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. If you can find a lot of tutoring work in the capital, that is where you will make the most money. However, you can also find small language schools and government schools that hire teachers. Most language programs will set you up in schools in rural areas as that is where the most demand is. Riches won’t be found here but if you are interested in 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. This part of the world is very rural and chances are you will end up in some village with barely any people, TV, or internet. However, the greatest benefit of teaching in this part of the world is that it is so untouched and it’s a great way to immerse yourself in a place totally different without any distractions. I hear the current best place to teach is Georgia.

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.

What to get a high paying teaching job? Here’s my guide to teaching overseas, with detailed country by country information. Based on actual experience from actual teachers!

General Information
Dave’s ESL Cafe- The PREMIER ESL site out there. This site has everything you could ever need and should be the first place you look for information.
TEFL Institute- TEFL information and courses.
TEFL- TEFL information.
Cross Cultural Solutions- Will help you getting a degree and finding a job.
Transitions Abroad- Information about moving abroad.
Teach Abroad- Information about how to teach and where to sign up for courses.
ELT News- Same as the rest.
International School Society- Information about international schools.
10 Things to Improve Your English
20 Great ESL tips
Why Teach English Abroad

Job Boards
Find ESL Jobs Teaching English Abroad-ESL Job Project is an ESL Jobs source for English Teachers.Find Jobs Teaching English Abroad in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other locations overseas.
ESL Jobs World
International School Service- For international schools.
Teaching English Asia- Focus on Japan and Korea
Ajarn- Thailand Specific
ESL Job Find
Serious Teachers
The Beijinger- China Specific

These sites will help you find the job you are looking!

Learn more including specific country information with my in depth guide:

Since Asia tends to be the primary focus for ESL teachers, I devoted more attention to it than other regions in the world. However, teachers are needed all over the world. Here’s a run down on the other major teaching regions of the world:

Europe
Finding a job in Europe can be difficult, especially for those with little experience. Stiff EU visa rules keep many people out and countries typically try to hire EU natives (i.e. UK citizens) first. That being said it’s not impossible to do so. If you get sponsored by a company, it’s very easy.

Salaries in Europe tend to be lower than Asia. Though actual real money value might be higher, your earning power is a lot less. Not only is Europe more expensive but taxes are also very high. Teacher salaries vary a lot from country to country but, on average, you can earn around $2500 USD a month in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe, salaries are lower but so is the cost of living. Salaries are usually about $1000 USD a month in Eastern Europe.

Demand for teachers varies from country to country as some countries put a lot more emphasis on learning English than others. Countries like France and Germany don’t make it a high priority while Holland, Scandinavian countries, and Eastern Europe place more emphasize on learning the language.

Though salaries are nothing to write home about, the standard of living in Europe is very high. You’ll love comfortably and let’s face it- you’re in Europe. That’s why you’re teaching there. You’ll eek out a middle class lifestyle and be comfortable but you’re not going to get rich! However, the reward is you get to be in Europe and another culture is a simple flight away.

The Middle East
With the rapid growth in the Middle East right now, there is a huge demand for English teachers, especially in places like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. They are all in desperate need of teachers and a trip to any ESL site will show a lot of listings.

Salaries in the Middle East tend to be very high. Teachers can earn $30,000 dollars or more (sometimes as high as $60,000) per year and it’s all tax free. All the benefits you normally see in Asia are also included. A year teaching in the Middle East can leave you very well off.

Though teaching jobs are abundant, don’t expect to walk right into one right out of university. Countries here prefer older, licensed, and experienced teachers. They aren’t looking to hire young backpackers looking to make a few bucks but legit mate people with experience. Because of that, teachers here tend to be older (30s), more settled, and more family oriented. You won’t find the crazy, young, ex-pat teacher scene here like you would in Asia.

Living in these countries is very expensive. Dubai is not cheap. Doha is not cheap. You’ll need a car, and since most everything is imported, your food and goods will also be pricey. Oil money and a new found consumerism mean that everyone knows they can charge a lot here and people will still pay. However, you can save a lot of money here if you are frugal. This part of the world tends to be better suited for those looking for a more older crowd, a couple, or someone more settled down in life.

Central Asia
Jobs in Central Asia tend to pay about the same or less than Eastern Europe. In some cases salaries can be high but it’s unusual. Living conditions in Central Asia tend to be pretty low and the standard of living isn’t great. There are problems with transportation, roads, technology, etc. While many of the cities have plenty of modern amenities, much of central Asia lives an agrarian lifestyle and you will probably long for many of the comforts of home.

However, you aren’t going here to be rich and live in luxury but to immerse yourself in a different culture. These countries are culturally very rich and teaching here offers an amazing chance to sort of step back to a much simpler time. People here are very friendly and usually happy to show you their part of the world. Moreover, the landscape here is beautiful and pristine. You’ll avoid the tourists, the crowds, and the chaos in what is a fast growing part of the world.

Latin America
Teaching in Latin America is a cultural rich but momentarily poor experience. Salaries in Central America rarely tend to be high than about $700 US dollars a month, with South America not much better. The upside is that cost of living is ridiculously low across Central and South America.

Some of the schools here prefer someone with a TEFL degree or experience but, typically, as long as you speak English, you’ll be hired. The international or private schools here pay the most. Public schools pay nothing all across the board. Many of the rich families will hire you to tutor on the side and that’s where the real money is.

When working with the younger kids, it helps to know a little bit of Spanish but classes are all taught in English for older students. Working conditions tend to be pretty good and, while problems can occur, employers are pretty good about honoring contracts.

But the culture of Latin America is very vibrant and “fiery.” Great food, great people, dancing, and excitement – Latin America has it all. No matter where you go from Brazil to Costa Rica to Honduras to Argentina, culturally you are in for an amazing time. You just won’t leave with much savings.

Learn more including specific country information with my in depth guide:

But the student still got up.

“Sit down. You’re disrupting the class,” I repeated.

The student looked over at his friend, said something in Thai, and continued drawing on the board. I moved over from the other side of the room, and again told him to sit down. He looked at me and moved closer. A gasp went through the room. I looked at him and told him to get out of my classroom. He looked at me and contemplated his next move.

It had been brewing for weeks. The student always pushed my buttons, and my efforts to rein him and his followers in had only been met with defeat. I’d heard stories about the respect of Thai students, so I never expected this situation. But my students talked constantly, slept in class, played video games, or texted on their mobile phones. I had brought the issues up with the school, but nothing had been done.

Now, I was watching them leave my room, pumping their fists in the air. Thais are communal, so once a few students started leaving, more followed until, finally, the good kids looked at me with the “sorry but we have to follow the crowd” face and got up too.

In Asia, the concept of “saving face” is extremely important. Everyone has to “save face” or lose face, especially to an outsider. Make someone lose enough face, and you’d better watch out – they’ll come for you! Thai’s are an extraordinarily nice people, but they have no middle ground. Bring enough shame to a Thai, and soon you will find yourself in a world of bodily harm. They don’t get mad – they get even.

I had made this kid lose enough face that he had to get even – and the only way he could was by ruining my class.

There were meetings. Apologies. In the end, many of these problems were institutional and there was nothing I could do. I had to let go. The administration laid the blame on me and told me to just “have fun” with my students. The teachers came out in support. “It’s always like this.” “Those students have been like that for years.” “Just help the ones that want to learn.” I was morally defeated. It seemed like I was the only one who wanted to teach.

So I went back in. My students looked at me. They knew they had won. I could do nothing. They smiled in victory. And I let them do what they wanted.

Those who worked did fine. I failed the rest.

After this, I began to rethink my teaching strategy. Maybe I was overly strict with my students. Not only did this cause problems in the classroom, but it also caused me undue stress. I decided I would become more lax and accommodating to the Thai culture. It would keep the classes going, but reduce my stress.

So I’ve become more relaxed with all my students. Letting go sometimes isn’t so bad. It makes everything a little easier and a little more fun. And when learning is fun, kids are more focused.

The Chinese have the same symbol for crisis and opportunity. This incident was both, and opened up a world of insight not only about Thai culture, but also about me. They may seem aggravating at the time, but crises on the road can provide us with nothing but increased insights into other cultures as well as ourselves.

Korea – This country is at the top of the list. ESL jobs in Korea pay $2,400 USD (or more) a month and come with a free round trip air ticket, free housing, 50% medical coverage?, and a one month bonus at the end of the contract. With a little experience or a little luck, you might also land a job paying closer to $3,000 USD a month. Cost of living varies greatly but on average you can get by on $1,000 or less a month as long as your Ouzo intake is kept under control. On average, a teacher walks away with around $20,000 USD after one year.
Working conditions, like anywhere you teach English, can be really great or really bad. Sometimes you’ll find employers who will try to cheat you, apartments won’t be as described, or air ticket reimbursement could be slow. However, Korea has a pretty good labor board that allows you to complain and get some justice if things don’t go as they should. Keep in mind, though, that Korean culture is pretty serious and you’ll be expected to work long and hard hours. Sick days aren’t liberally given. Vacations are hard to get. However, Korea is filled with a lot of young expats and Seoul has a vibrant nightlife. You may work hard but you will have the ability to play even harder.
The country has recently changed their visa rules and made the application process more time consuming. Teachers now are interviewed in their home country, go through a criminal background check, and pass a physical.

Japan – Salaries in Japan tend to be pretty uniform throughout the country. Typically, most people earn about 280,000 Yen a month (about $2,800 USD). Sometimes one can find a job for 300,000 Yen. Though that may sound good, living expenses are not usually covered and the high cost of living in Japan, especially in Tokyo, can eat up 50% of your monthly salary. However, living standards are pretty high, jobs are pretty stable, and Japan has a lot of culture to offer. Tokyo is an exciting place. You can save a lot of money here if you are frugal but not like you can in Korea.

Work conditions are pretty good and companies tend to be more honest here than in other parts of Asia. There tends to be a lot of private tutoring available, especially in rural areas where foreigners aren’t as abundant. Social life, especially in the big cities, is vibrant and Japan has a lot to offer.

The visa rules in this country are pretty standard. You need to be sponsored by a company in order to obtain a work visa and permit. Note that the visa is company specific and it’s illegal to have a second job.

Taiwan – This country is like a richer China. The pay is pretty good and teachers are in high demand. The average salary is about 50,000 NT a month (roughly a little over $2,000 USD). You get some of the perks of Korea but, for the most part, you are on your own. Typically, perks extend to an apartment and completion bonus.

Taiwan, like China, is pretty loose about hiring and firing. They’ll do a lot to get the teachers there and when they don’t like them, they fire them without warning. You lack the protections you get in places like Japan or Korea. However, whereas Korea can be a “cold” country, Taiwan is pretty friendly and once you can overcome the culture barrier, you’ll find the country pretty great and the nightlife, especially in Taipei, pretty robust.

Visas here are also pretty standard and teaching on the side is also technically illegal.

Thailand – The average salary here is about 50,000 baht a month ($1,800 USD). If you land a job at one of the international schools or do corporate training, you can earn over 100,000 baht. However, even on 50,000 baht, you’ll have plenty to live on. A Thai lifestyle costs about 10,000 baht a month and, unless you are a serious partier, you can live a western/Thai lifestyle for about 20,000. However, Thailand has a pretty active social life and it’s easy to spend a lot more as a result. Schools here to do not provide any perks – no airfare, no free room, and, generally, no completion bonus.

Companies here are pretty easygoing. The biggest issue is that you will have very rude bosses and the hours they promised might not appear. Since the whole system is pretty unregulated and Thais are very “whatever” about everything, you’ll find that companies just go with the flow. You’ll be expected to work hard but what’s more important to many of these schools (especially the language schools) is return business. Expect to act as a babysitter and not a teacher. As long as people are happy, no one really cares if they learn English or not.
In order to get a visa and work permit here, you must be sponsored by a company. However, it should be noted that a larger percentage of teachers do not have proper work visas. Thailand’s visa system allows for easy border runs. One could effectively live there forever on a tourist visa. The system is constantly changing and a headache (to navigate?) but because of its ease and the legal red tape (ease and legal red tape? Kind of contradictory?), many companies will drag their feet on getting you the work visa.

China – Typically, salaries tend to be very low (around 6,000 yuan a month). However, if you live in one of the big cities and work hard you can earn a lot and, given the low cost of living, can save quite a bit. The going rate for a teacher is 150 Yuan an hour in Beijing ($21 USD). That’s not too bad. If you can fill your work week, you can earn and save a lot. However, once you leave the big cities, salaries and working conditions drop drastically. Typically, you will earn about 1/3rd of what you could in the big cities. Though living expenses will be lower, don’t expect to save much. You’ll also be one of the few foreigners around but it would give you a chance to see and experience rural China.

Chinese companies can be pretty unscrupulous. Hiring and firing at random, benefits not given, apartments not looking like they promised. Things in China operate on an informal relationship system meaning while laws are there, what’s more important is who you know (and who you bribed.) If teachers work for companies in good favor with the officials, things are easy. If you work for a company who isn’t, things can be hard. Get on the wrong side of someone who’s “connected” and you’ll find your life is hell.

However, since China is now the “it” place, there are a lot of people there and it’s an exciting time. You’ll find a lot of young expats, a willing population, and a culture steeped in history. ESL is all about dealing with bullshit and there is a lot in China but if you are flexible, you can have a wonderful time.

The Rest (Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia)
At the bottom of it all are the other Asian countries. These countries require little in terms of experience or credentials and offer the lowest salary ranges. The jobs are fairly easy and simple. Since not many applicants go there, they are also pretty readily available. Experiences in each country vary but most people go to these countries for the people and not the rewards. In these countries, you’ll find low wages and no perks but the benefits of the society you are in outweigh everything else.

For more visa information, check out these web pages:

Vietnam (lots of red tape)
Indonesia (even more red tape)
Cambodia (Easy!) – You can just buy a multi-entry, business visa when you are in the country!
Malaysia (Standard)

And a note on Singapore.

Singapore expects a lot of their teachers. They have great education system and are proud of it. There are a lot of expats in the country as it is a major financial and business hub for the world. You’ll need at least $3,500 SGD per month as rents are fast rising in this ever growing metropolis. The going rate for teaching is about $30-60 SGD an hour.

Singapore is a strict society but it is slowly (very slowly) opening up and there is a nightlife there. You’ll find Singapore a multi-cultural nation with people from all corners of the globe and all walks of life.

Visa rules are standard issue here. Work permit is required and there’s no “under the table” work going on. Singapore is a strict country all around. For more information, this page is a good resource.

Learn more including specific country information with my in depth guide:

Teaching English around the world requires different skills in different places. Depending on where you go and what type of job you want, what qualifications you will need will vary. Generally speaking, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Be from an English speaking country.
• Have a bachelor’s degree.
• Have a TEFL/Celta certificate.
• Have some experience.

More about qualifications
All countries require that you be a native speaker. This means you were born in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. While some countries will hire Filipinos, they typically prefer Western employees. You will also need a bachelor’s degree from a 4 year accredited university. It doesn’t matter what your degree is in. Whether you have a degree in biochemistry, or English, or yoga doesn’t matter so long as you have a university degree. A four year degree is a MUST in the higher end countries like Korea and Japan. (Note: In countries that have looser restrictions, many of the schools will turn a blind eye and hire you without a degree. This usually occurs in more rural areas where attracting western teachers can be tough. I met a few teachers in Thailand without any college experience.)

Lastly, while experience is not required, it helps, especially with the high paying jobs. If you have a valid teaching degree or a TEFL certificate, your chances of getting hired also dramatically increase. Having a teaching degree from a Western university will pretty much guarantee you a job, even without experience, at the majority of government, private, or language schools.

What’s TEFL?
A TEFL degree can give you an edge or be a total waste of money. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It’s a certificate program that teaches you how to teach English as foreign language. The program typically lasts for 120 hours or roughly 4 weeks. It combines lectures and classwork with a practicum at the end. The program is offered anywhere around the world and prices vary depending on where you take it. In America, you can pay as much as $2,000 USD while paying half that in Asia. Moreover, the quality of the program also depends on where you take it.

Is the certificate worth getting? That depends on the type of job you wanted. As we talked about in part one, each job type requires different skills. As we’ll find out in the next part, each country also has different requirements. The short answer is that there is no short answer. Depending on where you go, what previous experience you have, and the type of job you have, you may need it or you may not. As a rule though, if you have no experience and no teaching degree, it is worth getting your TEFL. This will help give you credibility when applying for jobs.

Benefits
Not all places will offer you benefits but some of the better countries and jobs do. Benefits usually include the following:

• Free round trip airfare- Upon completion of your contract, companies will reimburse you for the airfare in and out of the country.
• Free Accommodation- Many companies offer you a free apartment, though it’s usually tiny and sparse.
• One months severance package- This is given at the end of your contract.
• A lot of vacation time- You’ll get Western holidays and local holidays off and usually 3 weeks holiday.

In the past, only countries like Korea and Japan offered these benefits. Now, they are also standard in Taiwan and are being offered more in China. Outside of Asia, benefits outside of free housing are rare but do occur, especially in the Middle East. Typically, international schools anywhere will also offer these benefits.

Salary
Salary varies greatly from country to country and job to job. You can earn as little as 500 dollars a month to upwards of over $3,200 dollars a month. (We’ll discuss salary more in-depth in the next sections.)

Other requirements
Keep in mind that each country also as their own rules when giving out visas. Be sure to check the rules and requirements for each country before you apply for a job.

Learn more including specific country information with my in depth guide:

It’s not that hard to become an English teacher overseas. When I began looking for ESL jobs, I thought that without a TEFL degree, I wouldn’t find any openings but before I knew it I was getting lots of jobs. While teaching, I met people who didn’t even have college degrees that were teaching English.

Your ability to get a job teaching English varies tremendously around the world. Europe is an extremely hard place to find a job and, even when you do, the pay isn’t great. Jobs in Central and South America can be abundant at times but again, the pay is mediocre. The real panacea of ESL teaching is Asia. Nowhere else pays better or has a wider availability of work. Some of these countries pay such a substantial rate that, when compared to their cost of living, it is like earning $60,000 USD a year.

Jobs, both in quality and quantity, vary from country to country. There are typically 5 big categories:

Government schools- No matter where you are, these schools typically pay the worst. However, they are reliable. You know the place isn’t going to close, you will get your pay check each week, you’ll have some sort of support, and they aren’t going to unexpectedly terminate you. Depending on the country and the school, kids will either pay a lot of attention or pay none at all. Moreover, many of the government school locations are assigned (e.g. Japan’s Jet program, Korea’s EPIK) so you may not end up where you want.
Language schools- The next step up are the language schools, such as Berlitz or InLingua. (Of course, each country has plenty of locally owned language schools too). The pay here is better and you’ll have more flexibility with your schedule and curriculum. However, your job is not as secure as in a government school and guarantees by these companies don’t always appear. Many parents also use these schools as a form of baby sitting so the kids have little real motivation to learn and,because the schools are motivated by money, they rarely discipline the students for fear they will stop coming. So while the pay is better, the work environment can sometimes be more difficult than teaching in other schools.

Private schools – Private schools are the rich version of government schools. They offer better pay and a slightly better student body. They’re better than government schools but lack the flexibility of language schools.

International Schools – International schools are the daddy of all schools. The kids here are children of international expats, diplomats, or very rich locals. The curriculum is the same as your country of origin and each country usually has their own “school” in each country (American, British, Canadian, Japanese, Australian, etc). It’s just like teaching at home. All the kids speak English and are usually very motivated and very involved. As an added bonus, you make a lot of money. The downside is that competition for these jobs is very, very stiff and typically applicants have a lot of experience. Teachers are usually required to sign long contracts and many don’t like leaving so few openings occur, especially at the better international schools.

Corporate Training – Another option is to do corporate training. Corporate training jobs are typically very high-paying, the schedules are flexible, the students are adults who want to learn, and the work can last a few months. These jobs are usually before or after business hours so they can be very early or late in the day. Moreover, these jobs, like the language school jobs, are typically hard to get and require experience, at least at the more reputable companies.

Learn more including specific country information with my in depth guide: