Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Every year thousands of people leave their home to travel and teach English overseas. They go to experience a new culture, work overseas, put off getting a “real” job, and earn lots of money doing it. Sometimes they are just backpackers who ran out of money and are looking for an easy job that can get them back on the road quick. Whatever your reason is, here are many places around the world to teach English. If you are looking for a place to go, here are the top ten places to teach English overseas:

Korea – Korea is one of the best, if not the best, places to go teach English. Jobs are abundant, the pay is great, and you get awesome benefits such as a completion bonus, free housing, and airfare reimbursement. A lot of recent college graduates are attracted to teaching here because of the money and the benefits. Korean culture is a hard culture to get into but the country is filled with a lot of young people making it a great place for those looking to work overseas, make money, and have a lot of fun doing it.

Japan – Japan’s great culture and food as well as its reputation for good jobs means it also attracts a lot of people looking to teach. Though the fat years of teaching in Japan are over, people willing to stay at least a year can earn a lot of money. You don’t get as many perks as you might in Korea but teaching here is still an amazing experience. The cost of living can eat up a lot of your salary, especially if you live in Tokyo, but the amazing culture more than makes up for it. No one ever walks away disappointed.

The Middle East – The Middle East lures many teachers in for one reason: the salary packages. There isn’t much to do in this part of the world and some of the societies can be very restrictive but Middle Eastern countries offer incredibly large salaries, lots of benefits, and no taxes. A teacher here can walk away with around $50,000. However, this is no place for the recent college graduate. Countries here want certified and experienced teachers. No teaching degree means no job. Most of the teachers here are older, more settled, and have families. You don’t move here for a wild and crazy adventure but you’ll get live in a very unique part of the world and make a lot of money doing it.

Thailand – Thailand attracts lots of young people and new teachers with its cheap cost of living, great weather, tropical beaches, and party atmosphere. Most of the language school teachers are ex-travelers looking to save for future travels. Or travelers who thought they were doing that and ended up never leaving after marrying a Thai or just falling in love with the country. The pay in Thailand isn’t great. Unless you teach right in Bangkok or at an international school, you won’t earn much money but people don’t come here for the money. They come here for the atmosphere, the nightlife, the beaches, and the destination. Thailand won’t make you rich but no one ever walks away wishing they never came or without a massive hangover.

China – China is the rising star of the ESL world. Its continued rise on the world stage keeps attracting more and more interested people looking to figure out what the middle kingdom is all about. Jobs here can be very hit or miss. In the countryside and, at most schools, you’ll only get paid a small amount. However, in places like Beijing and Shanghai, you can find excellent paying jobs, especially if you have experience or teach business. But the money isn’t why you should come here- it’s the absolute cultural shock you’ll experience. China is the brave new world and there’s nothing like it on Earth.

Mexico – Mexico is a popular destination for Americans. It’s close, it’s not that “foreign” and it’s warm. Most of the jobs can be found in Mexico City where Mexico’s upper class hires teachers for their students. However, you can also find small language schools and government schools that hire teachers. Riches won’t be found here but if you are interested in Latin American culture, friendly people, mouth watering food, and feisty approach to life, Mexico is where it is at.

Central Asia – Central Asia is one of those places you hear very little about and know about even less. That makes it one of the most exotic places to teach English. Forget about money and benefits- you get none. Coming here is all about stepping into the past and exploring one of the most rustic and friendly areas on Earth. No matter what country you pick in the region, you’ll be stepping into a world devoid of most modern conveniences, which isn’t necessarily bad thing.

Prague – Teaching jobs in Europe are hard to get. EU visa rules make it difficult to just pick up, fly over, and find a job. Luckily, Prague doesn’t have all those complications. You can find a lot of ESL jobs at language schools. Again, forget about pay- you won’t make money like you do in Asia or the Middle East. But you are in Prague and a stone’s throw away from everywhere in Europe. Prague is a hip city with an outgoing and lively population. You’ll never be bored and if you are, you’re doing something wrong.

Argentina – Argentina is where most ESL teachers go to find work and in particular Buenos Aires. Famous for wine, beef, and beautiful women, Argentina lures native speakers looking to experience that fiery South American culture in a “not as dangerous as Brazil” way. If salsa dancing, good beef, wine, and a culture that places heavy value on siestas is your idea of a good time, then Argentina is where you want to teach.

Teaching English was a very rewarding experience for me. Even though it wasn’t always the most glamorous work, I had a lot of fun teaching overseas. While there is an opportunity to teach wherever English isn’t the native language, these ten destinations draw the biggest crowds, pay the best, or offer the best perks.