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teach english in laos

Teach English in Laos

With stunning beauty and a relaxed pace of life, but poor levels of English proficiency, Laos represents an interesting challenge for TEFL teachers.

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Bordering Thailand, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos finds itself nestled in one of the most densely populated parts of the world for TEFL teachers, yet it doesn’t get talked about quite as much as its neighbours. It’s time for that to change.

With an incredibly diverse culture, a growing tourism sector and an ever-increasing demand for English, Laos may not be as popular for English teachers as some of the countries on its doorstep, but it still has plenty to offer. With sprawling urban areas like Vientiane and Luang Prabang, but also gorgeous mountain ranges, fascinating history and seemingly endless natural beauty, Laos has as much to delight in as anywhere in Southeast Asia. If you like a UNESCO World Heritage site and want to dive into a unique local culture, Laos is an excellent choice!

So where can TEFL teachers find English teaching jobs in Laos? What is teaching English in Laos like, how good are the salaries, what’s the cost of living like, and what else do English teachers need to know? Let’s take a look at teaching English in Laos.

Laos: an overview

The English language scene in Laos can be summarised with two key points. The first is that, frankly speaking, the level of English proficiency in Laos is dismal. Laos didn’t even rank in the most recent EF English Proficiency Index, having finished last in a previous iteration. Lao is the primary language of Laos, though a range of dialects are used, and there’s not a “standard” version, strictly speaking. Khmu and Hmong languages are also pretty widely spoken, with French and English being the most popular foreign languages.

With a growing tourism sector, and with there being such hefty economic benefits to learning English, it is an ever-growing language in Laos. However, the standard could be better, and English teachers are needed to improve that situation.

Teachers looking for a more relaxed pace of life could do far worse than Laos. With a focus on serenity, influenced heavily by the Buddhist culture, great weather and the unbelievably welcoming locals, you'll be expected to give high-quality English lessons, but you’ll also be expected to adapt to the peaceful attitude to living. There’s a strong focus on community, cooperation and cultural exchange, so English teachers can feel at home here.

Requirements to teach English in Laos

With such poor levels of English proficiency in Laos and a real onus on improving that situation, the requirements to teach English abroad in Laos reflect a desire for quality. You cannot simply turn up and teach in the country without some qualifications on your CV. A teaching certificate, such as a TEFL certificate, is usually mandatory for teaching jobs, while a degree and teaching experience are highly coveted.

Can you teach English in Laos as a non-native speaker? Yes. Ideally, you’ll be able to provide an IELTS or TOEFL qualification to prove fluency. Even better, a degree from an English-speaking educational institution is an excellent way to demonstrate your abilities in English, especially if your bachelor’s is in an English or teaching-related subject. It’s down to individual employers as to whether they’ll hire non-native speakers for English teaching roles, but there are certainly opportunities.

If you can speak Lao, all the better. That said, with the variance of dialects, employers will understand if your vocabulary is limited to basic phrases. Knowledge of French can also be helpful, as that’s another popular language in Laos.

TEFL certificate

You’ll need a TEFL certificate to secure a teaching position in Laos. Employers recognise 120 hours of training as the industry standard. Why 120 hours of TEFL certification? Well, global TEFL employers recognise this course length as an ideal amount of study to begin a career in English teaching. Your TEFL certification course needs to have been conducted by a reputable provider, one that has been recognised by multiple accreditation bodies.

Degree/no-degree

Can you teach English abroad without a degree in Laos? Technically, yes, as a bachelor's degree is not a prerequisite to gaining a visa or work permit, but the majority of teaching jobs we’ve found in Laos require a bachelor’s degree, especially better-paid roles. Jobs in international schools, private schools and universities certainly require degrees, with some jobs requiring specific qualifications in education.

Experience

In the TEFL job market, previous teaching experience is always desirable. Not every English teaching job in Laos will require prior teaching experience. However, given the low levels of proficiency in Laos, and the demand to improve this situation, teachers with experience in English are highly sought-after.

So, while you can teach English abroad without experience in Laos, the more lucrative jobs in prestigious institutions will usually ask for at least one year of teaching experience.

Visa

If you want to live and work in Laos on a long-term basis, you’ll need an LA-B2 work visa. This is a multiple entry visa, eligible for three, six or twelve-month terms, and can be renewed (from outside Laos) at an applicant’s leisure.

What do you need to be eligible for this kind of work visa? First and foremost, you need to have received a job offer from an educational institution in Laos. From there, you and your employer will need to provide some official documents in support of your application. These include:

A sponsorship letter from your prospective employer
Work permit
Copy of a valid passport
Copy of the passport photo
Travel arrangements (copies of boarding passes, tickets where applicable)

Your employer must take care of other documents relating to non-national employee quotas and taxes. As a teacher, you must also be over 20 years old, have a clear criminal record, and pass a medical.

Download our teaching English in Asia guide

Salary, benefits and cost of living

So what kind of English teaching salary can you make in Laos? What about benefits, and the cost of living in Laos? Let’s take a closer look.

Salary

English teaching salaries in Laos can vary hugely depending on the kind of institution you’re teaching in, your qualifications and your level of experience. Salaries are typically listed in USD. An average teaching salary can range between ₭11,045,670-33,137,010 per month ($500-$1,500/£390-£1,171).

Benefits

Usually, employers in Laos will provide financial support for your visa and work permit applications, and some will even provide accommodation. Elite institutions like international schools may even provide performance bonuses and flight reimbursement, though this is less common.

Cost of living

We know how much wages can vary when you’re teaching English in Laos. So how does the cost of living contrast against the average teaching salary?

Interestingly, consumer goods are very cheap in Laos, but rents are surprisingly expensive. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in central Vientiane typically costs about $864/£676 per month, which falls to $780/£610 outside the city centre. On an English teacher's salary, that’s expensive.

Utilities, meanwhile, cost about $84/£66 per month, with internet access usually setting Laotians back $13/£10.

If you’re looking to head out and try some of the local cuisine, you’ll be happy to know that it’s here where the bargains can be found. You can amply feed yourself out and about for under $2/£1.30 at a cafe. If you’re after a three-course meal for two somewhere mid-range, don’t expect to pay more than $25/£20.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Laos	₭11,045,670-33,137,010 (£390-£1,171 GBP $500-$1,500)		September				None

Types of Teaching English Jobs in Laos

Now we know the types of salaries on offer, the cost of living and what it takes to get into Laos to start teaching English, let’s look at the types of jobs available to TEFL teachers.

Public Schools
Private Language Schools
International Schools
Private Tutoring

Public schools

English is taught as a compulsory subject in a lot - but not all - of Laos’ public schools, and as such, there are a range of opportunities. You’ll need at least a TEFL certificate, and wages are typically on the lower end of the scale, but Laotian school pupils are said to be incredibly attentive and eager to learn.

As an English teacher at a public school, you'll usually be expected to come up with your own lesson plans, and if you have previous teaching experience, all the better.

Private language schools

More prevalent in cities like Luang Prabang and Vientiane, private language schools are typically busiest in the evenings and weekends, most commonly teaching French and English. A TEFL certificate and some experience are usually the most pressing requirements for employers at private language schools, though a degree certainly helps.

International schools

Laos doesn’t have too many international schools, but when there are opportunities here, they’re usually the best-paid and best-resourced of any in the country. You’ll typically need two or more years of previous teaching experience, at least a bachelor’s degree, a teaching qualification (a TEFL certificate, for example) and, ideally, experience teaching in Laos, specifically.

Private tutoring

Once you’ve become settled as an English teacher in Laos, giving private lessons is a great way to boost your teaching salary. Of course, you can’t begin your career in Laos with one-to-one English lessons - you need a job offer to get a visa. However, with plenty of school students wanting to get ahead in class, and lots of adults working in hospitality and tourism, there’ll be no shortage of interest.

The average wage in Laos is about 900,000 to 1,200,000 Lao Kip ($100-$135/£78-£105) per month. This will affect the rate you’re able to charge. You may find opportunities with corporate clients where you can charge significantly more.

Teach English in Vientiane

Boasting most of Laos’ international school teaching jobs, foreign language institutions and universities, the capital city Vientiane is the country’s outstanding TEFL outpost. As a city, though, there’s more to it than its considerable teaching opportunities. Right on the border with Thailand, Vientiane is a melting pot of cultures, with incredible local food, a range of architectural influences on display and an incredibly welcoming atmosphere to be found in any of the stunning Buddhist temples, buzzing market stalls, bars or restaurants.

If you're looking for an international school job, or to connect with the majority of ESL educators teaching English in Laos, Vientiane is the place to be. If you're looking to get out of the city and explore rural areas, no problem - you can follow the Mekong River for some breathtaking scenery, outdoor activities and unforgettable mountain ranges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much do English teachers make in Laos?

In Laos, an average English teaching salary usually ranges between ₭11,045,670-33,137,010 per month ($500-$1,500/£390-£1,171).

Q. What country is easiest to teach English in?

The “easiest” country to be an English teacher in really depends on your personal circumstances, including qualifications and experience. However, it is arguably “easiest” to start teaching in countries like Cambodia or Spain, where you can find teaching positions without a degree.

Q. Which country needs English teachers the most?

The biggest demand for English teaching is in China, which has the most learners in the world. However, there is a considerable desire for English teaching nearly everywhere!

Q. How easy is it to get a job teaching English in Laos?

To teach English in Laos, you’ll need a solid job offer from a Laotian employer, in order to receive a LA-B2 work visa. Usually, employers ask for a bachelor’s degree and TEFL certification. Previous teaching experience is also usually listed as a desirable quality.