Everything You Need To Know About Teaching English In South Africa

There are some opportunities to work at international schools and private language centres in South Africa, but these positions usually have higher requirements than public schools. To work at one of these schools, you’ll usually be expected to have at least two years’ teaching experience, potentially in maths, science or technology, as well as relevant qualifications.

There are also a growing number of private English tutors in South Africa. They often advertise their services online and earn $12-20 per hour.

Although there are technically no requirements set in stone to be an EFL teacher in South Africa, there are a few unwritten requirements that you’ll likely need in order to be able to find work. Most employers will expect you to be a native English speaker from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the US or Zimbabwe. (As English is one of South Africa’s official languages, candidates who are not from a ‘native English speaking’ country will find it difficult to find paid work here.) At the moment, Zimbabweans make up about 70% of the foreign workers in South African public schools.

If you plan to find paid teaching work in South Africa, you’ll usually need to have proof that you can legally work in the country before you can enter and start applying for jobs. This means you’ll need to apply for a General Work Visa through your local South African embassy. In most cases, you’ll need to show your passport, qualifications and potentially a criminal record check. If you plan to volunteer, the rules are slightly different, and your best bet is getting advice directly from the company that you plan to volunteer for.

Top left photo by tsn92
Bottom left Phil Newton

On average, the cost of living in South Africa is relatively low in comparison to many other TEFL destinations, coming in cheaper than Thailand, Cambodia, the Czech Republic and Brazil. Overall, it is more expensive to live in South Africa than China, Ecuador, Malaysia or Vietnam.

In Johannesburg, a meal at an inexpensive restaurant usually costs under $10, a beer or a coffee costs $2, and a bottle of water costs about 70¢. A one-way ticket on public transport is roughly $2, a cinema ticket costs about $6 and monthly gym membership is about $35. The general cost of living in Cape Town is slightly cheaper than living in Johannesburg, though the cost of rent is considerably cheaper in Johannesburg. The cost of living in Durban is about 20% cheaper than living in Johannesburg, though EFL teacher wages are usually lower here too.

South Africa is known as the ‘Rainbow Nation’ due to its diverse culture and colourful scenery. Wildlife is abundant here, with many safaris and national parks as well as being home to some of the most famous predators, including lions, leopards and rhinos.

The country is located on the south tip of Africa, surrounded by the Indian Oceans and the South Atlantic, and boasts 1,739 miles of coastline. It is bordered by Botswana, Namibia, Maputo, Mozambique and Swaziland, and enclaves the country of Lesotho.

The main languages spoken in South Africa are Afrikaans and English but there are actually many official languages spoken across the country. The country technically has three capital cities; Bloemfontein – the judicial capital, Cape Town – the legislative capital, and Pretoria – the administrative capital. The local currency is the South African rand (ZAR) and the population is about 58 million.

South Africa is a melting pot of different cultures, with varying prominence in different regions. There are people from various backgrounds, including African, European and Asian, and there are a number of different official languages spoken. There are also many other unofficial but recognised languages used in South Africa, with many locals speaking more than one language. Locals from different backgrounds tend to have different cultures and customs, including different primary skills, languages and religions. So, it’s not surprising that the country is extremely diverse and it’s incredibly difficult to summarise the culture here. Some major ethnic groups include the Zulus – famous for their delicate beadwork and use of magic, Xhosa – known for their ancestral worship and complicated dress used to portray social status, and Ndebele – distinguished by neck rings, colourful patterned clothing and houses decorated with stunning geometric designs. There are lots of growing urban cities, but the vast majority of people still live in rural areas where old traditions and customs still thrive.

South Africa has a long history of settlement and colonization by many different nations. As such, it has a diverse culinary landscape with dishes inspired by various countries and cultures. In general, South African meals are hearty, meaty and often have lots of flavour. Some popular local dishes include Potjiekos – meat and vegetable stew cooked in a cast-iron pot, Bobotie – spicy mince curry with raisins, nuts and bananas, Durban chicken curry, and Chakalaka – a spicy vegetable broth usually served as a side. Famous snacks include Bokkoms – dried, salted mullet fish, Biltong – South African beef jerky, and Boerewors – beef sausages seasoned with coriander, nutmeg and cloves. When it comes to South African desserts, you’ve got to try Milktart – a creamy, sweet tart, Koeksisters – plaited doughnuts served with syrup, and Malva Pudding – a sponge-like cake that uses apricot jam and is served with ice cream or custard.

Generally, accommodation isn’t provided by TEFL employers in South Africa. So, you’ll need to find and pay for your own. Most EFL teachers choose to stay inside gated communities, which are attended by security guards. These are slightly more expensive than a standard apartment outside of a gated community but are worth the peace of mind for many foreigners living in South Africa. On top of this, you can usually expect high-quality facilities as well as perks like a swimming pool or gym.

The cost of a two-bedroom flat in a gated community in Johannesburg is about $750 per month, which is a comfortable price to pay on an EFL teacher’s wage, especially if you share the flat with another person.

Located in the Southern hemisphere between the Atlantic and Indian oceans, South Africa has a subtropical climate with summer in December, January and February and winter in June, July and August. In Cape Town, the hot weather peaks in February, reaching an average temperature of 23°C, and the coolest temperatures are in June, averaging at 13°C. In Johannesburg, January is the peak summer month with an average temperature of 21°C, and June is the coolest month, averaging at 10°C. The amount of rainfall and sunshine hours varies across the country, with Cape Town receiving heavy rainfall and fewer sunshine hours in July, whereas Johannesburg has little rain during its winter months and received between 9 and 11 hours of sunshine year-round.

Please note: The information in this guide is accurate as of the time of writing. However, the laws and requirements to teach abroad can often change. Make sure to check the latest advice from the local authority of the country you plan to work in.