For many people traveling abroad and seeing the world is a dream. Most people put off achieving that dream because they feel it will be too expensive, and that they cannot possibly take the necessary time off of work to do what they desire. However, you can achieve this dream and earn money at the same time. There are many opportunities to teach English as a second language or ESL as it is commonly referred to overseas.

The English speaking countries in the world dominate the economy. Because of this, many countries require students to take English lessons. Schools will often seek native English speakers to teach English courses to their students. After all, many times the best person to teach English is a person who speaks it as his or her native language? If you wish to take advantage of opportunities offered in teaching ESL, you should consider a number of factors.

Consider your educational experience: If you hold a teaching degree, securing an ESL job will be relatively easy, but if you don’t, there is no need to despair. As long as you have earned at least a bachelor’s degree at a college or university, you will likely be a desirable ESL teacher candidate.

Look at the different types of schools: There are a number of school types that may wish to hire ESL teachers.

• Regular schools: These make up the majority of schools internationally, and are frequently looking to hire ESL teachers. These schools are sometimes referred to as government schools and are traditionally funded by the state or local government.

• Private schools: These are schools that charge a fee to attendees and receive a smaller subsidy from the government.

• Less traditional schools: Frequently, schools that use less traditional means of educating their students are particularly interested in hiring a native English speaking ESL teacher. These include Bilingual Schools, International Schools, Montessori Schools and Language Schools. Each of these schools pride them self by providing students with a unique and specialized educational experience.

• Colleges and Universities: Many post secondary institutions in other countries make learning English a required course, which means they may be hiring ESL teachers.

Check the laws on obtaining a visa and passport: Sometimes a special permit is required for you to stay in the country past a certain length of time.

Once you have weighed the pros and cons of teaching English as a second language, it is time to get the job -- doing so doesn’t have to be difficult. To optimize your success, be sure to do these three things:

• Become TESOL Certified: TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Most schools require their ESL teacher to be TESOL certified. Adding this certification to your resume can be stress free. Some programs allow you to earn the certification in as little as one week. More extensive programs require a 100-120 hour course. Whichever program you select, becoming TESOL certified will greatly increase your chances of acquiring an ESL job, so it is worth your time.

• Select a destination: What country have you always dreamed of calling your home away from home? You can teach ESL in almost any English speaking country, so don’t be too hasty in making your decision. Carefully consider which country you would like to teach in and contact the embassy or consulate in the country you select. They will have information about teaching in that country. They may even have information on jobs available for an ESL teacher.

• Spread the word! If you are serious about getting a job teaching ESL, post your resume on ESL job sites and try to attract potential employers by highlighting your credentials and unique skills. By performing a simple Internet search, you can come up with many ESL sites which you can post your resume. Some schools will have websites where you can apply. You may also want to check recruiter sites for available ESL teaching positions in other countries.