Best Countries to Teach English Abroad

Salary

In terms of basic salary, teachers in South Korea can expect around 2 million – 2.5 million Won (£1,280 – £1,600 / $1,670 – $2,000) per month. 

The demand for English in South Korea is enormous, as an outwardly-looking and upwardly mobile economy. Check out the government-run EPIK programme, which is a popular route to teaching in the country. You can usually earn more by teaching private classes, as there are plenty of South Korean adults looking to learn English for career advancement.

Minimum Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college 
• TEFL certification
• Citizenship from an English-speaking country such as the US, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, or South Africa is usually preferred, but non-native speakers can apply for English teaching jobs.
• A background check showing a national-level criminal record without any charges or convictions
• Clear health check and drug test.

Salary

Usually, English teachers can expect to earn around 9,000 – 18,000 RMB (£1,000 – £2,000 / $1,300 – $2,575) per month.

Beyond the monetary aspect though, Chinese schools and businesses can be some of the best places to teach English abroad. Some will offer accommodation, travel expenses and even Mandarin classes, so you can speak one of the local languages!

Minimum Requirements 

• Under 55 years old
• Bachelor’s degree 
• Fluency: Being from an English-speaking country helps, but if you can demonstrate fluency through IELTS, TOEFL or your degree, that also works.
• TEFL certificate (at least 120 hours)
• Clear criminal record check
• Clear health check and drug test

Salary

The average income at an international school in Thailand is 30,000 THB – 40,000 THB (£740 – £980 / $1,000 – $1,280) per month, but that can double or triple for experienced teachers who spend the long-term in Thailand. With a comparatively low cost of living, it's easy to save money while teaching abroad in Thailand.

Minimum Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree (for a Non-Immigrant B Visa, needed to get a teaching license)
• At least a 120-hour TEFL qualification. 
• A Thai school is more likely to hire native English speakers from the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. If you’re a passport holder from another country, it’s still possible to get a visa to teach in Thailand but you may need to prove your English fluency level, usually by providing a TOEIC or IELTS exam result.
• Experience is preferred, but not mandatory for all jobs
• There’s no age limit for teaching in Thailand and it’s common to meet TEFL teachers of all ages.

Salary

The basic monthly salary for full-time teaching abroad jobs is likely to be in the region of €1,200 – €1,500 (£1,053 – £1,317 / $1,300 – $1,623). Part-time/casual jobs, or full-time teaching positions in locations with lower salaries, might offer contracts from €700 to €1,000 (£614 – £878 / $758 – $1,083), and others go up to as much as €1,800 (£1,580 / $1,950) per month. 

As a qualified TEFL teacher, you’re likely to make €15 to €20 (£13.16 – £17.55 / $16.24 – $21.67) hourly, though hourly rates of under €15 aren’t uncommon. For private classes, €25 up to about €50 (£22 – £44 / $27 – $54) is a realistic rate to charge.

Minimum Requirements 

• Degrees are preferred, not mandatory.
• TEFL certificates, from courses providing at least 120 hours of study, are extremely helpful for finding work.
• Experience isn’t usually required for entry-level positions, but the more qualified you are, the better your chances are.

Salary 

Teaching wages in the UAE are excellent, as is generally the case in the Middle East. The average salary for an English teacher in the UAE is 8,000 – 15,000 dirhams (£1,575 – £3,000 / $2,200 – $4,000) per month. The best wages top out around 22,000 dirhams (£4,300 / $6,000) per month. Not to mention, salaries in the UAE are tax-free.  

Additionally, a lot of English teaching jobs will come with free accommodation and travel expenses, so you can save money away if that’s your prerogative. For any English teacher overseas who's conscious about financial independence in the future, the UAE is one of the best countries to teach in.

Minimum Requirements 

• A minimum 120-hour TEFL certificate is the standard, and many schools prefer a Level 5 qualification or higher. 
• A bachelor's degree, preferably in education
• Native English-speaking teachers are generally preferred, but some schools consider exceptional non-native speakers. 
• Arabic knowledge isn't essential, but it certainly helps - especially in applying and interviewing for jobs!
• Teaching experience is highly desired.

TEFL Certificate

Before you pick your TEFL destination, you want to be sure that you’re TEFL-qualified and trained for the job by a reputable, internationally recognised provider. TEFL courses are your key to the rest of the planet. 120 hours remains the industry standard, and it’s what employers want to see before they consider taking you on. A free or heavily discounted Groupon TEFL certificate is unlikely to land you a job with a good employer. 

If you want to expand your TEFL knowledge, and be equipped for specific challenges facing students, you might want to consider Advanced TEFL courses. These kinds of courses tend to focus on specialist areas of TEFL, for example, teaching young learners, English for Academic Purposes, teaching Business English and a range of other potentially specific challenges in a TEFL career.

Experience

Lacking teaching experience doesn’t mean you’re barred from lucrative, rewarding and enthralling jobs worldwide. Put it this way; if that was the case everywhere, there’d be no new teachers. It'd also mean teaching qualifications didn't really matter, but they do.

Latin America probably has the best places to teach for completely inexperienced teachers. Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia and other countries are crying out for new teachers to bring their ideas to the classroom. Countries like Jordan and Lebanon in the Middle East don’t require experience either, in the main.

Northern Africa is also a good landing spot for someone who wants to teach English for the first time, while Southeast Asia also has opportunities for new English teachers who are looking for first-time ESL jobs.