Teaching English as a foreign language?

Anybody here plan to go abroad and teach? I recently learned of this career and it sounds like a great idea to me.

I’m looking to apply for either the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) or EPIK (English Program in Korea) program. However, both applications call for two recommendation letters, which makes me nervous about approaching my former professors and asking them since I was that shy, quiet student who didn’t really speak much in class (and often struggled), so I’m afraid they might not put in a good word for me.

Thought I would chime in. I was an ESL teacher in Turkey for two year, about 20 years ago! I loved it. Not sure how it works now, but I actually got my teaching certification at the British Council in Istanbul and then easily got a job. I already had my degree so this was a program I did after graduation. At the time, there were jobs everywhere.

I highly recommend taking a few years after college to travel and teach. It is a cheap and easy way to see the world. You wont regret it. You will meet great people. Watch out, I came back married to a foreigner!