Teaching Tips
27th Nov 2018
Once you’ve decided to teach English abroad and got qualified, the next big decision you’ve got on your hands is where in the world to go. There are all sorts of considerations to be made, like what kind of climate you’d like to live in, what cuisine you could enjoy eating every day and even what language you fancy learning. (Admittedly, it’s not a bad problem to have, right?) And there’s so many places to teach English abroad to pick from! So, just for you, we’ve put together a list of divine destinations that we reckon you’d love teaching in this year.
#10 Taiwan
Taiwan is a tiny, green island just off the east coast of China. It is only about 300 miles from top to bottom but is filled with mountains, rolling hills and green farm land. Its capital city, Taipei, is a hub of quirky restaurants and entertainment, and the lesser-known mountain town of Jiufen was the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. In other words, Taiwan ticks all the boxes: beautiful scenery, inspiring town and action-packed cities. It is one of the best places to teach English abroad if you like the idea of exploring every inch of a country as this is completely doable in Taiwan!
As an English teacher in Taiwan, you’ll find yourself around hardworking colleagues and motivated students. You can teach English to either children or adults and you can expect a high standard of living.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Taiwan
Population: 23 million
Language: Mandarin Chinese (Taiwanese is also spoken in some parts of the country)
Capital: Taipei
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar
Popular teaching locations: Hualien, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei
Average pay: TWD 40,000-62,000 ($1,300-2,000) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s degree
#9 Argentina
Prepared to be overwhelmed by an intense, passionate and exciting country! Argentina is one of the best places to teach English abroad if you’re into incredible natural beauties, like Perito Moreno Glacier and Iguazu Falls. Argentina is also home to passionate locals who love football, dancing and great flame-grilled food.
There’s a high demand for English teachers in the country, in public schools, private schools and private language institutes. And although the salary is not particularly high here, the start-up costs of moving to Argentina and the cost of living are also relatively low. Plus, it’s possible to find teaching work here with only a TEFL/TESOL certificate – though you’ll be offered better opportunities if you have a Bachelor’s Degree or a CELTA.
Population: 44 million
Language: Spanish
Capital: Buenos Aires
Currency: Argentine Peso
Popular teaching locations: Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mar de Plata and Rosario
Average pay: ARS 24,000-48,000 ($600-1,200) per month
General requirements: TEFL/TESOL certificate
#8 Czech Republic
Located between Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia, the Czech Republic is in a great location for travel lovers and Europhiles alike. The country’s capital, Prague, is famous for its charming architecture and intriguing history, and the rest of the country is known for great beer and impressive castles.
The Czech Republic has been one of the up-and-coming places to teach English abroad ever since joining the EU. However, unlike some European countries, applicants from outside of the EU will still be seriously considered. Teaching here, you’ll generally find that you’re offered a solid hourly rate and a good number of working hours.
Population: 10 million
Language: Czech
Capital: Prague
Currency: Czech koruna
Popular teaching locations: Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen & Prague
Average pay: CZK 16,000-25,000 ($700-1,100) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree & TEFL/TESOL certificate
See jobs in the Czech Republic here
#7 Japan
There are two sides to Japan: the futuristic cities full of bizarre themed restaurants and the age-old towns that continue to carry out ancient traditions – and both are equally appealing! On top of this, you can enjoy everything from skiing to traditional tea ceremonies and climbing Mount Fuji to singing karaoke over dinner.
Japan is definitely one of the more competitive places to teach English abroad but arguably worth the hard work. If you teach English in Japan, you can expect to be well-respected by students and locals, as teaching is considered an honourable profession. The easiest way to find work in Japan is usually through the JET (Japanese and Exchange and Teaching) programme.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Japan
Population: 127 million
Language: Japanese
Capital: Tokyo
Currency: Japanese yen
Popular teaching locations: Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka & Tokyo
Average pay: JPY 238,000-338,000 ($2,150-3,050) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree
#6 Saudi Arabia
A truly surprising country, Saudi Arabia is slowly modernising and adapting, and may well be nothing like you imagine it to be. (Except for the fact there is quite a lot of desert land and camels.) Living here does come with more challenges than most destinations in Europe or Asia, but it also has many benefits too. You can expect high-quality accommodation – usually in a secure compound, delicious cuisine often involving lamb, chicken, houmous and flatbread, and some truly inspiring scenery.
Saudi Arabia is becoming increasingly popular with EFL teachers due to a great tax-free salary and lots of benefits as standard. Most TEFLers work in high schools or universities, and employers for these jobs often provide accommodation and ongoing support.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Saudi Arabia
Population: 33 million
Language: Arabic
Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi riyal
Popular teaching locations: Dammam, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh & Tabuk
Average pay: SAR 9,000-16,900 ($2,400-4,500) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree
#5 Vietnam
There are few places that are as full of personality as Vietnam! This is definitely one of the top places to teach English abroad if you’d like to have the experience of a lifetime, from visiting tranquil farming communities and mountain villages to making your way around the chaotic, bustling cities of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
The number of English teachers in Vietnam has grown massively in recent years. There’s a high demand for teachers, so providing you meet all minimum requirements, it shouldn’t be hard to find work. The generous salary also goes a long way in a country with such a low cost of living, so you’ll find you can save money and socialise frequently!
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Vietnam
Population: 96 million
Language: Vietnamese
Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Vietnam dong
Popular teaching locations: Danang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
Average pay: VND 29,000,000-46,400,000 ($1,250-2,000) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree & TEFL/TESOL certificate
#4 Poland
In our opinion, Poland is one of the most underrated places to teach English abroad in Europe. Enjoy stunning natural scenery, take to the slopes to ski or enjoy some of the hearty local cuisine. Poland offers a truly comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle along with friendly, welcoming locals.
The demand for English teachers here is high, with most vacancies at private language centres. Most teachers work in the afternoons or evenings and occasionally at the weekend, leaving them with lots of spare time to explore the country, take up hobbies or relax!
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Poland
Population: 38 million
Language: Polish
Capital: Warsaw
Currency: Polish złoty
Popular teaching locations: Krakow & Warsaw
Average pay: PLN 2,900-3,600 ($750-950) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree & TEFL/TESOL Degree
#3 Spain
Spain has been popular with EFL teachers for quite some time now, especially with EU citizens who don’t need a visa to work in the country. The lifestyle is the main selling point here, offering a pleasant Mediterranean climate, a laid-back local culture and delicious tapas. You may also be surprised by how diverse and stunning the Spanish scenery is, not to mention lots of popular destinations only being a short flight away.
In recent years, the demand for English teachers has grown, with both children and adults picking up extra English lessons. Most EFL teachers work at private language centres, leading small classes and earning a decent hourly wage. The salary is not necessarily the selling point in Spain, you’re much more likely to teach here for the Mediterranean climate and laid-back lifestyle.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in Spain
Population: 46 million
Language: Spanish
Capital: Madrid
Currency: Euro
Popular teaching locations: Barcelona, Bilbao, Granada, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca & Seville
Average pay: $1,250-2,000
General requirements: None (but the better your qualifications, the easier you’ll find it to get work!)
#2 South Korea
Most locations in South Korea offer a modern lifestyle with plenty of entertainment and activities on offer. In general, services are reliable, the South Koreans are fun and friendly, and the local cuisine is deliciously spicy. This is arguably the place to be if you want a taste of the good life!
EFL teachers in South Korea generally teach children in public schools or private language centres and benefit from a 12-month contract. To work in a public school, you’ll usually need to go through a government-sponsored programme. These are a really great way to get set up in South Korea as you’ll usually be put in accommodation with other EFL teachers, helped setting up a bank account and getting your visa, and awarded a generous salary.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in South Korea
Population: 51 million
Language: Korean
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won
Popular teaching locations: Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon & Seoul
Average pay: ($1,750-1,900) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree
#1 China
Of all the places to teach English abroad, China is our absolute favourite this year! It’s full of fascinating culture and history. In fact, the country has a longer continuous history than anywhere else in the world and has plenty of interesting traditions and landmarks to show for it. Heard of the Great Wall of China anyone?
The TEFL job market in China has grown exponentially in recent years. There are hundreds (perhaps thousands!) of private language centres, with more appearing seemingly by the minute. There are also lots of public schools in need of English teachers.
Check out: Everything you need to know about teaching English in China
Population: 1.4 billion
Language: Standard Mandarin
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi / Chinese Yuan (These are the same thing, they just have two different names!
Popular teaching locations: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai & Xi’an
Average pay: CNY 5,400-20,500 ($800-3,050) per month
General requirements: Bachelor’s Degree & TEFL/TESOL certificate
There are so many great places to teach English abroad – this list is by no means absolute, these are just a few places we think deserve to be championed. To find out more about some of the most popular countries in the world to teach English, take a look at our location guides. If there’s anywhere you think deserves to be on this list, let us know if the comments – we love hearing your thoughts!
I am Prince Asamoah from Ghana and I think Ghanaians are not part of the TEFL Jobseeker. I am a First Degree holder and have also completed 120 hour TEFL course and have been searching for teaching job since 2017 but to no avail. I kindly need your help. Thank you.
Hi there – it’s great to hear you are looking for TEFL jobs. A degree and a 120 hour qualification will certainly help your application! We’d love to know where you are applying. Feel free to email over more information about your job search to [email protected]. We can take a look at your CV and suggest the best countries to apply for. ?
I am living in the Netherlands. I would like to find a job there.
Kind regards,
Anastasia Timofeeva
Thanks for your comments. Here at LoveTEFL, we currently don’t have any jobs in the Netherlands (but we’re doing our best to get more great jobs across Europe!), so we might not be able to help you ourselves. We’ve had a quick search online and we’ll email over any job ads we find in the Netherlands for you ?
Would prefer to teach English in a Spanish speaking country, or in Japan–where I spent 2 years in the U.S. Air Force (1960-1962). Have been working on a certification from i-to-i TEFL, out of Leeds, England. My basic problem is age: I am 81, but still very active, and often am told I look about 60. However, many countries advertise an upper age limit of 60 for teaching English. I have a B.A. from the U. of S. Florida and studied Russian there. Currently my most active language besides English is Spanish. I was in Colombia last year for 4 weeks, and may return to teach there if no other country becomes top priority. Please advise which countries have no upper age limit. Thank you! Cliff
Hi Cliff,
Thanks for your comment. It’s great to hear that you are interested in TEFL and that you are open to teaching in different places around the world. When it comes to teaching as an older gentleman, you’re quite right, there are some visa restrictions based on age. From our research, the best countries to work in are those in Latin America. We’ve got a blog post about this – but we haven’t published it yet. We will send it over to you by email as a word document. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions ?