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Where In The World To Teach?

A guide to for where to teach for first-time EFL teachers

One of the most oft-asked questions I get is “Where can I teach?” A fairly broad question, but a fair one since many first-time teachers just want to go abroad for a year or so and see what it’s like, and I guess if you haven’t had much travel experience, anywhere can seem attractive.

When looking for work abroad, you have to remember not many schools will be able to advertise on big sites like TEFL.com, in fact most job ads on these sites are from large language schools. Many teachers find work abroad by being in-country, and while this can seem a little risky, many schools do like to see you in-person thus making you much more employable being in-country rather than on the end of an email or phone thousands of miles away.

When applying for work in advance, you may have a visa process to go through for countries outside of Europe. This can often be a laborious process, and schools and teachers often find ways to avoid it by working on tourist visas.
You will also find university degrees are sometimes asked for by schools, this might be because schools want the teacher to have a strong academic background, but sometimes it can be due to visa requirements, so you will need to check. A great source of information is Teaching English Abroad by Susan Griffith (make sure you get the most up to date edition available).

So, here’s a guide to the range of places you can teach, it’s not exhaustive by any means, but it will give you a flavour of what is out there and what to expect as regards paid EFL employment.

Europe

Many first-time teachers like the closeness of Europe and the familiarity of European culture. Because of this there are quite a lot English-speakers looking for work in Europe. Spain, Italy and Greece are still the hotspots where there is more demand for English teachers. In Spain you can expect around £1000 - £1200 per month, whereas in Greece the salary is a lower at £700 for a first-time teacher, but you have a good chance of getting your accommodation included.
In Northern European countries like Germany, Holland and Scandinavia there is less demand since it is taught in schools to a high level and a lot of teaching work to be found there is teaching Business English.
Demand for English teachers in Eastern Europe has been growing steadily and countries like Poland and the Czech Republic offer some great opportunities at the moment for teaching both general English and Business English. In Poland, pay will vary, but new teachers can expect a minimum of £320 per month, but the cost of living is low. However, in the Czech Republic, the wages are higher and the cost of living, though higher, is not as high as it is in the UK.

Country overview

Greece: £750 - £1000, accommodation often included
Spain: £1000 - £1200, accommodation rarely included
Italy: £1000 - £1200, accommodation rarely included
Poland: £320 per month, accommodation often included
Czech Republic: £785 - £1250 per month, accommodation sometimes included

Teaching in the Middle East

Teaching in the Middle-East has traditionally been well-paid and difficult to get into for first-time EFL teachers. However, there seems to be a growing demand for teachers with and without experience and I have recruited recently for schools in Turkey, Bahrain and Libya. Turkey has long been popular with new teachers since there are a lot of opportunities, particularly in Izmir and Ankara as well as Istanbul.

Country overview

Turkey: £700 per month, accommodation often included
Bahrain: £1000 per month, accommodation sometimes included
Libya: £1000 per month, accommodation sometimes included

Teaching in Asia

Teaching in Asia offers a lot of opportunities for English speakers, often the demand for English can outstrip the supply. The pay and conditions vary wildly from country to country as do the requirements. While a degree is necessary in countries like South Korea, as many find work in Vietnam, Thailand and China without degrees as those who do. In Japan, as a first-time teacher you will find a degree is necessary, but not if you have a few years of experience. South Korea is investing heavily in the English language in the both the public and private sectors and there are a lot of opportunities for degree holders. You can also expect accommodation and flights to be included too. Japan is still one of the key places to teach with excellent salary and good conditions in both the private and public sectors.

Country overview

Thailand: £600 per month, accommodation rarely included
Vietnam: £600 - £800 per month, accommodation rarely included
South Korea: £1200 - £1500 per month, accommodation often included
China: £500 - £950 per month, accommodation sometimes included
Japan: £1800 per month, accommodation sometimes included

Teaching in Central/South America

Many economies in Latin America suffer from high inflation so your pay when you start might be quite different by the end of your contract, you’ll also see many salaries quoted in US$. Many people find work in this part of the world by being in the country and schools are less likely to offer you a job if you are abroad. Also, it is common for teachers not to get work visas since getting one can be a lengthy process (Visa processes vary from country to country).

Country overview

Mexico: £5 - £8 per hour, accommodation rarely included
Chile: £7 per hour, accommodation rarely included
Argentina: £300 - £500 per month; accommodation rarely included
Brazil: £200 - £300 per month; accommodation rarely included

TEFL Jobs in China - Yangtze Delta

Teach English to Children in Hangzhou, China

Post Location: Hangzhou
Length of Contract: 1 year with possible extensions
Type of Job: Paid
Wages: 6850 - 7350RMB a month (depending on experience)
Housing Included? No
Job Reference CHINA163

Where In The World To Teach?

A guide to for where to teach for first-time EFL teachers

Europe

Country overview

Teaching in the Middle East

Country overview

Teaching in Asia

Country overview

Teaching in Central/South America

Country overview

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