As my sister and I prepared to teach English in China back in 2007, the field of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) was just starting to boom. We were nervous, naïve and scouring the Internet daily for more information to ease our anxieties. Aside from online forums and the occasional amateur website, however, there was not much data available to prepare for such a big decision.  It was nerve wracking! We were, after all, about to drop ourselves in pre-Summer Olympics China and start working, having never been anywhere in Asia before.

Are you planning on teaching English in Ecuador? Will this be your first time trying to secure a teaching gig abroad? Ecuador was our second destination for teaching abroad, and despite arriving armed with experience from China, there were still unique challenges presented in our new setting. We ordered basic travel books online, which were helpful, but some more research and preparation could have helped.

We’d recommend consuming as much info as possible before preparing for work as an ESL instructor and seeking employment in your desired host country. As a supplement to your planning, we suggest the following 4 books (click photos for more info):

1. Teaching English Abroad by Susan Griffith

Susan Griffith’s book is the leader in its field, now in its 2nd addition. With the ever-evolving field of TEFL, the 2nd addition is a welcomed update, with a comprehensive guide to finding work abroad, as well as a number of real life accounts. Also inside you’ll find an extensive directory of jobs and TEFL training courses from all around the world, lending a hand to the new and curious teachers and travelers out there.

2. Teaching English Overseas: An Introduction by Sandra Lee McCay

This book takes a more in-depth look into how different people from different cultures learn the English language, based on their culture, native tongue and educational system. These kinds of insights can be immensely invaluable for the rookie ESL instructor.

3. No experience Necessary By Keith Blackmore

This e-book was written by an ESL instructor with over a decade’s worth of experience in the classroom and it aims to prepare new teachers on how to teach with confidence and avoid common mistakes. Blackmore claims that this book can help you “get by” without any certification, but we’ll leave that up to your discretion.

4. Teaching English Abroad: The How To guide by E.J. Kelly

Kelly has a no-b.s. and witty approach to convince you that, as a native English speaker, you should already be packing your bags to go and teach. She offers a practical approach to preparation and securing employment.

Have more books to recommend? Have more advice for future ESL instructors? Join the conversation and comment below.