{"id":5114,"date":"2021-10-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=5114"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T20:39:19","slug":"where-can-i-teach-as-non-native-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/where-can-i-teach-as-non-native-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Can I Teach English as a Non-Native Speaker?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is teaching English abroad only open to native English-speaking teachers? Certainly not! But teachers who speak a first language other than English may wonder, “Where can I teach English as a non-native speaker?” or, “Are certain regions or specific countries more welcoming to bilingual teachers?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though there are plenty of ESL jobs<\/a> available around the world, it’s not uncommon to see language schools targeting native speakers by including this requirement in their job postings. However, the good news is, with the ever-increasing number of English learners worldwide and English being recognized as the global lingua franca,<\/em> more countries are open to hiring qualified teachers regardless of their citizenship or first language. Let\u2019s explore the largest markets for non-native English teachers (NNESTs), most of which are in Asia, Latin America, or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teach English online as an NNEST  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, you can choose to get a job teaching English online<\/a>. Regardless of your first language, this is a great way for new teachers to gain experience before applying to jobs abroad or while waiting for COVID-19-related travel restrictions to ease. This type of work benefits newcomers because they can get insights into the kinds of students they prefer teaching (kids vs. adults<\/a>) should they shift to teaching in a classroom later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-native English-speaking and bilingual teachers could find it less difficult to land jobs teaching online as opposed to in the classroom because online companies are usually more flexible with requirements for virtual ESL teachers<\/a>. This is especially true when teaching online via an ELT marketplace<\/a>. With online jobs, you don’t always need a college degree<\/a> or experience to be hired, though it is important to have a TEFL\/TESOL certificate. Additionally, earning a Specialized Teaching English Online Certificate<\/a> will make your profile stand out among other candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the unique stories of three non-native English-speaking teachers in Chile who teach English online.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work online with a company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your first option is to work online with an ESL company that will provide a set schedule and pay rate and connect you with students. Here are some recommended online tutoring companies where you can work as a teacher without being a native English speaker:<\/p>\n\n\n\n