Teach English abroad

One of the most proven ways to live and work internationally — competitive salaries, structured programmes, and demand that spans every continent. Here is how to navigate the path from certification to first contract.

Why teaching English abroad is still one of the strongest routes overseas

Teaching English as a foreign language remains one of the most reliable and well-paid ways to live abroad — not because it is glamorous, but because the fundamentals are solid: genuine demand from governments and private schools, structured hiring processes, and in several markets, packages that include free housing, return flights, and health insurance on top of a monthly salary. South Korea and Japan in particular offer conditions that are competitive with entry-level graduate jobs in Western countries.

The TEFL market has matured significantly. A decade ago, many schools would hire anyone with a passport and a pulse. Today, most reputable employers — and all government programmes — require at minimum a 120-hour TEFL certificate and, for Asia and the Middle East, a bachelor's degree in any subject. The good news is that neither barrier is particularly high, and the infrastructure for getting certified and placed has never been better.

This page maps the landscape: which certifications open the most doors, which destinations pay the most and include the most, how government programmes differ from private school routes, and which job boards are worth your time. The goal is to give you enough to make a real decision — country, route, and timeline — rather than sending you into an overwhelming search.

How it works — step by step

1. 1

   Get your TEFL certification

   A minimum 120-hour TEFL certificate is required by most Asian employers and all government programmes. CELTA (Cambridge) is the gold standard for Europe and premium international schools, but costs more and is more intensive. For first-time teachers targeting Asia, an ITA or TEFL Academy Level 3 or 5 course is the pragmatic route.

2. 2

   Check country-specific eligibility rules

   South Korea (EPIK) and Japan (JET) require a bachelor's degree in any subject and a clean background check. Spain is more flexible — a degree is helpful but not always mandatory. Vietnam and Thailand have fewer formal barriers. Know your country's requirements before you choose your certification provider.

3. 3

   Choose your route: government programme or private school

   Government programmes (EPIK in Korea, JET in Japan) offer higher security, civil-servant-level employment conditions, and strong support networks — but have fixed annual intake windows and a more competitive application process. Private schools and language centres hire year-round, often faster, with more flexibility on location and start date.

4. 4

   Apply: timing is everything

   Government programmes recruit once or twice per year with fixed deadlines (EPIK: Feb and Aug intakes; JET: applications open Oct for a Jul start). Private school roles are year-round. Specialist job boards like TEFL.com update daily — set up alerts for your target country and check regularly.

5. 5

   Understand your full package before signing

   Headline salary is only part of the picture. Free housing, return flights, severance pay (common in South Korea), health insurance, and pension contributions can add thousands to your effective annual compensation. Compare full packages across offers, not just monthly take-home pay.

Providers — certifications, courses & job boards

The providers on this page do fundamentally different things: some certify you, some place you directly into a job, some run the government programme that employs you, and some are job boards where you find your own role. Most teachers use two or three in combination — a cert provider first, then a job board or direct programme application. We have grouped them by function so you can see clearly which one you need at each stage of the process.

Salary figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available programme data and should be used for comparison purposes only — actual pay depends on qualifications, experience, school type, and location within a country. Visa and work permit requirements change frequently; always verify current rules with the relevant embassy or official programme before signing a contract.

What you can earn

Where to teach English abroad

Each destination has a different hiring structure, salary level, cultural experience, and set of eligibility requirements. Here is an honest overview of the five strongest markets.

Annual intake: Feb & Aug

South Korea

South Korea is the most popular destination for first-time TEFL teachers from English-speaking countries, and for good reason: the EPIK government programme offers free housing, return flights, health insurance, and a severance bonus on top of a solid monthly salary. The public school system is organised and supportive; you will typically have a Korean co-teacher in the classroom. Outside EPIK, private language academies (hagwons) hire year-round at similar or higher salaries, though working conditions and management quality vary significantly — research specific schools carefully before accepting a hagwon offer. Seoul, Busan, and the countryside each offer a very different quality of life.

Read the country guides →

Annual intake: Jul (JET programme)

Japan

Japan offers the highest headline salaries in the government programme category through JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme), which places participants in public schools across the country including rural placements that offer an unusually deep cultural immersion. JET requires a bachelor's degree and is competitive — around 3,500–4,000 positions are filled annually from a large applicant pool. Applications open in October for a July start. Outside JET, companies like Interac and AEON recruit year-round for assistant language teacher roles at slightly lower salary points but with less competition. The cost of living in Japan is higher than Korea or Southeast Asia, but the cultural and professional experience is often described as transformative.

Year-round hiring

Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing TEFL markets globally, driven by a large, motivated student population and a rapidly expanding network of private English centres. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are the largest markets with the most openings; Da Nang has a growing scene with a noticeably better quality of life. Entry barriers are lower than Korea or Japan — a degree is not always required at smaller centres — making Vietnam a practical first posting for teachers who are building their CV. Salaries are solid and the cost of living is low enough that saving a meaningful amount each month is realistic. Housing allowances are common in job packages.

Browse language jobs →

Starts: Sep · occasional mid-year

Spain

Spain is the main European destination for English teachers, driven by sustained demand from businesses, private language academies, and a government language assistant programme (the Auxiliares de Conversación scheme). Salaries are lower than Asia in absolute terms, but Spain's appeal is the quality of life: excellent food, climate, social culture, and relative ease of travel across Europe. EU citizens have the simplest path; non-EU nationals need to research visa options carefully. Many teachers in Spain fund their lifestyle through a combination of part-time academy work and private tutoring, which together can cover a comfortable living. TEFL Iberia's in-person Barcelona course is specifically designed for the Spanish market with job placement included.

Year-round with peaks in May & Oct

Thailand

Thailand has been an entry point for TEFL teachers for decades — the combination of low cost of living, warm climate, and relatively accessible hiring makes it one of the easiest places to get your first classroom experience. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and coastal areas all have schools recruiting. Salaries are lower than Korea or Japan, and housing is typically not included in the package (you arrange your own accommodation from your salary, which is manageable given local costs). Thai work permit and visa requirements for teachers have become more consistently enforced in recent years — confirm your employer is going through proper channels before you sign. The experience is rich even at the entry level.

Common questions about teaching English abroad

Straight answers to the questions that come up most often when people are researching this path.

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