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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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