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 Teaching English in Asia
The job market for English teachers in East and Southeast Asia is the largest in world. Most of these nations are highly industrialized and economically strong with large populations, enormous middle classes and an extremely high demand for education. This combination has created the strongest outward recruitment market in the world and hundreds of thousands of jobs paying wages that far exceed the cost of living. The job markets for teaching both adults and young learners (children and adolescents) are both strong as native English speakers are commonly recruited to teach in public schools and many children attend English language school after their public school day finishes. The hiring seasons in language schools run year round due to the high demand for teachers. Public school jobs begin in March & September, and interviews for such jobs are typically conducted 3-6 months in advance.
In most cases, English teachers can expect to save 30-50% of their salary, though exact amounts will vary based on exchange rates and other factors. With such high competition for quality teachers, schools charge a considerable amount to their students and provide teachers with such benefits as free airfare, housing allowances, medical insurance, paid vacation and a completion bonus. Schools in most Asian countries will also recruit teachers from their home country by phone in advance of the contract start date.
|
| Country |
Degree Requirement |
Typical Contract Length |
Peak Hiring Seasons |
Expected
Down Times |
Interview Procedures |
Visa Info |
Typical
Students |
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in $ USD
& Local Currency |
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency |
Estimated Start-up
Costs * |
Housing |
Reimbursed Airfare |
Cambodia
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required
|
6 & 12 months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese New Year)
2 weeks late Jan
-early Feb
|
Face-to-face in Cambodia |
Tourist visa convert to work visa |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 450-600 USD |
$ 450-600 USD |
$ 700-900
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
China
 |
BA/BS
preferred,
not required
|
6 & 12
months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese
New Year)
2 weeks late Jan-early Feb
|
Phone, email in advance & in China |
Work visa in advance or Tourist visa convert to work visa |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 600-800 USD
(4,000-5,000 RMB)
Plus housing |
$ 950-1,900 USD
plus free housing.
(6,000-12,000 RMB)
Plus housing
Can save up to
250-400 USD/Mo |
$ 700-900 USD |
Free Housing or
Housing
Subsidy |
Yes |
Hong Kong
 |
BA/BS
required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese
New Year)
2 weeks late Jan -early Feb
|
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 2,300-5,000 USD
(15,000-20,000 HKD) |
$ 2,300-3,000 USD
(18,000-40,000 HKD)
Can save up to
500-600 USD/Mo |
$2,000-2,500 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
Sometimes |
Indonesia
 |
BA/BS
preferred |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
Islamic Holidays |
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 600-1,000 USD
(6,000,000 - 9,000,000 IDR) |
$ 800-1,200 USD
(7,500,000-11,000,000
IDR) Can save up to
250-300 USD/Mo
|
$ 600-1,000
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
Sometimes |
Malaysia
|
BA/BS
required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese New Year)
2 weeks late Jan- early Feb |
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 900-1,800 USD
(3,000 – 6,000 MRY) |
$ 1,200-2,300 USD
(4,000–8,000 MRY)
Can save up to
300-600 USD/Mo
|
$ 900-1,800
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Japan
|
BA/BS
required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
None |
Interview in US, Canada, UK 3 -6 months in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 1,800-2,800 USD
(150,000–200,000 JPY) |
$ 2,500-2,800 USD
(250,000 -280,000
JPY) Can save up to
600-800 USD/Mo
|
$2,600-4,200
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Singapore
 |
BA/BS
required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese New Year)
2 weeks late Jan- early Feb |
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 2,100-2,500 USD
(3,000 – 3,500 SGD) |
$ 2,400–3,000 USD
(3,300 – 4,200 SGD)
Can save up to
300-500 USD/Mo
|
$ 2,100-2,500
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
South Korea
 |
BA/BS
required
|
12
months |
All Year
Round |
None |
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 700-1,000 USD
(800,000-1,200,000
KRW)
Plus housing |
$ 1,600-1,800 USD
(1,800,000 – 2,400,000
KRW) Plus free Housing
Can save up to
1,000 USD/Mo
|
$ 700-1,000
USD |
Free Housing or
Housing
Subsidy |
Yes |
Taiwan
 |
AA or BA/BS required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
Lunar (Chinese New Year)
2 weeks late Jan -early Feb |
Phone, email in advance |
Work visa in advance |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 1,000-1,400 USD
(32,000–46,000 TWD) |
$ 1,400-2,100 USD
(46,000–68,000
TWD)
Can save up to
500-600 USD/Mo
|
$1,000-1,400 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Thailand
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
12
months |
All Year
Round |
None |
Most face-to-face in Thailand; Some phone and email in advance |
Work visa or tourist visa depending on employer |
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 500-750 USD
(15,000–25,000 THB) |
$ 750-1,000 USD
(25,000–35,000 THB)
Can save up to
150-250 USD/Mo
|
$ 750-1,100 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Vietnam
 |
BA/BS
required |
12
months |
All Year
Round
|
Tet Holiday
2 weeks late Jan - early Feb |
Most face-to-face in Vietnam; Few phone and email in advance |
Tourist visa convert to work visa or work visa in
advance
|
Business Professionals, Children |
$ 700-900 USD |
$ 1,200-1,800 USD
Can save up to
500-600
USD/Mo |
$ 1,050-1,350
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
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 Teaching English in Latin America
Hiring for English teachers in Mexico, Central and South America is cyclical and there are two major hiring seasons in most countries.
Major hiring periods in Mexico and Central America will occur in January/February and then again in June/July. Because the summer in most of South America is opposite of what it is in North America and Europe, summer vacations wrap up at the end of January and so a major hiring season is February/March; the secondary hiring season is in July/August. Wages are modest but given the low cost of living full-time English teachers are able to live comfortably. Most jobs entail teaching adults at private language schools.
Most job interviews are conducted locally in the country at the start of each hiring season and schools will help their employees become assimilated to the city and offer advice on finding an apartment to live in. Most teachers end up sharing accommodations with other teachers and private tutoring is a popular means of earning extra income.
|
| Country |
Degree Requirement |
Typical Contract Length |
Peak Hiring Season |
Expected
Down Times |
Interview Procedures |
Visa Info |
Typical Students |
Average Monthly
Cost of Living
in USD
& Local Currency |
Average Monthly
Salary in $ USD
& Local Currency |
Aproximate Start-up Costs* |
Housing |
Reimbursed Airfare |
Argentina
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Argentina |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 650-900 USD
(3,000-4,000 ARS) |
$ 650-900 USD(3,000-4,000 ARS) |
$ 900–1,200 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Bolivia
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Bolivia |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 400-600 USD
(2,800-4,200 BOB) |
$ 400-600 USD
(2,800-4,200 BOB) |
$ 600-900 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Brazil
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Most face-to-face in Brazil; Some phone and email in advance
|
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 1,200 1,400 USD
(2,400-2,800 BRL) |
$ 1,200 1,400 USD
(2,400-2,800 BRL) |
$1,800-2,100
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Chile
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
July-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Many face-to-face in Chile; Some phone and email in advance
|
Tourist Visa or work visa |
Business Professionals;
Children with Public Schools |
$ 500-800 USD
(250,000-430,000 CLP) |
$ 500-800 USD
(250,000-430,000 CLP) |
$ 750-1,200 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Colombia
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Colombia |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 500-900 USD
(950,000-1,700,000 COP) |
$ 500-900 USD
(950,000-1,700,000 COP) |
$ 750-1,350 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Costa Rica
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Jan-Feb,
Jun-July |
Christmas-2nd week in January |
Many face-to-face
in Costa Rica; Some phone and email in advance
|
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 500-600 USD
(300,000-360,000
CRC) |
$ 500-600 USD
(300,000-360,000 CRC) |
$ 750-900
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Ecuador
|
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Ecuador |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 400-600 USD |
$ 400-600 USD |
$ 600-900
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Mexico
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
All Year
Round
|
Christmas-End of January |
Many face-to-face in Mexico; Some phone and email in advance
|
Tourist Visa.
Some work visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 800-1200 USD
(10,000-12,000 MXN) |
$ 800-1200 USD
(10,000-12,000 MXN) |
$1,200-1,600 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Panama
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Panama |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 700-900 USD |
$ 700-900 USD |
$ 1,050-1,350
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer
|
No |
Peru
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
3, 6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Many face-to-face in Peru; Some phone and email in advance
|
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 600-800 USD
(1,700-2,300 PEN) |
$ 600-800 USD
(1,700-2,300 PEN) |
$ 900-1,200 USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer |
No |
Uruguay
 |
BA/BS
preferred, not required |
6 & 12
months |
Feb-Mar,
Jul-Aug |
Christmas-End of January |
Face-to-face
in Uruguay |
Tourist Visa |
Business Professionals |
$ 400-600 USD
(8,500-12,800 UYU) |
$ 400-600 USD
(8,500-12,800 UYU) |
$ 600-900
USD |
Self-pay,
Housing advice
provided by employer
|
No |
 Teaching English in Europe
The English teaching market in Europe is booming. With the emergence of the European Union (EU) the use of English as a common language for business and education is now essential.
The primary hiring season begins after the summer holiday in September and a second season occurs right after Christmas in January. The majority of the hiring in Western Europe is conducted locally and face-to-face, and most teachers begin working immediately after they’re hired. Interviewing in advance is more common in Central/Eastern Europe, and for EU citizens within the EU. The majority of jobs are teaching adults in private language schools, but the market for teaching young learners is emerging. Teachers are paid in the local currency and make a comfortable wage working full time. Language schools typically close after June when many English teachers take jobs in summer camps to make extra money.
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