 Volunteer English Teaching. Earning a TEFL certificate enables you to help some of the world's most disadvantaged people by volunteering your skills as an English teacher. There are volunteer programs recruiting English teachers to work in areas all over the world and volunteer teaching is a truly worthwhile and rewarding experience. Below are some of the main ways you can enlist as a volunteer English teacher. Act is if what you do makes a difference. It does. William James United Nations Volunteers The UNV program covers many areas from medical treatment to people affected by climate change. They also run programs teaching English to communities all over the world. United Nations Volunteers Online The UNV also offers an online volunteering service. Opportunities for ESL teachers can range from teaching online classes to creating online ESL materials. The British Council There are a number of programs available through the British Council placing teachers in classrooms around the world. Two of these programs are English Language Assistance, Thailand English Teaching Program. The English Language Assistance Program aims to place assistants in classrooms all over the world from Canada to China. The Teaching English Thailand Program places volunteer teachers in Thai schools for either a 9-week or a 4-month placement. Peace Corp Open to US citizens aged 18 years and over, the Peace Corp is a popular choice for many and there are plenty of opportunities for English language teachers worldwide. Voluntary Service Overseas VSO is another organization working to provide skilled volunteers in the parts of the world where they are needed most. Education is just one of the many fields in which they work and there are positions available for qualified English teachers. I have learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. Maya Angelou While volunteer positions provided by the above organizations generally require long-term commitment but no or little financial outlie from participants, there are other programs that allow volunteers to make shorter commitments but charge applicants a fee to join projects. The benefits of these organizations include being able to choose the project and destination you get involved with as well as the length of time of your commitment. We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill Don't ignore your own doorstep when considering volunteer teaching. If you're from an English-speaking nation, teaching English to asylum seekers and refugees in your own country is an excellent way to gain classroom experience while making a real difference to those trying to make a new life in a new country. Volunteering Tips Know What You're Paying Make sure you know what you are expected to pay for and what is covered by the organization. Even if you are paying for a program, you may still need to buy your own flights and insurance. Know Where You're Going Many programs require a one- or two-year commitment. Research the destination thoroughly to avoid any unexpected surprises down the line. Fundraise Raise money for your trip by seeking sponsorship or by organizing fundraising events in your hometown. Contact your project organizer to see if they can provide fundraising advice.