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Teach in Japan
an e-book by Jo Ebisujima

David's Guide to Taiwan

Teaching English in Asia

Introduction

Many people are interested in teaching English in Asia. It offers a great opportunity to live in a foreign country, learn more about the language and culture, travel and get paid all at the same time. The information on this page is intended to provide some introductory information and advice about teaching in Asia. It is mostly of a general nature and would equally apply to teaching elsewhere in the world, too. For more country specific information have a look at the links section at the bottom of the page.

A word of warning: teaching English is definitely not a way to get rich quick. While it is possible to save a significant amount of money, this is usually the result of working hard and living frugally. When you account for the costs of relocating (airfares, rental deposits, etc.), financial rewards cannot be realised in the short term. Also keep in mind that in the TEFL industry benefits like superannuation or pension plans are the exception rather than the rule. If you are working in TEFL long term you really need to think about your own investment plan and insurance.

Where to teach

There is no simple answer to the question "Which country should I teach in?" Every country has something different to offer and some advantages and disadvantages. It is worth spending some time considering what you want to get out of teaching and what sort of place you would like to live in. You need to think about things like living costs, salary, climate and the availability of jobs. Most importantly I would suggest that you go to a country that you already have some interest in. There is more to life than teaching English and if you have some special interests it will give you the chance to meet more people and have a much better experience of the country you are in.

Japan, Taiwan and Korea are the most popular countries for teaching English and also pay the best salaries. China's English teaching market is growing rapidly and while average salaries are still low there are an increasing number of well-paid jobs, especially in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Thailand has a lot of job opportunities, but the salaries are not very competitive. Job opportunities in countries such as The Philippines, Singapore and India are very limited as English is widely spoken in these countries and there is little demand for foreign native speaking teachers. Asia is a place of incredible diversity and endless opportunities. You can do anything from teaching English to refugees in the jungles of Thailand to teaching business English in Tokyo.

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My thoughts about TEFL certification

Many people interested in teaching English in Asia ask the question, "Do I need a TEFL certificate?" Well, I can't give a yes/no answer to this one so please read on.

TEFL, TESL, TESOL, CELTA, ESL, EFL, ELT... All these acronyms can be confusing so I'll start by explaining them. TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language; TESL = Teaching English as a Second Language; TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; ESL = English as a Second Language; EFL = English as a Foreign Language; and ELT = English Language Teaching.

Technically speaking ESL and EFL are different. ESL is used to refer to non-native speakers studying English while living in an English speaking country, while EFL refers to students studying English in a non-English speaking country. In practice the terms are often used interchangeably. The word TEFL is often used to refer to TEFL certificates or courses. However, TEFL certificates and TESOL certificates are really just different names for the same thing.

CELTA = Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. It is the name of a certificate issued at the end of a one month course. The course is offered at centres around the world and externally monitored by Cambridge (UCLES) in the UK. Hence, it is more correct to say the Cambridge CELTA.

Not all TEFL certificates are alike, but all CELTAs are, no matter where they were obtained. The Cambridge CELTA is recognised around the world and is a minimum qualification to teach ESL in some places. All the courses are externally moderated to ensure they meet certain standards. The other course that is recognised around the world is the Trinity TESOL certificate. Both these courses take four weeks of full time study to complete.

In Europe or English speaking countries like the UK or Australia the Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL certificate are often a minimum requirement to be employed as a teacher. In Asian countries they are often less fussy about the type of TEFL certificate if it is a requirement at all.

Apart from the Cambridge and Trinity College courses there are a plethora of courses and certificates being offered. Here are some important things to consider before you decide to take a course other than the two I previously mentioned. Firstly consider who is offering the certificate. If it is being offered by a university or if the course will be recognised for credit by universities then the course is obviously well regarded. Secondly consider how the course is run. Ideally you should have classes and workshops that give you grounding in linguistics (pronunciation, grammar and the like) and teaching theory. Also it should have practice teaching sessions where you teach a group of ESL/EFL students and are observed by a teacher trainer.

Many people are interested in online courses for their convenience and low cost. However, nothing can really substitute for being in the classroom and interacting with experienced teacher trainers and practicing teaching real students of ESL/EFL. A general benchmark for a good TEFL certificate course is 100 hours of classroom time and 6 hours of observed teaching practice.

Another thing to consider is that many of the jobs in Asia are teaching children. While some TESOL skills are universal, teaching children uses some different techniques and principles compared to teaching adults. If you are planning to teach children then it may be worthwhile investigating TEFL courses that focuses specifically on teaching young learners such as the CELTYL. These courses are less widely available than courses in teaching English to adults though.

In most Asian countries the only legal requirement for a foreigner to teach English is a university degree in any discipline (so that B.A. in Russian Mythology is worth something after all!). Getting a TEFL certificate takes time and money. If you've already spent three or four years at university they maybe something you don't have. If you are only planning to teach English for a year or so then doing a course may not be worthwhile.

However, if you are serious about teaching for a few years or as a career then a certificate is very useful. It will help you be a better teacher and will also give you a greater range of job opportunities. If you're not sure how long you want to teach English you can always try it out for a while and then do a course later if you decide teaching is the right thing for you.

TEFL certificate related links

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Recommended reading

Even if you're not going to do a TEFL course it is still worthwhile reading some books to learn more about teaching ESL and to brush up your grammar knowledge. You might also consider volunteering to teach refugees or newly arrived migrants in your community to gain some experience. I have listed a few useful books below.

Finding a job

Finding your first teaching job can seem like a daunting task. The first thing to consider is whether to find a job while in your home country or look for a job after you arrive in a foreign country. The latter is usually the best option. Jobs advertised on websites like Dave's ESL Cafe or TEFL.com represent only a fraction of those available. More jobs can be found on country specific websites like tealit.com for Taiwan and ajarn.com for Thailand. These websites are very useful for doing research into the kinds of jobs available and average salaries or rates of pay. Newspaper classifieds are another place to look for jobs. Just look at the English language papers in the country you are interested in (they are often available online). Finally, many jobs aren't advertised and networking and word of mouth can uncover many opportunities.

Another thing to consider is the time you arrive in the country. At some times of the year there will be more job opportunities than others. This varies from country to country. For example, in Taiwan very few schools will hire new teachers in the month or so before Chinese New Year.

Many employers will only interview candidates who are in the country. There are others who will employ people are still overseas. However, it really is best not to commit to anything until you have arrived in the country. Use the internet to apply for some jobs and perhaps arrange some interviews before you arrive, but you really should look at several schools and consider your options. Salary should not be your only consideration in choosing a school. Also consider things like the school's location and the helpfulness of the staff.

In most cases you will have to sign a one year contract before you start working. The value of contracts varies from country to country but they should at least determine the rate of pay and they are usually necessary to obtain a work permit or visa. Before you sign the contract it is best to ask lots of questions. Don't be afraid to negotiate if you feel some of the conditions are not good enough. Your power to negotiate will be vastly reduced after you have signed the contract and started working.

Visas

Visa regulations vary from country to country. It is important to research the exact requirements for working in a certain country before you go there. Following are a few general points.

In many countries a university degree and/or a TEFL certificate is a mandatory requirement to teach English legally. Some countries also only allow people who hold a passport from one of the major English speaking countries (usually the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand) to teach English. Even if English is your mother tongue you may not be able to work legally if your passport is not from one of these countries.

Some people, either because they are ineligible for a work permit or because they choose to do so, work without a proper visa or work permit. In some countries this may be semi-tolerated, but in others the laws may be strictly enforced. If you plan to work illegally think carefully about the risks involved. If caught you will at the very least face a fine. You could also be deported and possibly banned from re-entering the country for a certain period. Worst of all is the possibility of spending time in prison or an immigration detention centre. Spending time in prison is not something anyone wants to to do and the conditions in some Asian prisons are notoriously bad.

It is also very important not to overstay your visa. Overstaying will at the very least result in a fine or, as mentioned above, could have far more serious consequences. Be aware of when your visa expires and apply for an extension in advance or if necessary do a visa run.

A visa run means travelling to another country to renew your visa. The main reasons for doing this are if your visa is about to expire or to change your visa status. You may have arrived in a country with a tourist visa or visa-free entry and then found a job. Before you start your job and apply for a work permit you may need a different kind of visa. It will probably be necessary to leave the country to apply for this visa.

Some people who work illegally have to do frequent visa runs. In some countries or regions this involves only a short trip to the nearest international border. In other places it may involve expensive and/or time consuming travel. If you are going to apply for a new visa at an embassy or consulate in another country make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork. Also check the embassy's opening hours, the cost of the visa and exactly how long it takes for the visa to be issued.

While it is best to work legally there are two gray areas of the law which most teachers face. The first is arriving in a country without an appropriate visa and looking for work. The other is starting a job while you have applied for but not received a work permit or other official approval. In most countries it may be technically illegal but usually tolerated. Do the research and find out the exact laws for the country you are working in. In some cases breaking the law may be unavoidable which makes it a gray area. I think you would be very unlucky if you did face legal problems in the two above mentioned circumstances.

Travel insurance

In some countries your employer may provide you with health insurance. Sometimes this is a compulsory government requirement or an employer may simply offer it as a benefit to their employees. Make sure you get a copy of the insurance policy and understand exactly what you are covered for. Many insurance policies only offer limited coverage. Although the cost of medical care in most Asian countries is much cheaper than the United States, if you get seriously ill or have an accident you could still find yourself with a bill of tens of thousands of dollars. Remember you are not buying insurance to cover yourself for the cost of a short visit to the doctor. What you really need to cover yourself for is a potentially bankrupting hospital bill.

Before you leave home you should consider taking out a comprehensive travel insurance policy. At least cover yourself for the first few months abroad. Once your are working you can then decide what your needs are for insurance. If you feel your employer's policy doesn't cover you sufficiently extend your travel insurance policy or buy a more comprehensive insurance policy from a local company.

I use World Nomads Travel Insurance. It is easy to purchase and extend the policy online and the rates are very competitive.

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Teaching English in Asia links

If you're thinking about heading to Asia to teach English have a look at the links below. The links are arranged by country with some general links at the end. I highly recommend Dave's ESL Cafe as an excellent resource for everything related to teaching ESL around the world. In particular read the forums to get a variety of opinions and answers to questions about teaching in specific countries.

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Japan

Teach in Japan
an e-book by Jo Ebisujima

China

Indonesia

Thailand

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Korea

Taiwan

Cambodia

Vietnam

Malaysia

Hong Kong

Middle East

General

At present there are no links for Singapore, The Philippines, Macau, Brunei, East Timor, Mongolia, Laos, India, Nepal or Sri Lanka. If you would like to suggest a link please e-mail me. Your feedback and comments about this webpage are always welcome.

The author of this page has taught English at universities, language schools and high schools in Australia, Thailand, Taiwan and China.

last updated 18 July 2007
by David Reid
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