details and questions
Career-oriented re-entry package to help market your international teaching experience and enhance your resume

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How can I stay in touch with family and friends back home?

With our “Stay in Touch” package, upon arrival at our local Training & Certification Centers, every LanguageCorps Flagship Program participant is given a personal international cellular telephone and some “starter” minutes. Your Corps Advocate's phone number will even be set up on speed dial for you!

Note that dialing international phone calls can be relatively expensive, while receiving calls initiated by the other party is quite inexpensive (sometimes free). Be sure to tell your family and friends back home!

E-mail access is available through our Training Centers and, usually, at schools, and there are many inexpensive internet cafes throughout all countries. (top)

Life as a Teacher

How much will I get paid?

LanguageCorps teachers work and live under the conditions of the localities in which they’ve accepted their teaching assignments. Generally, international EFL teachers are paid far better than similarly employed local workers, though salaries may sometimes seem small compared to potential earnings in America or Great Britain.

Our teachers are generally paid the equivalent of US$500-$1,500 per month, depending on the country, and the details and conditions of each specific teaching assignment (see Locations for more details – click the “Job Prospects & Pay” link for each country). Often, when compensation is at the lower end of the country range, free accommodations, insurance or other services are provided by the hiring schools. Some schools offer additional compensation for specific added teaching services you provide (tutoring, for example). Other schools may offer a reimbursement for some portion of your airfare costs, based on your completing a given period of work (six months to a year, typically).

In all locations, you should be able to earn enough to live comfortably, although in Europe and most Latin American countries, you may not be able to save much. In Asia, you should earn enough to live comfortably, and save several hundred dollars per month.

Ultimately, the decision about which teaching assignment to accept will be yours to make. But it’s important to keep in mind that there will often be differences between “best available” opportunities and the “perfect scenario” you may have envisioned – a little flexibility and open-mindedness can lead to a wonderful, if not expected, overseas teaching adventure!

LanguageCorps considers any form of direct pay, allowances or reimbursements you receive as compensation to you; we do not collect a portion of your salary as a fee, as many recruiters or placement agencies do. (top)

How do LanguageCorps Teachers compare to other teachers?

LanguageCorps is particular about the applicants we accept into our Flagship Program. We require excellent English speaking skills and college degrees (some locations do not require degrees). We look for true “global citizens” who can adapt to, and thrive in new surroundings. And we look for those with genuine interest in living and working in a different culture. Then, we put our teacher-trainees through intensive classroom training and hours of practice teaching, before awarding our TESOL Certificate. As a result, hiring schools view LanguageCorps teachers as among the highest quality and best credentialed available. That confidence translates to more choice, quicker hiring, higher compensation and better benefits for LanguageCorps teachers. In addition, unlike some companies, LanguageCorps does not take a percentage of your salary as a referral fee or subsidy. 100% of your salary goes to you!

How much will it cost to live abroad?

Living costs depend on a number of factors including the country you are working in, the region, and personal spending habits. In general, our teachers are able to earn enough to live comfortably. In Asia, most teachers are also able to recoup the program fee, and still add to their savings. However, the LanguageCorps program is not for people who are strictly interested in “making money”, but rather for those who are excited about the opportunity to live and work in another culture. Check Locations (click the “Job Prospects & Pay” link for each country) to see how different countries compare. (top)

What is the length of my LanguageCorps teaching commitment?

Our local language and TESOL training and certification programs last 4-5 weeks, and require your full-time commitment to attend classes, and participate in all other training and community activities. For Flagship Program partipants, you will likely be placed into your paid EFL teaching assignment immediately upon, or within a week or so after your completion of your training program. A typical longer-term EFL teaching assignments lasts for 10-12 months, often scheduled across two or more multiple-month teaching periods. We can also offer shorter-term (4-6 month) assignments in some locations. (top)

What if I only have a few weeks or a few months available to spend overseas?

Occasionally shorter term assignments are available, and we also offer short term Volunteer Programs in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Ecuador. Ask us for details! (top)

When is the best time to start my overseas teaching assignment?

LanguageCorps programs start at various times throughout the year, so the best time to start is based on personal preference. The deadline for acceptance and receipt of deposit is 45 days prior to the start date (click the “Enrollment & Schedule” link for each country for program start dates). Late applicants may be charged a US$75 Late Fee to cover additional visa processing and administrative costs. To ensure placement in the program you desire, we advise applying two to six months prior to your intended start date. Late placements are often possible, so if you are applying less than two months before your desired start date, please contact us immediately. (top)

What is a normal workweek like?

A teacher’s work schedule typically encompasses 4-6 hours per workday, five days per week. There are sometimes requirements (which typically include extra pay) for weekend or evening class sessions.

Depending upon the local practice, there may be multiple holidays and vacation periods during a longer-term teaching assignment. Many of our teachers have ample time to take excursions or tourist trips based on the class schedules of their assigned schools. But, you must be clear on this central point: You will be working in a paid job as an EFL teacher. Your hiring school – and LanguageCorps – will expect you to abide by your commitments as an employee and professional.

Click here to read “My Day as a Teacher”, which was written by one of our LanguageCorps teachers in Thailand about his experience teaching there and published in Glimpse Magazine. (top)

How much vacation time will I have?

Vacation time depends on the kind of assignment you’re in, and the practices of each school. For a yearlong assignment, most teachers enjoy about 3 weeks of time off, as well as local holidays. (top)

Can people visit me during my teaching assignment?

Sure! But when planning for visiting guests, keep in mind that you are responsible to keep your regular work schedule at your paid teaching assignment. Your guests must make their own arrangements for travel, visas, accommodations, etc. While our staff will be happy to offer you informal advice, we cannot accept any obligation for service to or support of any persons who are not LanguageCorps teachers. It will be your responsibility to check the rules and restrictions of your particular accommodations, to determine whether it is approved for you to have guests stay with you. (top)

What if I want to go home early?

We expect all LanguageCorps teachers to honor any contracts or verbal commitments they have made with a hiring school. However, we understand that occasionally unforeseen circumstances arise.

For Flagship Program participants, in the event of a serious emergency affecting you or an immediate family member, which results in interrupting your teaching commitment to return home, LanguageCorps staff will work with you to help arrange that. Depending on the specific circumstance, there may be ways in which we can work together to have you return to and complete your teaching assignment at a later time.

However, if an assigned LanguageCorps teacher simply decided to quit his/her paid teaching assignment and return home with no regard to an emergency or other serious issue, that action would create significant problems for the school and its students, and for other LanguageCorps teachers and staff. In such a circumstance, all tuition and fees paid to LanguageCorps would be non-refundable, and your employer would almost certainly cancel any bonuses or incentives they had offered. (top )

Can I go home for a visit during my EFL teaching assignment?

Most of our teachers like to use holidays and vacation time to travel and explore the new part of the world in which they’re now living – it’s a great opportunity to experience a new corner of the globe!

Subject to the requirements of your teaching commitments and schedules, it’s certainly possible that you’ll have enough time to organize a brief visit home. However, we caution you that it can be a somewhat complicated and expensive undertaking. In some of our destinations, you may encounter work visa or re-entry issues caused by an interim trip home. And of course, you’ll have to bear all the costs for traveling home and back. (top)

Locations

Where are training programs held? Can I select where I will teach?

Certainly you will select your host country. We currently offer our Flagship Program in Pattaya, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Quito, Ecuador; and Oaxaca, Mexico. In almost all cases, program participants will live and work in or nearby the city in which they trained.

In Europe and Latin America, we offer our TESOL Certification Program in our Centers in Seville, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Florence, Italy; San Pedro, Costa Rica; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cusco, Peru; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile. TESOL Certification Programs are also offer in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Job placement assistance is provided with these programs, and accommodations can also be arranged, if needed.

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Why train in these overseas locations?

Experience has taught us that our LanguageCorps teachers are best prepared when they are trained in, or nearby, the local area in which they will teach. General TESOL methodologies can be adapted in small ways to become even more effective in a particular locale – for example, it’s easier to appreciate students’ different responses to such things as humor and pop culture.

Flagship Program participants and TESOL Certification Program participants in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, will also receive local language training and informal acculturation training, so that you arrive at your teaching assignment with some sense of local practices and customs, and some limited skill in the local language to help you get around, go shopping, order food, and so on. (top )

Safety & Security

What if I get sick? What are the medical facilities like?

All of our Training Centers, most employing schools, and teachers’ living accommodations are located in primary or secondary cities in the countries we serve. Good medical facilities are generally available nearby. In fact, many medical facilities in our destination locations are university-affiliated, or staffed by US or European trained medical staff. As part of Flagship Program support, Medical insurance is provided for one year, beginning when you depart your home country. If you choose to stay abroad for longer than one year, you will be able to continue coverage at LanguageCorps’ group rates. The insurance covers accidents and illnesses while abroad, and has a $100 deductible. Pre-existing conditions and well visits are not included. We also provide evacuation service, in the event that your illness or injury is serious enough to require that. Finally, keep in mind that if you get ill or injured or encounter any problem, your assigned Corps Advocate is nearby, and will respond to help. (top)

Do I need vaccinations prior to my teaching assignment?

Some of our host countries do require immunizations or vaccinations prior to entry, but these health requirements frequently change. Please check with your primary care physician or local travel clinic for the most current information about the country you plan on teaching in. You can also visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov/travel for current recommendations. (top )

What about public health issues such as SARS or Bird Flu?

Like any responsible service organization, LanguageCorps has no intent to put our teachers or staff in harm’s way; we abide fully by the recommendations from leading healthcare authorities including the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Neither of these, nor any other major international health organization, has issued any advisory or caution against traveling to, or living and working in, any LanguageCorps assignment country.

We are relieved that SARS no longer poses a significant threat. In fact, there are new reports that US and Asian researchers are now close to perfecting a vaccination to guard against contracting or spreading the SARS virus.

While Bird Flu is still a concern worldwide, early reports of rapid spread to humans and fears of an immediate epidemic have been discounted by health experts. We are encouraged by recent reports of several new Bird Flu vaccines, but do suggest awareness of potential pandemics worldwide (i.e. at home as much as abroad).

We share the confidence of medical professionals and healthcare authorities that our teachers and staff now living and working in our Asian destinations are safe. (top)

How safe are the locations in which LanguageCorps teachers live and work?

All of our Training Centers, most schools, and teacher accommodations are located in or near primary and secondary cities in our assignment countries. We take care to place our Centers in fun, attractive, safe areas, and work only with select schools that operate in similarly attractive, secure locations.

As in all developing countries, it’s only prudent to be vigilant in avoiding petty theft, and to watch out for vehicular traffic which doesn’t follow the same patterns we are used to in the US. Presuming that our staff and teachers exercise appropriate good judgment and caution, we believe that the levels of personal safety and well-being they enjoy are higher than in most US and international cities. (top)

What is LanguageCorps’ drug and alcohol policy?

LanguageCorps enforces a strict requirement that our teachers not indulge in illicit drugs of any sort, not only out of concern for your safety and well-being, but because we know that the local penalties for illegal drug possession and use can be quite harsh. Laws governing alcohol consumption in our assignment countries tend to be similar to those with which you’re already familiar at home. While we do not enforce any specific rules regarding drinking after class hours, we do expect our LanguageCorps teachers to act as responsible, professional adults, and behave in a manner that will reflect well upon them, their employing schools, and upon our organization. We depend upon an informal honor system to govern the good behavior of our LanguageCorps teachers and staff. (top )

How can I tell if I’m ready for an overseas teaching adventure?

It’s a big decision to live and work overseas for a period of time – and you want to be sure you’re “up” for it before you find yourself far away from home, and unhappy to be there! Successful teachers include those who’ve already spent some time in a country and culture other than their own – and are anxious to do it again! Other strong candidates are those who are genuinely interested in seeing and experiencing new things, interacting with new people, and living in and learning about new cultures.

Are you flexible? Able to adapt easily to a new environment? Are you independent-minded? Are you excited by the idea of leading a classroom of eager students who want to – but don’t yet – speak your language? Are you comfortable being the center of attention? If so, then you’re a LanguageCorps teacher! To get a better perspective, go to our Reality Check page to read about experiences and adventures of some of our LanguageCorps teachers. (top)

LanguageCorps Programs

TESOL, TEFL, and EFL

Living Abroad

Life as a Teacher

Locations

Safety and Security