Where TEFL teachers are most in demand

At The TEFL Org, our mission is clear: we want to provide you with the best quality and most highly accredited TEFL courses on the market. We also want to give you the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about how you can use your TEFL certificate. That could be teaching overseas in any number of exciting locations, becoming a digital nomad, starting your own business, working from home, all of the above, or none of those options. 

The point is, we’ll never tell you where you should teach, or what you should be doing with your qualification. We’ll arm you with as many amazing guides to TEFL locations and opportunities as we can, and let you make an informed decision for yourself. Sound good? Cool. We thought so, too.

Still, the fact remains that there are parts of the world where there is extremely high demand for TEFL teachers. Some countries, for a variety of reasons, are just crying out for TEFL talent, and are able to offer really good salaries, a low cost of living, some excellent working conditions and a way of life that is just totally different.

What are some of those reasons? They can include government mandates to improve English standards, it can be about global economics, tourism, or wanting to outdo a neighbouring country - whatever the case may be, it’s typically really good news for TEFL teachers. That’s you, ideally. 

So, where are TEFL teachers most in demand? 

China

The biggest TEFL industry in the world? Well, that would belong to China , where there are about 400 million English learners . Both in person and online, China is an absolute powerhouse of English learning, from school level through to adult education, in private language schools, universities, online language schools - you name it, it’s there.

What do you need to teach English in China? To qualify for a Z Visa and a Foreign Expert Certificate , English teachers in China must have a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) and a 120 - hour TEFL qualification . Experience is useful, but a lot of teachers start their careers in China, so if you’re qualified, then you won’t have any trouble finding work.

Talking of finding English teaching work in China , it’s worth reaching out to recruiters. Dan Wharton, CEO of Teach English Global , spoke to the ‘ I Taught English Abroad ’ podcast to tell us all about finding work in China. For some excellent insights, we’d recommend listening!

Great places to go: Shanghai

While there’s endless land to explore in China, we’d recommend Shanghai as a starting point. It’s gigantic, for one thing - there’s loads to see and do, and simply put, it’s just very, very cool.

If you’re into architecture, you can see Shanghai Tower (or ‘The Twist’), the World Financial Centre, the Jin Mao Tower and loads more. If you want to head out somewhere exciting at night, there’s The Bund, The French Concession and Houhai. There’s a rich film heritage, lots of amazing live music and sports and, crucially, millions of English learners.

Shanghai has also been extremely experimental with its school system , to very positive effect. Schools in Shanghai have experimented with reducing exams, using outside sources (like museums) to build a more immersive learning experience, and have made some subjects elective. The results have been universal attendance and extremely high numbers of enrolment in higher education institutions. So, if you’re looking for engaged students, Shanghai is the place to be!

Spain

Over to Europe, and while there’s incredible demand for English teachers across the continent, Spain leads the way as a TEFL destination. With lots of fantastic regions to explore, from the Basque country in the north to Andalusia in the south, you’ll never find two places in Spain that are particularly alike. 

Particularly good for new teachers, with reputable teaching programmes like Meddeas and NALCAP taking on new starts annually, Spain is a great place to kick off a TEFL career, but really, it’s ideal at any stage! You’ll need to have completed a TEFL course of at least 120 hours, and employers typically like a bachelor’s degree (many jobs will ask for one), but they’re not mandatory for teaching English in Spain as a whole.
A perk of teaching English in Spain? The amazing Spanish festivals . If you’ve never - for example - launched a tomato at someone, or met a giant mascot called Marijaia who “devours” children, then… first of all, don’t tell anyone because that’s quite embarrassing, but secondly, now’s your chance.

Great places to go: Bilbao

When people think of Spain, they’ll usually think of cities like Barcelona and Madrid. This is entirely fair - both of those places are gigantic and incredibly important. However, Bilbao is a fantastic TEFL location, nestled in the north of Spain’s Basque country. 

Melissa Thomson, a guest on I Taught English Abroad , has extolled the virtues of Bilbao as a place for a TEFL teacher to set up camp and honestly, it sounds amazing to us.

Having emerged as a city of culture, tourism, incredible architecture and music over recent decades, this Basque outpost also has its share of lucrative TEFL teaching positions. International schools, language schools and universities hire English teachers regularly, and if you’re moving from somewhere a little cooler, don’t fret - Bilbao is sunny, sure, but it doesn’t quite reach the temperatures of Madrid, Seville or Valencia!

Japan

You probably knew Japan would be on this list, and for good reason. The demand for TEFL teachers in Japan is absolutely massive. From big cities like Tokyo and Yokohama to small towns and rural schools, there’s considerable interest in the English language. In fact, English is compulsory in schools . 

Yet, the levels of English proficiency aren’t particularly high. Granted, there’s a big generation gap - younger Japanese people have much higher levels of English ability than their older counterparts, and Japan’s population as a whole does skew older . Still, there’s a lot of improvement to be made, and for English teachers, the challenge is to bring the level of proficiency up.

What do you need to teach in Japan? You must have a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certification (minimum 120 hours), as these are required to obtain a work visa. If you don’t have a degree, it may be possible to teach on a working holiday visa, student visa, spouse visa or a Japanese visa. The maximum age for teachers in Japan is 65. 

A lot of teachers break into the Japanese TEFL market by applying for the JET Programme. The programme is excellent for easing yourself into both Japanese life and teaching itself - you’ll be working as a Language Teaching Assistant, getting to grips with the English teaching classroom and earning a wage. Full details can be found on our JET Programme page . 

If you’re looking for first-person accounts of teaching English in Japan, then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Listen to Ellie Rayner’s experience of going from working on a cruise ship to achieving her lifelong dreams of Japanese teaching on our podcast, ‘ I Taught English Abroad ’.

Great places to go: Yokohama

While Tokyo is an obvious choice - and for great reason - we don’t feel like Yokohama gets enough shine as a TEFL destination. That’s odd, considering it’s a city of about 3.8 million people, and it’s as multicultural as any megacity on the planet.

With lots of international schools , language schools and some of the best-funded and busiest state schools in Japan, Yokohama is a more than worthy destination for TEFL teachers. What’s more, it’s just a cool place - if you’re into art and culture, there are plenty of galleries and museums, and there are even sites dedicated to the history of Cup Noodles . It’s also the home of Yokohama F Marinos, one of the most successful football clubs in Japan, and if you’re into baseball, the Yokohama DeNA Baystars have some of the coolest uniforms we’ve ever seen.

South Korea

We’re not venturing too far, geographically speaking, to our next TEFL destination. South Korea has emerged as one of the must-visit TEFL locations on the planet, and also as an absolute cultural powerhouse. The rise of K-pop in recent years has undoubtedly had an impact on the number of people wanting to teach English in South Korea, and why not?

With its share of megacities like Busan and Seoul, South Korea is an economic powerhouse and, culturally speaking, its growth over the past few decades has been obvious to anyone with an interest in music and film. However, there’s also an incredible reverence for the past, which is keenly felt in the countryside, where truly stunning temples can be found. Traditions are extremely important - it’s crucial to read up on the cultural differences that matter .

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree and, of course, a TEFL certificate with at least 120 hours of learning experience. In some cases, you’ll need to be a native English speaker and have some teaching experience, though some employers will prioritise the qualifications you have over the number of years you’ve spent teaching. As for finding work, there are loads of great options, including Hagwons (private academies), state schools, language schools, universities and private tutoring. There are also excellent teaching programmes to explore - read all about EPIK, GEPIK and SMOE on our Teach English in South Korea page.

You might be wondering at this stage “Surely, there can’t be another brilliant, detailed podcast episode about teaching in South Korea, can there?”. Well, there is: Ilsa Strough told us all about eschewing the big cities and seeking a peaceful, rewarding life in rural South Korea. 

Great places to go: Seoul

While there are loads of great opportunities to teach young people in Seoul - especially through the SMOE programme - it’s worth highlighting just how fruitful the city is for TEFL teachers who want to teach Business English to adults. If this seems niche, consider the following: massive companies including Samsung, Amazon, IBM and PwC all have huge offices in Seoul, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of potential corporate clients. Whether it’s large groups or individuals seeking career advancement, the potential is enormous.

We dove in at the deep end, there - what’s so great about Seoul, anyway? For one thing, Seoul is gorgeous , especially if you’re into dramatic skylines and cityscapes. If that isn’t enough, there’s so much to do in Seoul that it’s ridiculous - try some incredible ancient temples, museums of modern art, vibrant markets, world-class shopping and the achingly cool music scene if you don’t believe us.

Online

We’re not being metaphorical here: the internet is a place where teachers are in demand. There are myriad opportunities for teaching English online , whether it’s for online teaching companies who hire employees, or English teaching platforms where you can advertise your services, build a network of clients, and charge your own rates.

Working online is about setting your own schedule, working at your pace, and having a work/life balance. If you’re looking for flexibility, teaching English online is what it’s all about. There’s also the chance to flex your entrepreneurial muscles, by starting an online business and working freelance. This can mean becoming a digital nomad , and travelling as you work - though you can also do this while working for a company.

If you don’t want to be tied down geographically, we can’t recommend online teaching enough. Whether you want to work from the comfort of your own home, or you want to explore the world as you teach, the choice is yours!

TEFL can take you anywhere

Really, teaching English can take you just about anywhere in the world. Theoretically, you could teach in Antarctica, provided you get a stable internet connection - we’re just not sure if we’d entirely recommend it just yet. Here, though, we’ve listed where the demand for English teachers is highest, and with good reason. There are loads of fantastic motivations to learn English, whether it’s for career advancement, educational opportunities, sheer enjoyment, or something else!

A TEFL certificate is key to starting that journey, and you’ll have noticed that thread throughout our list of destinations. Requirements for every place are dependent on a bunch of factors, from visas to individual employers. A constant, though, is that 120 hours of properly accredited TEFL training will get you on the road to where you want to go.

So, it might be China, Spain, South Korea, Japan, the internet or elsewhere - where will TEFL take you?

With so many exciting options, it can be hard to know just how to start your TEFL journey. Wonder no more - take our TEFL course quiz today and see which is the best fit for you.