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ASIA
The Asian continent offers a diverse range of experiences and
opportunities to a qualified EFL teacher. In many Asian countries
there is a huge demand for native English speakers. Anybody with a
university degree (not specifically a teaching degree) and a TEFL
certificate should find a wide range of opportunities.
Some countries overlook the need for a degree, and focus more on a
TEFL qualification. Industrialized nations such as Japan, Korea and
Taiwan have western-style economies and a high standard of living,
while developing nations like China, Vietnam and Thailand offer
lower salaries but perhaps a greater variety of cultural experience.
Asia certainly has something for everyone and your time there is
likely to be unforgettable. Students in most Asian countries are
very respectful to teachers, further enhancing your experience.
In some of the poorer countries of the region (particularly the
Indian subcontinent) paid employment is very difficult to find and
most teachers in those locations are there on voluntary placements
(a local wage may be available).
Details of major EFL destinations within the Asia Continent are
given below:
THAILAND
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 20,000-55,000 Baht/mth
Major TEFL locations: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai,
Suratthani
TEFL job prospects: Thailand without doubt is one of the
easiest places in Asia to pick up work for TEFL teachers.
Opportunities exist in a number of areas: Public and Private
Universities, Private Language Schools, International Schools,
Teachers' Colleges and Summer Camps. There is a huge demand for
Business English in the Commercial sector, and for English for
Younger Learners in the International and State Primary and
Secondary schools. TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, SAT and other such
test-preparation classes are also very popular.
Teachers are highly respected by Thai students, and they are
generally highly motivated and willing to learn. They are also great
fun! As Thailand is such an attractive country in which to work,
there many unqualified teachers looking for a job. A TEFL qualified
teacher will find work very easily.
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CHINA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: Vary enormously. RMB3,000-RMB8,500.
(US$360-$900/mth)
Major TEFL locations: Nationwide
TEFL job prospects: The demand in China for TEFL teachers is
huge. The jobs outnumber the availability of teachers and there are
requirements in all parts of the country, from Beijing to Hong Kong
to Mongolia. Any qualified EFL teacher should be able to pick and
choose from a wide variety of opportunities throughout the country
in both state and private sectors. Salaries (and costs) vary
according to regions. Generally, teachers receiving visas through a
school in China are not permitted to teach outside of that school.
However, this is usually not a problem since the cost of living in
China is very low. Thus, teachers in China should be able to live
very comfortably on their salaries.
Most ESL/EFL teachers arrange jobs before arriving in China,
normally by contacting recruitment agencies or individual employers.
Positions in public colleges and universities are often pre-arranged
by applying to Chinese embassies or consulates overseas, or to the
International Employment Office in Beijing. It is also possible to
apply to the provincial Education offices or directly to the
institutes themselves (addressed to the Foreign Affairs Office, or
Waiban). With China now engaged in huge levels of international
trade, there is a great demand for Business English in the Chinese
Commercial sector. Many companies are now setting up their own
in-house English teaching programs, and recruit either from the
ExPat community, or from overseas.
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INDONESIA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: US$800-$1200 per month (in the big
cities)
Major TEFL locations: Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Yogyakarta
TEFL job prospects: Indonesia is the fifth most populous
nation on earth, as a result there is a great demand for English
language teachers throughout the nation. Opportunities can range
from state to private sector. Most teachers are employed on the
island of Java, though there are many possibilities on other islands
too.
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JAPAN
Typical TEFL teacher salary: ₯220,000 - ₯320,000 per month
Major TEFL locations: Tokyo, Osaka
TEFL job prospects: There are countless job opportunities in
Japan for TEFL qualified teachers. Teachers are usually highly
respected by Japanese students, and they are generally highly
motivated and willing to learn. Salaries don't seem to have changed
much in recent years and so it is not as attractive a location as it
once was, but most teachers are still able to save considerable
amounts without having to live too frugal a lifestyle. A university
degree is essential for obtaining a work permit.
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SOUTH KOREA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 1.8 - 2.5 million Won/mth (approx
US$1600-$1800/mth)
NB: Some schools pay per hour and guarantee their teachers a minimum
number of hours. Teachers on this kind of contract should expect
approx US$25 per hour.
Major TEFL locations: Seoul, Pusan
TEFL job prospects: South Korea now rivals Japan as the
busiest EFL/ESL teaching destination in the Pacific Rim. With an
estimated 100,000 institutes offering English lessons of some sort
or another, you'd think the demand for native-speaking English
teachers would be huge. It is. But ESL/EFL teachers should be
careful about accepting the first Korean job offer that comes their
way. While Korea boasts some of the most attractive ESL/EFL teaching
positions anywhere in the world, it is gaining a reputation for some
of the worst. Most teaching opportunities exist in Private Language
Institutes (Hagwons), and conditions, contracts and salaries vary
enormously between employers. The number of Hagwons that close
within a few weeks of opening is alarming, as is the number of
teachers leaving Korea with stories of contract and pay hassles.
Korea is a fascinating country in which to spend a year-or-two
teaching English and generally return home with very positive
memories.
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TAIWAN
Typical TEFL teacher salary: T$45,000-$68,000/mth
(NT$400-$1000/hr)
Major TEFL locations: Taipei
TEFL job prospects: Until the early '90s, Taiwan was a place
where just about anyone could find a well-paid ESL/EFL job. Private
language schools (or 'Buhsibans'), which cram students for
university entrance, were on every Taipei street corner. Then things
changed. A combination of new government legislation on teachers
working illegally, regional economic factors, and the devastating
earthquake of October 1999 contrived to dampen the market for
English, putting many Buhsibans out of business. But there is still
a significant demand for native-speaking English teachers in Taiwan,
with many of the ESL/EFL positions involving teaching younger
learners. Most Taiwanese employers prefer to recruit locally, and
few advertise overseas. The majority - but certainly not all -
require teachers to have at least some kind of TEFL qualification.
Taiwan might not have quite the allure for teachers it used to, but
it remains a fascinating and rewarding place to spend a year or two
teaching English.
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SINGAPORE
Typical TEFL teacher salary: S$2000-$5000/mth
Major TEFL locations: Throughout the state
TEFL job prospects:
Singapore is a very wealthy and westernized city-state in which
there is a considerable demand for qualified EFL teachers. While
salaries are reasonably high, Singapore certainly isn't the cheapest
place to live and work. Work is not quite so easy to find as
elsewhere in Asia but a qualified TEFL teacher with a university
degree should be able to find a few openings.
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MALAYSIA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: R1,200 - R2,000/mth
Major TEFL locations: Kuala Lumpur, Penang
TEFL job prospects: Malaysia offers good working conditions
and relatively good pay for TEFL teachers. Unfortunately, tight work
visa regulations have made it difficult for ESL/EFL teachers who do
not hold an MA to find work in Malaysia. English is taught as a
second language in all Primary and Secondary schools (often as early
as Year 1) so many Malaysian teenagers and young adults have a
relatively good command of the language. A lot of the ESL/EFL work
out here is only part-time, which normally means teachers have to
supplement their income with private lessons. These are easy to
find, as there are plenty of Malaysians who dream of studying at
university in the US, Australia or the UK.
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VIETNAM
Typical TEFL teacher salary: US$15-$25/hr, in a good school
or university (normally requiring teachers to have an
internationally recognized TEFL qualification).
NB: Salaries may be significantly lower outside HCMC and Hanoi.
Major TEFL locations: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
TEFL job prospects: Following a fairly turbulent recent past,
Vietnam has now stabilized and as a result the demand for English
has grown many folds. Well-paid employment is quite easy to find in
the major cities and qualified teachers shouldn't have any problems.
Compared to the cost of living salaries are high. Outside the two
largest cities (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) work is mainly on a
voluntary basis and there are numerous organizations who can help
arrange this.
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LAOS
Typical TEFL teacher salary: US$800/mth
Major TEFL locations: Vientiane
TEFL job prospects: The situation in Laos is very similar to
that in Vietnam. Quite well-paid (in comparison to the low cost of
living) work is available in the capital and mainly voluntary work
elsewhere. The demand for native English speakers with teacher
training is very high.
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CAMBODIA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: US$7/hr
Major TEFL locations: Phnom Penh
TEFL job prospects: See Laos and Vietnam.
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HONG KONG
Typical TEFL teacher salary: Private Sector:
HK$20,000-$50,000/mth. State Sector: HK$205,000-$557,000/yr (+
HK$13,000 special allowance). Freelance Teachers can earn:
HK$200-$600/hr.
Major TEFL locations: Hong Kong
TEFL job prospects: Hong Kong offers some of the best paid
English-teaching jobs in the world. However the jobs are demanding.
Hong Kong's huge economic influence in the region has not receded
since it reverted to Chinese administration in June 1997. Learning
English, more than ever, is on everyone's agenda. There is even a
move to eliminate Cantonese and to establish English and Putonghua
(modern Standard Chinese) as the only two languages of instruction
in the Hong Kong Education system.
Opportunities for foreign teachers abound in English language
schools, English-medium schools and universities. The British
Council in Hong Kong - which is also the biggest Cambridge CELTA and
DELTA training centre in Asia - employs a significant number of
TEFL-certified teachers on its summer programs. The Hong Kong
Government's Native-speaking English Teacher (NET) scheme is another
source of well-paid English teaching work for teachers interested in
working for 2 years in one of the island's Public Secondary Schools.
The 'Enhanced NET Scheme', in operation since 1988/9, annually
undertakes to place one native-speaking English teacher in every
Public Sector Secondary school with fewer than 40 classes, and two
teachers in every Secondary School with more than 40 classes. The
Government has also recently decided to employ 400 native-speaking
English teachers in the island's Primary school sector. There are
very few opportunities for ESL/EFL teachers who do not have at least
2 years' teaching experience and an internationally recognized TEFL
Certificate. Many institutions now stipulate that applicants must
have a TEFL Diploma or a higher level qualification such as an MA
TEFL.
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NEPAL
Typical TEFL teacher salary: Private Sector:
HK$20,000-$50,000/mth. State Sector: HK$205,000-$557,000/yr (+
HK$13,000 special allowance). Freelance Teachers can earn:
HK$200-$600/hr. (is this correct information?)
Major TEFL locations: Very low, unless employed by either of
the aforementioned institutions.
TEFL job prospects:
High up in the Himalayas, wedged between China to the north and
India to the South, the Kingdom of Nepal may not be the most obvious
place for an ESL/EFL job search. But you'd be surprised.
Opportunities abound here for ESL/EFL teachers with an open mind and
an interest in the rich cultural experience this country has to
offer. There is a significant demand for teachers who have
experience teaching younger learners, with numerous positions - many
of them voluntary - in State and Private school sectors. Volunteer
placement organizations such as the Peace Corps, the Fulbright
Commission and the Voluntary Services Organization (VSO) are very
active out here, and the British Council has a teaching operation in
Kathmandu. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, the
jostling crowds, the bullock carts and the noisy street markets are
more than enough to render a teaching stint in Nepal one of the most
memorable of your career. Not to mention the delightful Nepalese
students.
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INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT
TEFL job prospects:English has been an official language for
centuries in the sub continent. There are many English medium
schools where it is taught as a first language or in regional
language schools as a second language.
Job opportunities in this region are almost always on a voluntary
basis. There are various voluntary placement agencies who can
arrange unpaid (or sometimes local salary) employment for qualified
EFL teachers. Though it is very difficult finding a teaching job in
regular schools but the emergence of Language schools and the BPO
sector has resulted in the demand for TEFL teachers or trainers.
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AFRICA
The English language teaching situation in Africa is at best rather
confusing. Many ex-colonies of Britain use English as the medium of
instruction in state schools and so most teachers are locals. Some
advanced level positions may be available in universities in such
locations. In other African countries English is much in demand but
few schools are able to afford a native speaker teacher and so
positions are largely filled by voluntary workers (though sometimes
paying a 'local' salary). There are many placement organizations
that can arrange voluntary work in Africa should that be your aim.
There is some work available in South Africa but as many of their
citizens speak English as a native language, opportunities for
non-South Africans are somewhat limited. Zimbabwe used to offer a
number of possibilities but recent political events have curtailed
most EFL activity.
Some opportunities exist in almost all countries but the only
African nations where there is any significant scope for working in
private language schools, or institutes, are detailed below:
EGYPT
Typical TEFL teacher salary: US$5-15/hr
Major TEFL locations: Cairo, Alexandria
TEFL job prospects: The current demand for TEFL teachers in
Egypt is quite high. In locations such as Cairo, Alexandria,
Heliopolis, Maadi and Zamalek there are opportunities for qualified
EFL teachers, while in other parts of the country the prospects are
still good. There is work in the business and tourism sectors, as
well as in private language schools which are numerous in the major
cities. Qualified teachers should also have little trouble in
arranging private tutoring work.
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KENYA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 430 KS/hr
Major TEFL locations: Nairobi
TEFL job prospects: Some work is available in Kenya at
government sponsored schools and institutes and also at a few
private language and full-curriculum schools. Salaries are not high
by international standards but are sufficient to lead a relatively
comfortable life. Many more opportunities exist through voluntary
placement schemes that may provide a basic 'local' salary.
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MOROCCO
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 9,000 dirham/mth
Major TEFL locations: Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Casablanca, Fez
TEFL job prospects: Despite being a Francophone country,
English is increasingly a requirement for entrance to universities
and high ranking jobs. As a result there is a steady demand for
English language teachers. Almost all state sector positions are
filled by Moroccans but there is a continuing demand for native
speakers in private language schools and in the business community.
A degree is necessary to be eligible for a work permit. Qualified
EFL teachers shouldn't have much difficulty in finding employment in
the major cities.
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TUNISIA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 15 dinars/hr
Major TEFL locations: Tunis + tourist destinations
TEFL job prospects: Like their neighbour Morocco, many
Tunisians are starting to learn English for study and work purposes
and as a result there is a reasonable demand for native speaker
teachers, particularly in the capital and areas with a high level of
employment in the tourism industry.
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WESTERN EUROPE
Europe is fairly diverse when it comes to job prospects and teaching
experiences. With the advent of the EU labour law it is now
difficult (and is some cases impossible) for teachers who don't hold
an EU passport to get working visas in some countries.
This doesn't mean that it's difficult or impossible to find work,
just to get your official papers in order. However, with the
ridiculous bureaucratic requirements, still in place in some EU
countries, even EU passport holders give up on getting work visas!
It will certainly be easier if you are a citizen of an EU member
state but it is not an insurmountable problem if you aren't. good
working conditions and reasonably higher pay attracts teachers to
Europe.
Details of major EFL destinations within Western Europe are given
below:
AUSTRIA
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 18 euros/hr
Major TEFL locations: Vienna
TEFL job prospects: Most teaching in Austria is done by
freelancers, working on a self-employed basis, who are already
resident in the country. Most of this teaching is to the business
community. A speculative job search may produce results but
certainly isn't guaranteed to do so. Most work is in the capital and
salaries are quite high but then again Vienna is a very expensive
city.
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BELGIUM
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 16 euros/hr
Major TEFL locations: Brussels and other major cities
TEFL job prospects: As with Austria most teachers are
employed on a freelance basis and the work is primarily geared
towards business English. There are many private language schools in
the major cities and qualified EFL teachers should be able to find
suitable work. Salaries are sufficient to enjoy a comfortable
lifestyle, providing you can get enough hours.
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FRANCE
Typical TEFL teacher salary: Vary enormously. Contract
teachers (salaries) can expect a net salary of EUR1,400-EUR1,800/mth
Freelance teachers (travailleurs independents) should not be working
for less than EUR15-18/hr.
Major TEFL locations: Paris and major cities
TEFL job prospects: France, in general - and Paris, in
particular - has long been an obvious choice for ESL/EFL teachers
looking for overseas teaching experience in a country with seemingly
everything to offer. In reality, the supply of work has not always
been able to keep up with the demand among the thousands of ESL/EFL
teachers who head for France every year seeking work. But the last
few years have seen a reversal of this trend, with many English
language schools now experiencing shortage of teachers.
By law, French companies are required to spend 1% of their salary
budget on vocational training for their employees. English lessons -
or, cours d'anglais - are an obvious choice for many companies,
particularly with France being such a key player in the European
Union. The need for Business English is particularly apparent, with
many language schools specializing in this area. 'Telephone lessons'
are very popular among French businessmen and women, who may not
have time in their busy schedules for a 2-hour face-to-face lesson,
but can generally squeeze in a 30-minute cours par tιlιphone a
couple of times a week with a native English teacher. Teachers with
Business English experience and knowledge of French will have the
pick of the jobs. More and more English language schools are
stipulating that teachers have an internationally recognized TEFL
Certificate. Along with the hundreds of private language schools in
Paris, English lessons are frequently organized through the
municipal City Halls (Maries) and through the Chamber of Commerce (Chambre
de Commerce) in most French towns.
Teachers who do not hold an EU passport may have trouble finding
work legally in France.
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GERMANY
Typical TEFL teacher salary: 2,000 euros/mth
Major TEFL locations: Berlin and other major cities
TEFL job prospects:
As in many other European countries teaching business people is one
of the major options. There are many jobs available throughout the
country and a teacher with a TEFL certificate would have few
problems in sorting out employment. Salaries are high and so is the
cost of living. Germans tend to have a preference for American
English and so opportunities also exist for North Americans despite
Germany being a major player in the EU.
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It is a very compact experience. Extensive learning but
fun.
A gear experience with TEFL International and very
helpful to find placement
