TEACH ENGLISH IN LAOS

About Teaching English in Laos

The Republic of Laos has approximately 6.5 million citizens, who are often divided according to altitude into lowland, midland, and upland Laotians. Many of the older generation speak French, while the younger generation speaks English as well as their native languages. Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. Its neighbors include Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Myanmar and the aforementioned Thailand, which makes for some great travel opportunities.

Laos is a very undeveloped country, so there is not a large demand for English yet, compared to its neighboring countries. A majority of the positions available in Laos are volunteer, however, private language institutes can be found in larger cities like Vientiane and Pakse. 

Although the salary earned in comparison to the monthly cost of living is breakeven, English teachers are still able to live a comfortable lifestyle due to a very low cost of living. Schools offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of work per week, leaving plenty of time to explore. 

To teach English in Laos, you will need a TEFL certificate. A 4-year college degree is not required but is strongly preferred. Native English proficiency is also expected to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in Laos is about $500 - $1,000 USD per month.

Please also note that while a Bachelor’s degree is not required to secure a job in this country, it still can be strongly preferred by employers. If you do not have a degree, you should be prepared for a more competitive job search. 

Teaching Requirements

TEFL CERTIFICATION

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Laos. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

Teachers interview in-person in Laos. Because of this, it is common to take one of the following TEFL courses:

• 4-Week Intensive Online TEFL Course
• 11-Week, Part-Time 170-Hour Online TEFL Course

You may also wish to take one of the 4-Week In-Person TEFL Courses that we offer in 21 locations worldwide.

NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKER

You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Laos, however, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is typically preferred but not always required.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

While a Bachelor's degree is not required to secure a job in Laos, it still can be strongly preferred by employers. If you do not have a degree, you should be prepared for a more competitive job search.

TEFL Jobs in Laos

JOB TYPES

The most common job types in Laos consist of:

• Teaching adults or children in private language schools.
• Private tutoring for both children and adults.
• Teaching Business English to adults.
• Teaching English Online.

HIRING & VISA

English teachers in Laos can expect to find jobs year-round. It is most common to interview on the ground,  in-person.

Teachers in Laos typically teach on a tourist visa. You can apply for a Laos tourist visa upon arrival or prior to departure at a Laos embassy. This tourist visa is good for 90 days and can be extended for up to an additional 60 days while in country and costs $2 USD per day. You can also leave Laos by going to a neighboring country and upon reentry, you'll receive an additional 30-day visa.

HOURS

English language schools in Laos offer approximately 20 to 30 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

STUDENTS

It is most common that your students will be children, adults, and business professionals. 

Salary & Cost of Living

START-UP COSTS

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $1,500 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Laos until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

SALARY

A solid hourly wage enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Laos. Teachers can expect to make $500 - $1,000 USD per month. It is common for teachers in Laos to also teach English online to supplement their income.

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent. 

COST OF LIVING & SAVINGS

The cost of living typically ranges between $500-$1,000 USD per month.

English teachers in Laos can expect to break-even month over month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.