Tools and resources
Everything you need before your first ESL job
Curated tools that we actually recommend to teachers. Links below are partner affiliates which fund the site at no cost to you. We only feature companies we'd use ourselves.
TEFL certification
Required for most ESL jobs in Asia and the Gulf. These programs are accredited and accepted globally.
🎓 TEFL certified online, recognized worldwide
120-hour TEFL/TESOL course accepted by schools across Asia, Europe, and the Gulf. Affordable and self-paced.
Get certified→🏫 University-accredited TEFL from $179
Trusted by major schools in Korea, China, and the UAE. CELTA-equivalent tracks available.
View courses→📜 Ofqual-regulated TEFL certification
Level 5 (UK-regulated) TEFL course accepted globally. Strong choice if you want maximum credibility.
See programs→✈️ TEFL plus job placement support
Includes job placement guidance after certification. Useful for first-time teachers.
Explore→🌏 120-300 hour TEFL with internships
Bundles certification with paid internship pathways in Vietnam, China, Spain, and beyond.
Learn more→Visa and document services
Apostille, credential evaluation, visa applications. Every country requires some combination of these before you can legally teach.
📋 Apply for your work visa online
Online visa applications for 200+ countries. Handles Korean E-2, Chinese Z, UAE employment visas, and more.
Start application→🎓 Get your degree evaluated for foreign use
Required by UAE, Saudi Arabia, and many international schools. Converts your home credentials to a recognized format.
Evaluate degree→📜 Apostille your degree and FBI check
Korea, China, the UAE all require apostilled documents. Mail-in service handles the federal/state authentication.
Get apostille→Online teaching platforms
Marketplaces where you can teach English to students worldwide. Set your own rate, work from anywhere.
💬 Teach English online to global students
Top online tutoring marketplace. Set your own schedule and rate. Most teachers earn $15-30/hr after a few months.
Apply to teach→🌍 Tutor students one-on-one online
Marketplace with low barriers to entry. Good for non-native teachers and those starting out.
Start tutoring→🎧 Conversation tutoring, no degree required
Lowest barrier to entry. Native speakers can teach without TEFL or a degree. Pay is $0.17/min.
Apply→Complementary job boards
Other job boards worth searching alongside ours. US-focused or general-purpose with strong ESL/teaching inventory.
Insurance for teachers abroad
Most schools don't cover comprehensive medical or evacuation insurance. These plans are built for expats and digital nomads.
🛡️ Health insurance for teachers abroad
Designed for digital nomads and expats. Covers you in your home country plus everywhere you teach.
Get covered→🌐 Travel insurance with teaching coverage
Best for shorter stays or teachers on rotating contracts. Covers gear, trips home, and medical evacuation.
Get a quote→Get a quote
Price your SafetyWing coverage
Pick dates and destination to see what comprehensive coverage costs you. Purchases attribute to ESL Careers at no extra cost.
Send your salary home
Local bank wire fees and exchange rates can cost you 5-10% of every transfer. These services do it for a fraction.
💸 Send your salary home without bank fees
Mid-market exchange rates with flat transparent fees. Essential for teachers paid in KRW, JPY, CNY, AED.
Open a Wise account→💰 Fast remittance to the Philippines, India, more
Strong rates for Southeast Asia and South America corridors. Often beats Wise for receiving family.
Send money→Tools for the classroom and beyond
VPNs (essential in China and the UAE), writing assistants, and software teachers actually use.
🔐 Access blocked sites in China and the UAE
Reliable VPN for teachers in China (Google, YouTube blocked) or the UAE (Skype, WhatsApp restricted).
Get NordVPN→🛰️ VPN with strong China-specific performance
Slightly pricier than NordVPN but historically the most reliable in mainland China.
Get ExpressVPN→✍️ Catch writing errors in real time
Useful for non-native teachers polishing application emails, cover letters, and lesson plans.
Try free→Learning platforms
Broader online learning for skills adjacent to teaching: methodology courses, language acquisition theory, side-income skills for traveling teachers.
🏛️ Skills from top universities
TEFL methodology, second-language acquisition theory, and adjacent credentials. Many courses are free to audit; certificates paid.
Browse courses→🎨 30 days free, then explore freely
Wide library including ESL teaching methods, public speaking, and side-income skills useful for traveling teachers.
Start free trial→Books and reference materials
TEFL methodology, ESL grammar references, and classroom lesson resources.
How we choose partners
We feature companies whose product fits the ESL teacher journey we know first-hand. We earn a commission when you sign up, which keeps the job board free for teachers. We do not feature companies whose products we wouldn't recommend regardless of commission. If a partner here ever does you wrong, email us at hello@esl.careersand we'll remove them.