Have you been searching for good international teaching jobs?
There are so many parts of the world where you can teach English, that it can be a bit overwhelming. Which country do you want to travel to? Where is best for TEFL jobs? Are you aiming for the golden sandy beaches of South East Asia or the North European mountains? Or are you going to stay closer to home and find teaching jobs in America, Canada or Australia?
There is a huge demand for English teachers around the world. In this post, we will discuss all the countries and the benefits of teaching English.
An overview of places that hire English teachers
If you are a native English speaker and have a bachelor’s degree, you could qualify to become an English teacher in countries all over the world. Not only is this a great opportunity to travel, but you can also make a good income while gaining new skills and experiences.
While there are many countries that hire English teachers, some pay significantly more than others. The following are five of the best countries for earning a good living teaching English abroad:
South Korea – Seoul and Busan
If you’re looking for a unique and amazing way to live abroad, consider teaching English overseas. It’s the best of both worlds: a chance to travel, learn about a new culture and get paid for it.
Asia is one of the most popular destinations for English teachers abroad. While some countries require you to have a degree or teaching experience, others just expect you to be a native speaker and have an interest in teaching. Just think, you could be moving abroad in less than six months.
A country with dynamic cities, beautiful mountains and islands, delicious food and friendly people, South Korea is one of the easiest places to teach English abroad.
The pay is decent (about 1.8 million won per month, or $1,600), there are lots of vacation days (10-15 paid days off plus national holidays) and working hours are fairly reasonable (usually about 20-30 hours per week). Plus, lots of schools provide housing or offer housing allowances.
South Korea is also a good place if you want to save money, many teachers manage to save between $1500-$3,000 per month thanks to the low cost of living.
Taiwan – Taipei and Kaohsiung
Taiwan is one of the safest places in Asia for English teachers. It’s set between China and Japan and has a unique blend of traditional Asian culture and modern Western influences. There are many temples and night markets scattered throughout the major cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung, as well as ocean views and beaches.
If you love Asian food, Taiwan is a fantastic place to teach. You’ll find all sorts of tasty fare in Taiwan, from Chinese to Indian and everything in between. You can also make enough money teaching here to have a comfortable life; pay scales are relatively high, especially if you have teaching experience or a university degree.
Teaching in Taiwan’s major cities offers still provides many of the same benefits as teaching in Korea: high salaries and plenty of time off to explore the rest of Asia. You can expect to earn between $1,500-$5,000 per month, depending on experience and education level (though you won’t need a degree). Another benefit is that English teachers are relatively in demand here compared to other parts of Asia such as Japan or China.
China – Beijing and Shanghai
China is the largest market for English teachers because it has the largest population in the world. China also has the most demand for native English speakers, so keep in mind that you will need to have a valid U.S., Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or South African passport to teach there.
You can expect to make around $20-$100 or even more an hour for private lessons in these cities, and around $1500-$5,500 per month working 30-40 hours at a language school in either city. Keep in mind that you can also get free housing and a free flight to and from your home country by working at a language school.
The cost of living is low compared to other major international cities, but it’s not as cheap as living in other countries on this list. You can live comfortably on $1,000 per month or less if you don’t spend too much money on going out to eat or travelling.
Thailand – Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Thailand is a popular destination for teachers of English. It’s also one of the best places to live on a budget in South East Asia, with low living costs, particularly in Chiang Mai in the north.
The country is popular with digital nomads, expats and backpackers. Its capital, Bangkok, is huge and vibrant, while Chiang Mai has a more laid back vibe.
Both cities are popular bases for teachers, with a number of jobs available in both. The average salary for teaching English runs between 50,000 to 100,000 Thai baht ($1500-3,000) per month after taxes if you have a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certification.
Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane
The Australian accent is well known throughout the world and many people want to learn how to speak like an Aussie. Australia is also very popular among adventurous types who want to explore the world. The country has a high cost of living compared to other destinations on this list, but teachers can still live well there.
Most ESL teachers in Australia work in private language schools. How much they earn depends on what city they work in. Teachers in Sydney and Melbourne will earn more than those in Perth or Brisbane because the cost of living is higher in those cities. However, teachers working at universities will earn more than those working at private schools in all four cities.
The average salary for teaching English in Australia is $89,593 per year. In addition to high-paying jobs, Australia offers an extremely high quality of life that includes a low cost of living and modern amenities. The country offers working holiday visas for citizens from many different countries (37 at the time of writing), which allow you to stay in Australia for up to two years.