Should You Accept a Low Paying Online Job Teaching English?

Image source

Yes, more likely thank not you should. I've written about teaching English online before and many of the jobs don't pay that well. However, you should still consider teaching English online. Let's find out why.

Some Money is Better Than No Money
If you aren't going to be working, it's always better to get something rather than nothing. Let's say you teach an hour a day for $10 an hour and do that for 20 hours a month. That's an extra $200, which isn't that much. However, in a year, that would be $2400, which is a nice chunk of change.

No Commute
Other jobs may pay more but more likely than not you'll have to commute. If you get a job that pays $30 an hour, but have to spend 30 minutes commuting each way, then you're really only getting $15 an hour. Plus, if you're in Asia, the timing seems to work well since most of the classes are in the evening and at night.

Experience
Knowing how to teach online can help you for future jobs since you're working with online platforms. The more you know about technology, the better. So even though the pay might not be that great, you're gaining experience.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

27 Tips for Staying Warm in the Cold Winter Months

From Her Campus

TEFL apartments tend to be old and drafty. Teachers' salaries often don't allow for you to blast the heat. Here are some ways to stay warm and save money on heating bills.

Clothing

1. Wool socks: I discovered wool socks a few years ago and haven't looked back. They usually come in at least three different weights: light, mid, and heavy. I have a handful of mid-weight pairs from SmartWool. Amazon tends to have good deals and Sierra Trading Post has discounted seconds. 
2. Long underwear: In Asia they are thick and black with fleece on the inside. Uniqlo is famous for its Heattech long underwear. They have tops and bottoms. Other people swear by silk long underwear. Thermasilk always gets rave reviews. 
3. Wear layers: It'll keep you warmer and you'll be able to take layers off if you go to a classroom that's super hot. 
4. Hats: This goes especially for guys who shave their heads. I know of teachers who teach with a hat on. 
5. Scarves: Whether it's a thin scarf or a thick winter scarf, keeping your neck warm will make a big difference. 

Window and Door Treatments

1. Drapes: Open the drapes during the day to let the sun in and close them at night. Make sure you have nice, thick drapes. Insulated drapes make a huge difference in cutting down on drafts. 
2. Bubble wrap: Put bubble wrap on your windows to help insulate them. Here's a good video explaining how to do so. 
3. Foam strips: Putting them around windows and doors will help cut down on drafts. 
4. Plastic wrap: Cover your windows with plastic wrap during the winter. 
5. Magnetic windproof door: I haven't seen anything like this in the USA, but in Korea it's very common. It's a thick plastic covering held together by magnets. 
6. Draft stopper: Putting these at the bottom of doors will help keep out drafts. You can buy them or simply roll up a towel. 
7. Put a blanket in front of your door: You can also use drapes. 

Housing

1. Let hot water stand: After you wash dishes, boil water, or take a bath, leave the hot water until it cools off. This will add heat and humidity to your house cutting down on heating bills and dry air. 
2. Ceiling fans: Not just for use in the summer, but running a ceiling fan in reverse can help push down the hot air. 
3. Use your oven: Bake cakes and cookies. When you're done, keep the oven door open to help heat up your house. 
4. Flannel sheets: They make a huge difference! I love my flannel sheets and switch them out for my regular sheets in the fall. 
5. Electric blankets: They're much safer than they used to be. It's a lot cheaper than heating your whole house as well. 
6. Electric floor mat: You can buy small or large electric floor mats. In Asia, people usually sit on the floor, so they buy an electric floor mat and spend most their time on it. 
7. Indoor tent: Indoor tents may be used by children in the west, but in the east adults sit on their electric floor mats that are inside their indoor tents. You can also find tents that fit over beds. 
8. Space heaters: Again, like electric blankets, space heaters are safer than they used to be. You still have to take precautions when using them.

Food and Drinks 

1. Hot drinks and soup: Drinking hot drinks and eating hot soup is a great way to stay warm. 
2. Ginger: Shown to improve circulation, eating foods with ginger or drinking ginger tea can help you keep warm. 
3. High fat foods: Such as nuts or avocados, can help you feel warmers. 

Miscellaneous 

1. Hand warmers: In Korea these are available in convenience stores. Many of them can be boiled and re-used. Amazon also has a good selection. 
2. Rice Socks: These are pretty easy to make. Take a clean sock, stick uncooked rice inside, tie a knot and chuck it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Some people put a mug of water next to the rice sock as it's in the microwave. You can also buy rice socks if you want. 
3. Warm baths: Take a nice warm bath if you have a tub, or try just giving yourself a foot bath if you don't. 
4. Exercise: Keeping active and exercising will keep you warm and burn calories.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Are You Teaching English Illegally?

Most people assume that just because they've got a visa they're teaching illegally. Actually, that's not true. There are many ways that people could be teaching illegally and not know it. Here are just a few of them.

• Spousal / partner visa. If you're married to / in a relationship with a national, you'll probably get granted a visa. Some countries allow you to work on this visa, others require you to get permission to do so. Check beforehand.
• Dependent visa. If you're married to / in a relationship with someone with a visa, you may be able to work. Such is the case with Japan. Its neighbour, Korea, has different rules though. It's illegal to work or even study on a dependent visa.
• Working for someone else. If you have a visa with ABC school and decide to do part-time work at XYZ school, you're probably breaking visa rules.
• Working on a business visa. Business visas are usually for those who do short-term (i.e., less than 6 months business in that country). If you're there longer, you're working illegally.
• Teaching private lessons. Korea's famous for this. Teaching private lessons is a big no-no. That's not to say that it's not common for teachers to do this. Don't get caught though or you'll get slapped with a heavy fine or even deported.
• Teaching on a tourist visa. In many countries in Latin America or Southeast Asia, teachers may teach on a tourist visa. Be aware that in any country earning money on a tourist visa is illegal, even if you do it for a short time. Often these teachers only stay for a short time, or the visa laws are lax so they can border hop and just come back in a day or two later. Nonetheless, it's still illegal.
• Getting a work visa illegally. Some countries have requirements for teaching experience, such as China. In some provinces you're required to have two years teaching experience in order to get a visa. China being China, it seems to be who you know and who owes who what favour that can get you out of this requirement. It's not unheard of for bosses to fudge teachers' CVs or for the immigration officers to grant your boss a favour if you don't have the required experience.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Why There Are So Many Jaded Teachers

Newbies often wear rose coloured glasses when they think about teaching English abroad. While it is a good career, it does have its difficulties. Many TEFL certification courses tell you that by teaching English you can see the world. While that is true, there's also things they don't tell you which lead to teachers becoming jaded.

Lack of Prestige
So yea! Congrats, you've taught English in ABC country for a year or two and then go home to visit your family. While you've been gone they've gotten jobs as engineers, designers, nurses, marketing directors, etc, and you're "just an English teacher".

Another possibility is that you decide to teach English for a year or two and then go back home in order to look for a job. If you've learnt a language while you're gone then that will help you out when you interview. However, most people don't. When you go to interviews and the interviewer asks you what you've done for the past couple of years you're going to have to explain that you taught English. Unfortunately, while there are many serious teachers out there many employers think of English teachers as backpackers who are trying to escape the real world.

Lack of Stability
One moment the place where you're working at is great, the next it's horrible. New admin, budget cuts, caps on how long you can stay at your job all create instability. Need an example? Take a look at HCT in the UAE. Once known as one of the best places to work at in the UAE, out of the blue they started getting rid of people right and left and only giving them a month to find another job.

Even if your place doesn't have these issues it's pretty rare to sign a contract that lasts more than 3 years. The majority of them are only a year longer, maybe two, three years if you're lucky. Still, three years is nothing compared to jobs back home that don't have an ending date.

Lack of Money
Granted in some places such as Korea, the Middle East, and Africa, teachers can earn decent money and have good benefits. However, compared to other jobs back home it's not that much. Compared to international school teachers, it's a lot less and compared to what expats make in other careers, it's a pittance.

Many teachers may not get those good jobs in Korea, the Middle East, or Africa and instead are happy with $500 a month in China, because they're told that it's twice as much as the local salary. Comparing what a foreigner needs and what a local needs is illogical. While living in real China and earning $500 a month might seem ok for a bit, the novelty quickly wears off.

Lack of Advancement
Some teachers move up the TEFL ladder and get jobs as DOSes, teacher trainers, or consultants, many teachers remain simple teachers for the majority of their careers. Even if you do get the chance to advance your career, chances are you will always have to answer to a local employer who may have a lot less experience and qualifications than you do.


Lack of Serious Co-Workers
As you advance your career and move on to better jobs, you'll find that you'll work with more serious teachers. However, at the beginning of your career, you may find teachers who are more worried about what drink they'll have at the pub or where they'll take their date on the weekend.

Even if you do get a job at a good university or school, you'll probably still run into some odd teachers. Due to the ease to get a job and the laid back lifestyle, TEFL attracts some very weird people.

The Novelty Wears Off
All of the above leads to the rose coloured glasses slowly coming off. Living in a foreign country, not knowing the language, the culture, and always being seen as a foreigner tends to wear off. Sure, some people adjust, learn the language, marry locals, even become citizens, yet the majority of them will still be seen as outsiders and never fit in completely.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy teaching, but I've experienced all of the above and can see why some teachers get out of teacher or stay and simply become hardened, jaded teachers. TEFLing can be great if you land a good job, people have lived well, saved money, bought houses outright and retired young. If you do it correctly it can be very lucrative.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Sending Money Home

Updated 12 November 2014

Many people go overseas with the intention of saving money to pay off debts and bills back home. How you send money can make a big different. Some ways are expensive and others are cheap. Some are fast and some are slow. Below you can find some of the most popular ways to send money back home.


Before You Send Money
Check the fees. Bank drafts and debit cards seem to have the cheapest fees. If your fees tend to be high, try to only send home large amounts of money a couple times a year. You'll have to consider exchange rates as well. Though to be honest, unless you're sending home HUGE amounts of money, it probably won't matter that much. Here are 8 ways to send money home.

1. Bank Drafts / Cashiers Cheques / Money Orders from Banks
2. Bank Transfers to Different Banks
3. Bank Transfers to the Same Bank
4. Debit Cards
5. Money Orders
6. Paypal
7. Traveller's Cheques
8. Country Specific information

1. Bank Drafts, Cashiers Cheques, Money Orders
tttompatz from Dave's ESL Cafe suggests money orders: the cheapest way to send money is to get a money order from a bank. It's available at most banks that offer foreign exchange and available in most "global" currencies" (dollars, pounds, euros). Fees are lower than bank transfers.

This is also known as a bank draft, demand draft, or cashiers check. You make it payable to yourself. Then mail it to your home account with the endorsement "payable to the account of the payee only #xxx-xx-xxx-xxxx". JoeKing has instructions for how to do this. It is still safe and secure but will take 1-2 weeks to get to your account and your bank may hold the funds for up to 30 days pending clearance of the money order.

You might be able to do this on your phone as well. It's called remote deposit or remote capture. All the big banks and credit unions have this feature.

Canadian, UK, and US banks will treat it the same as any other check for deposit in regards to fees. Some banks will not even wait for it to clear (if it is drawn on a US bank). They will credit your account as soon as it is deposited. It is the same as a certified check but issued from the bank and not from a personal account.

2. Bank Transfers to Different Banks
You usually need to have residency in the country you're living in in order to send bank transfers, though laws vary. In order to send bank transfers, you will need to know your home bank's information (SWIFT number, routing number, account number, address, phone, and fax of your bank). Fees vary and often you'll be charged by the bank you're sending money from and your home bank. It's fast and secure, but often expensive, and can be about $20 to $50.

Some banks often regular bank transfers (often called overseas remittance, plus or premimum accounts) at reduced prices. You often have to pay a monthly fee (about $10) to set up the account overseas and then your home bank will charge you a fee (about $20, depending on the bank) to receive the money.

3. Bank Transfers to the Same Bank
If you're lucky to be able to open a bank such as Scotiabank or HSBC that has branches all over the world, then you could cut down on fees. Make sure you can open an account in the country you're going to. While it was easy to open an HSBC account back home, in Korea I was told I needed half a million dollars. In order to send bank transfers, you will need to know your home bank's information (SWIFT number, routing number, account number, address, phone, and fax of your bank).

4. Debit Cards
Open a bank account in the country where you're living. Get a debit card that can be used overseas. Send that card to someone you trust back home. Once they get it, then activate it. Sometimes you can't do this and need to activate it in the country that you're living in.

If you do this than make sure you send it via secure post or don't have any money in the account before you send it. Deposit money into that account, then have the person you trust take out the money back home. You'll probably be charged about $3 to $5 for each withdrawal, but it's cheaper than doing a bank transfer.

5. Money Orders
Western Union, Moneygram, and Xoom are commonly used to send money. The money gets there fast, but fees are on the high side. You'll also need someone back home to pick up the money and deposit it in your account.

6. Paypal
Set up a Paypal account in the country you'll be living in. You'll need to link your overseas and home bank accounts. Check fees (they're usually about 2.9%) and exchange rates since they tend to be low. If your bank charges a flat fee it can be better to send a large amount through the bank rather than Paypal.






7. Traveller's Cheques
Buy traveller's cheques and make them out to someone back home. You sign in both places, but state that it's for deposit only, that an ID is required, and it's non-transferable.  Mail it back home via registered mail.


8. Country Specific
China: With only your passport you can exchange up to $500 a day. Foreigners who want to exchange more than this will have to bring docs such as their passports, contracts, and letters from their employers. You can create a bank account for foreign currency and then exchange up to $500 a day and put it in that account, then transfer all of it at once back home. ABC (Agricultural Bank of China) and CUP (China Union Pay) seems to have less restrictions. 

Some people use Western Union even though it costs more but is less hassle. 

China Post is even better since it costs less than Western Union. 

Other people use their Chinese ATM cards back home to get money out. Be aware that legally only up to 70% of your salary can be converted to foreign currency. 

Chinese have less restrictions than foreigner, so if you have a chunk of change to exchange and don't want to jump through the hoops, ask a Chinese friend to help you. You should be able to send up to $50,000 without a Chinese ID. You can find more info at this post on Dave's.



Japan: Get a GoLlloyds account. It's quick, easy, and cheap. You can do it at the ATM or in the bank.You could also send money through Japan Post's international money orders. They have great exchange rates and only charge 2,000 JPY. With the post office you will have to fill out a form and wait about a week. Plus, you need someone back home to deposit the money order. 

Another option is through Remit. It made Gaijinpot news so seems to be a good deal. 

The Paypal option works in Japan too.

Korea: In Korea you can get an automatic overseas remittance through KEB. They set up an account for you, separate from your main account. You can access them through the bank, ATMs, or online. Any money transferred into this special overseas remittance account will be sent to the overseas account of your choice at the end of the business day. Fees are lower if you do this. Keep in mind that in Korea, you can only use ONE bank for overseas services, such as bank transfers or ATMs. KEB is the best one.

Mexico: The Paypal option works in Mexico too. (Thanks go to Samantha from Dave's ESL Cafe for this info). Open a Paypal account referencing your Mexican bank account. Then after your Mexican bank account is verified, add a US bank account to your same Paypal account. After that account is verified you should be free to upload money to your Paypal account from Mexico and withdraw it to your US account. You will have to do a bit of reading and research on the Paypal site if you aren't familiar with it. They will need your 18 digit CLABE from your bank.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

How to Meet Other Expats

Today’s article is written for the Reach To Teach Teach Abroad Blog Carnival, a monthly series that focuses on providing helpful tips and advice to ESL teachers around the globe. If you’d like to contribute to next month’s Blog Carnival, please get in touch with Dean at dean@reachtoteachrecruiting.com, and he will let you know how you can start participating!

Before You Go
Moving to a completely different country can be stressful. Having a support group can greatly help you out. If you're in a popular country you can probably throw a stone and hit a foreigner. However, if you're in a less popular country, then you're going to have to make an effort to meet foreigners.

Your local college or university might have international students that you can get in touch with before you move abroad. They can answer some of your questions about living in their country. They might also be able to put you in touch with family and friends still living there.

Online
Things are a heck of a lot easier than they were years ago. With the internet you're never truly alone. You can easily email, chat, or even call friends and family back home for free. Even the most backwater towns seem to have internet. Some sites are blocked in countries such as Saudi Arabia and China, but proxies, such as hidemyass will get you around firewalls.

One of the best ways to connect with teachers in your area is the internet. Dave's ESL Cafe is a great place to start. They can also tell you about other forums, such as waygook in Korea. Facebook is also great. You can create groups and plan events. Word spreads fast among foreigners. Another good place to look for foreigners is meetup. You can search by area as well as interest. Twitter is also a good place to try to meet foreigners in your area. Don't forget about couchsurfing. You can meet foreigners and locals alike this way.

Meeting People Locally
If you're going to take a TEFL certification course in the country where you're planning on moving to, that's another good way to meet foreigners.

Your school is another place, especially if you're in a small town. Sometimes the people at your school may be the only foreigners in the whole town. Like kids who become friends quickly, people working abroad also quickly form friendships.

Some teachers will be the only foreigner at their school and if this happens to you don't worry you'll still easily to meet other foreigners. We tend to stick out like sore thumbs. There is usually a foreigner bar or two in your town, so you might want to try that. Churches are another place where foreigners gather. English book stores as well as foreign restaurants and grocery stores are worth checking out.

Events
The British embassies and the Canadian embassies have a bar and the Irish embassy is usually very helpful due to the fact that there aren't that many Irish abroad as other nationalities. If you're American, you're pretty much screwed as far as embassies go. The lesson? Befriend a Brit or Canuk so that you can get into the embassy bar.

Try to attend a conference or two. You can meet new  people, learn the latest about TEFL, and network your way to a better job. Ditto goes for joining the local professional TEFL organisation, such as JALT in Japan or KOTESOL in Korea. Check IATEFL for a complete list. Big language institutes, such as EF, Berlitz, IH, and the British Council might host events or training sessions for foreigners.

Organisations
If you've worked with the Peace Corps, VSO, or a similar organisation, you might be able to use their returned volunteer services and contact current or former volunteers that are still living in that country. Military organisation, such as the army, marines, etc, may also help out former servicepeople.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

The Best TEFL Jobs in Taiwan

From infoplease.com

Here's the information for Taiwan for The Best TEFL Jobs in the World. You might also want to look at The Best TEFL Jobs With Worldwide Employers.  

I only know of one good job. If you know of any other good ones, please let me know by emailing me at naturegirl321@yahoo.com

You might also be interested the best TEFL jobs in China and the best TEFL jobs in Hong Kong. 

Tealit is probably the best place to look for jobs in Taiwan. Teaching in Taiwan is similar to Korea in the way that it's a small country and many people want to live in big cities. However, in Taiwan, it's easier to get a visa and the cost of living is lower. People who have worked in Korea and Taiwan say that it's much easier to live in Taiwan since it's more foreigner friendly.

• Dayeh University: You'll only teach for 14 hours a week and have 4 months paid vacation. Salaries are around 60,000 NT$ a month.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Getting Your First Job

Updated 8 December 2014

There are many different ways to get into TEFLing. Some people start directly out of university, others pursue a different career and then get into teaching, and still others retire and decide to teach. Whatever your case, there are some important things to know about getting your first job. Below are some common questions.

• What if I already have teaching experience? If you have teaching experience and want to get into TEFLing, try reading international schools, teaching exchanges and making a career out of TEFL.
• Is my age an issue? Some people's ages are an issue. Find out if that's true for you by reading too old to teach? and too young to teach? 
• Can I teach without a degree? Some countries will let you teach without a university degree. Find out which ones will by reading no degree.
• Can I teach if I'm not a native speaker? There are still jobs out there for you. Find out where you can teach by reading not a native speaker.
• How do I write a cover letter and CV? Now that you've decided to start teaching, you'll need a cover letter and CV specific to teaching. Find out how to write these in teaching cover letters and teaching CVs.
• Where should I go? With so many choices out there it's hard to choose a country. Read what's the best country? to find out more. 
• Do you have any interview and demo lesson tips?Interviews and demo lessons can be stressful. Read tips on how to do well at interview and demo lesson.

TEFL Courses
Many people decide to take a TEFL course before they start teaching. With online, on-campus, and blended learning options out there, it's easy to find the right one. CCELT is a 100-hour online TEFL certificate. The University of Toronto has 100, 120, and 150 hour online certificates.

Read choosing a TEFL course to find out which one is the right one for you. If you choose to do an on-site course, you'll have to decide whether to take it at home or abroad. Find out which is best for you at doing an intensive TEFL cert at home vs. abroad. Others decide not to take a TEFL course right away. Find out the pros and cons of doing this at the article, No TEFL cert. There are other ways to learn about teaching besides taking a TEFL course. Find out how in learning about TEFLing and teaching.


Internships, Teaching Practices, Short-term Jobs, and Working Holiday Visas
Some TEFL courses might be able to help you get an internship. If your course provider doesn't do that, you could find one on your own. You might also want to check out internships teaching English in China. Looking for a job for only a couple weeks? Or interesting in working holiday options? Try read working holiday visas and short-term jobs. Want to exchange teaching English for housing or free language lessons? Read free housing and classes for more info.

Once You Get a Job Offer
You'll have to decide whether or not to take it. Look at accepting or rejecting a job offer to decide if the job is good or not. After accepting a job, it's time to start lesson planning. Learn about the most popular lesson planning sites at sites for lesson planning. Try also looking at these teaching tips.

Moving Abroad
Now that you've accepted a job, there are some more things that you'll have to worry about. Costs can be an issue, try reading budgeting and costs of living to find out more.
Packing your life into a suitcase or two can be tough, learn about what to keep and what to toss at your life in a suitcase.

Knowing about culture shock ahead of time will greatly help you out. You should also try reading moving to another country and living in another country. Learning the language, even a little bit, will help you out in more ways than you can imagine.

Last but not least, look into paying taxes in your own country. Americans, for example, have to file taxes even if they live abroad. Teaching English is a wonderful experience and it allows you to experience different cultures and learn about different customs firsthand and not from a tourist's perspective. If you're looking for more info, here are a lot of resources for teaching English abroad. Best of luck and enjoy!

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

Teaching in Asia

Updated 2 December 2014

Asia is a popular place for newbies and oldbies alike. The vastly different culture and language attracts people from around the world. Salaries and benefits vary widely within Asia so be sure to check out your options.

Below you can find a simple summary of what the most popular countries offer to help you choose an Asian country to teach in. You can also find a comparison of Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China in this guide. Here's a thread with more information about teaching in Asia at Dave's ESL Cafe.

If you're looking for adventure, you might want to check ou the Bhutan Canada Foundation programme. Whereas most people who visit Bhutan have to spend $250 a day, you'll get to experience the real Bhutan.

Where To Find Job Adverts
ESL Cafe has been a long time favourite to search for job adverts. There are also many, many job sites out there. You can find a comprehensive list here at TEFL Tips in the job sites section. 


Salaries and Benefits
Salaries vary widely, from $500 in China to more than $3000 in Korea and Brunei. Korea is probably the best place to make money for newbies. If you have experience, head to Brunei. Licensed teachers can work at international schools anywhere in the world. You might also be interested in and teaching exchanges and fellowships. As far as benefits go, you could get nothing (which is pretty common in Taiwan) to nearly everything (more common in Brunei and Korea).

• Furnished housing (or a housing and furniture allowance)
• Flights home
• Medical insurance
• Yearly bonus
• Contract completion bonus
• Medical /health insurance
• Contract re-signing bonus
• Paid vacation
• Relocation allowance
• Tax free salary

Where to Go
Asia is huge and the opportunities are limitless. Jim Rodgers says that Asia is the place to go if you want to become wealthy. Here's a discussion about the most popular Asian countries TEFLers go to. Read the country profiles below to find out more information. Here's a list of the best schools I put together.

• Brunei
• Cambodia
• China
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Laos
• Kazakhstan
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Who You'll Teach
From kindergarten through secondary school, university, and language schools, there are chance to teach learners of all levels and ages.


What to Expect
Culture Shock tends to hit people pretty quickly in Asia. Communication is strained and Asians have a different way of doing things than Westerners. Read the article culture shock to find out more. Religion is very different in Asia. There are Buddhists, Ancestory worshippers, Muslims, Christians and more. Being tolerant of religion and respecting laws that go along with their religion is necessary.

Face is something very common in Asia. You don't want to lose face or force someone to lose face. This can cause problems. Rather than saying "no" or "I don't know", your boss may say "yes" or "We'll see". This is to save your face and his face. Patience is definitely needed!

Class sizes tend to be larger in Asia. Some people may have 40 students in a primary class or 70 or more in university classes. Be sure to ask about class size before accepting job.

Asia is wonderful, the people are kind and eager to learn about your life, and the culture is like nothing you've seen before. As with all areas of the world, some people love it and some people hate it. I personally love Asia and hope that I'm here to stay. There are SO many interesting things to learn about Asia. Try checking out a culture book or a book on how to do business in Asia before coming over.


BRUNEI
Brunei is a little known secret among TEFLers. A small, Muslim country near Indonesia, it has strict requirements for its residents. You'll need to be a licensed teacher in your home country and have 3 years teaching experience in primary or secondary schools. If you fulfill those requirements, then you can make between $37,000 and $57,000 a year plus benefits. Salaries aren't taxes and you get great benefits such as furnished or subsidized housing, insurance, interest-free car loans, settling-in allowance, and allowances for your spouse / children. CfBT (not open to Americans) and Teach Away recruit for Brunei. Teach Away also has an online TEFL cert from the University of Toronto. The general Asia discussion forums have more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Brunei.


CAMBODIA
With the Khmer Rouge, the Killing Fields, and Poi Pot, Cambodia hasn't had the best reputation. Things are changing though and the country is opening up. A positive is that a business visa is easy enough to get at the border. You'll just end up paying a bit extra that what tourist visas cost. You can renew it in country and stay and teach. The Cambodia discussion forum has more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Cambodia.


CHINA
China usually has a lower salary than many places, but if you can get 8000 - 10000 RMB a month plus benefits you probably will be able to save a decent amount due to the low cost of living. Contrary to fact, there are places in China that pay well.
IELTS testing with the British Council can bring in some extra cash. Job openings are often placed on Dave's ESL Cafe or contact the nearest British Council. Here's a description of the requirements. Be aware that China is a very popular place for newbies and as such as earned the reputation as having teachers fit into one of the 3M categories: mercenaries, missionaries, or misfits. Not saying that all teachers are like that in China, but I've met my fair of odd teachers there. The China discussion forum has more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in China.

Edit: It seems the British Council will be phasing out part-time weekend examining.



HONG KONG
Hong Kong may be a more difficult market to get into, but if you can get in, you can earn a very good salary. The NET (Native English Teacher) Scheme is the best, money-wise, but you will need experience and a background in teaching. Since the British only recently turned Hong Kong back to China, the atmosphere is East meets West. Many nationalities make HK their home and you can hear different languages being spoken. You can find businessmen chatting on cell phones and Chinese men squatting on the side of the road playing mahjongg. Start-up and living costs are high, but this is balanced by the higher salaries. Teach Away recruits for NET. They also have a TEFL cert from the University of Toronto. You can make from $3000 to $6500 a month. The Hong Kong discussion forum has more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Hong Kong.

INDONESIA
If the Far East is calling you, then Indonesia is perfect. A country reputed to have the highest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia will allow you to see a world completely different than your own. Plus, it's a tropical island, what more could you ask for? Stay out of Jakarta and you might want to avoid the party island of Bali, but other than that, the world's your oyster. Expect between $500 and $800 usd a month for teaching about 20 hours a week. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Indonesia.

JAPAN
Japan was a popular TEFL destination back in the 1990s, but even though things aren't what they used to be, you can still save money. Typical starting salaries are about 250,000 yen a month, which roughly works out to about $2550 usd a month. Debito has a greenlist and a blacklist of Japanese universities.

Take into account that you won't be getting free housing. The school might pay for a portion of it, but that will be your biggest expense. Due to key money (the deposit you put down on an apartment), start-up costs are high. Living costs are also pretty high. Added to that is the flooded teacher market which makes for more competition and allows for employers to ask for more experience and more qualifications.

One of the biggest benefits of working in Japan is that you own your visa, so if you lose your job, you can still legally stay in country. Another added plus is that Japanese is easier to learn than other Asian languages. You can get your own work visa or get a working holiday visa. See this article about working holiday visas, or contact the nearest Japanese embassy for visa options. The Japan discussion forum has more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Japan.


KOREA
The Korean won isn't worth as much as it was a couple years ago. The ebooks Coming to Korea and Living in Korea have lots of good info. While the days of easily saving $20,000 usd a year are gone, you should be able to save $15,000 usd.  $20,000 usd isn't impossible if you budget. Getting severance and your pension back at the end of your contract really helps. There's a lot of paper pushing going on, Korea has the lowest productivity rate in the OECD. So that means long hours, with little getting done. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Korea.

Take into account that visa laws are very strict. If you're on an E2 visa, you can only work for one institute and even teaching private classes is illegal. If caught, you could be fined or deported.

If you're looking to teach at a hagwon (institute) you should look at the Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review. Public school jobs are also popular and if you're interested you should apply to EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, TALK, or GNUCR. If you're looking to teach at a university, try Joe Seoul Man's blog. The Korea discussion forums have more info.

If international schools are more your style try looking at Konglishman's post, Olivencia's post, PsyGuy's post, and Kikomom's post on Dave's.


MALAYSIA
Singaporeans, Chinese, and Indians live here along with Malaysians and expats from around the world. Malaysia is a melting pot of many religions including Christianity, Buddism, and Islam. It's a fantastic place to visit and even better if you're able to live there. Although it's in SE Asia, it's not a third world country so that means that cost of living is higher than what you would pay in Thailand or Vietnam. Teach Away has many teaching positions ranging from ESL teachers, subject teachers, teach trainers, advisors, managers, and more. They also have a TEFL cert from the University of Toronto. The General Asia discussion forums have more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Malaysia.


TAIWAN
Taiwan tends to pay higher salaries than China, but less than Korea. Taiwan has a high start up cost as well. But if you're there long term, you can save. Another benefit is that you can usually work for more than one employer legally. The year-long hot weather is another perk to living in Taiwan. The Taiwan discussion forums have more info. The ultimate guide to teaching in Taiwan also has lots of tips. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Taiwan.


THAILAND
If you're looking for a laid-back atmosphere, try Thailand. Although you will probably be paid less, sometimes a more relaxed atmosphere outweighs the pay. You can probably make about $1000 usd - $2000 a month, but due to the fact of cheap living costs, some TEFLers have been able to save a couple thousand dollars a year. Thailand is located in South East Asia, has great weather year round and lots of beaches. It's also a top tourist destination, so you'll find many of the amenities there that you will find at home. The Thailand discussion forums have more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Thailand.


VIETNAM
Since costs of living is so low, your salary lasts longer. Language Link, ILA, Apollo, and RMIT have decent paying jobs in Vietnam. Most people are able to make between $1500 and $3000 usd a month. Typical benefits include relocation allowance, health insurance, paid vacation, contract completion bonus, and renewal bonus. There are lots of jobs out there for people who want to teach VYL. Try checking out New Hanoian or email teflersanonymous@yahoo.com

People have reported being able to find pretty nice apartments for only $300 a month. Most can also afford a cleaning lady a couple times a week and to eat out in restaurants as well as save a bit of cash at the end of the month. Vietnam is in the heart of SE Asia, so you can take trips to surrounding countries very easily. The Vietnam discussion forums have more info. Here's my list of the best schools to work for in Vietnam.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement

The Best TEFL Jobs in China

Updated 6 October 2015

Here's the information for China forThe Best TEFL Jobs in the World. You might also want to look at The Best TEFL Jobs With Worldwide Employers.

There are many, many foreigners living in China, but because it's such a big country, depending on where you live, you might not see other foreigners regularly. It's nice to get an idea about what it's like to teach English in China before you go. Here are a few good books written by teachers who have taught in China. They're definitely worth a read!

Visa rules are changing in China. In theory, you now need a TEFL cert, a degree, 2 years teaching experience, and to be over the age of 24. Although you may be referred to as a foreign guest or a foreign expert, don't forget that the reason that you're in China is because you are an employee.

Many good jobs in China are part of consortium agreements through Western universities such as those in Australia, the UK, and the US. You'll usually need a Master's degree and a couple years experience. If you know of any other good ones, please let me know by emailing me at naturegirl321@yahoo.com

1. Ameson: They have the American High School (+AP) Programme (AHSP) that pays up to $5,000 a month. They need English literature and composition, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers. You'll teach a max of 20 hours per week. Free furnished apartment or housing allowance, airfare, Chinese lessons, and more. 
2. Australia Education Assessment Services (AEAS):  Great chance to earn a bit extra by giving exams on the weekends. You'll need to train with them and pass the test before you can get hired.
3. Beijing University of Foreign Studies: You'll get about $2000 a month, plus housing, and not have to work a lot of hours.  
4. British Council IELTS examiner: They need people to give oral exams on the weekends in various cities around China. You can also grade written exams. Pay is usually around 3,000 rmb for a weekend plus they'll help pay for your transport, hotel, and food. You'll need a TEFL cert and 3 years teaching experience. Contact exapps@britishcouncil.org.cn  Edit: It seems the British Council will be phasing out part-time weekend examining. 
5.  British Normal University and Hong Kong Baptist University BNU-HKBU: They have positions in Zhuhai. You'll need at least an MA with extensive related work experience. Research interests and experience are desirable. You'll get a two year contract with salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, medical insurance, and housing. Email recruit@uic.edu.hk
6. British School of Nanjing: They need teaching assistants with at least a BA. Salary starts around 6,000 RMB and you'll also get medical, flights, relocation costs, accommodations, lunch, and 170 days paid holidays. Email hr@bsn.org.cn
7. Brookhaven College: You'll work between 8 weeks and 9 months. It's a part-time position that pays $45.09 an hour. You'll need at least a BA in Linguistics, English, Foreign Language (with a major in TESOL), Bilingual Education, or Education plus teaching experience or graduate coursework. You can see their job on the Dallas County Community College District website. US citizens only. 
8. Bryant University-Beijing Institute of Technology in Zhuhai
9. Carnegie Mellong University-Sun Yat-sen University
10. Chengdu University of Technology: I heard through the grapevine that they pay well, but haven't been able to find any job adverts of theirs.
11. China Agricultural University: They pay $2400-$2800 a month, tickets home after each semester, and provide housing. Master degree required. PhD preferred. 
12. Clark - Shandong University of Science and Technology: For English teachers they pay about $2500 a month plus provide housing, airfare, and baggage allowance. Subject teachers, such as Business and Finance get $3000-$4000 a course. You must be a US citizen or green card holder and have an MA. Here's an example of their business advert. 
13. Colorado State University-East China Normal University
14. Coastline Community College in Guangzhou: They recruit off of tesol.org You'll need a Master's plus at least 3 years experience and to be an American.  TOEFL prep and experience teaching overseas are desirable. For teaching a max of 20 hours per week and being on campus for a total of 30, you'll get about $12,500 per semester plus housing, flights, and weekly living allowance. Contact Chris Mefford (cmefford@coastline.edu)
15. Dipont Education: They hire teachers to teach in A Level and AP centers around China. It seems like now they prefer hiring teachers with licenses. However, if you don't have a license and are able to teach subjects like math, science, business, or economics, you should apply. Salary and benefits are rumoured to be pretty good.  
16. Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE): At the Global Institute of Management and Economics. You'll get 15,000 RMB plus 2,500 for housing, 8,000 for relocation. You'll teach two 45 minute lessons a week with 8 classes. You'll need to have university teaching experience and research skills. There are lecturer, senior lecturer, assistant professor, and associate professor positions available. You'll need a minimum of a BA in English (or similar qualification) and experience teaching tertiary/university students.  
17. Duke-Kunshan University-Wuhan University in Shanghai
18. Elan School: BA plus at least 1 year teaching experience required. Applicants already in China are preferred. You'll teach literature and writing courses to K-12 students, help in the library, and research and develop projects. Salary is $25,000-$40,000. Elan School is part of Time Education China.
19. Fairmont Schools: The Joint Diploma Manager who works with Fairmont and partner schools gets about $60,000-$70,000 a year
20. Fort Hays State University: Master in English, TEFL, Linguistics as well as experience teaching English composition preferred. You'll need to be an American.  Pay is $20,000 plus benefits and flights. They work with Shenyang Normal University and Sias International University.
21. Gidear Education: 11,000rmb per month plus free housing, and 3 meals a day during workdays. You'll also get an 8,000 a year travel bonus and they'll reimburse you for visa fees. 2+ months paid vacation and a 10% yearly raise. Children are aged 2-6. The owner is Taiwanese and has been educated in the US and the foreign manager is American. Contact: email: sasimirobot@gmail.com or phone: (+86) 183-0960-5353
22. Glasgow Jinan: They just signed an agreement and might have good jobs in the future. 
23. Glasgow- East China University of Science and Technology: They pay about $2500 a month plus benefits.
24. Hanshan Normal University: You just need a BA. Not the highest paying job out there. They don't cover airfare or utilities like they used to, however, teachers get about 7000-7600 RMB a month. They also get paid over the summer if they renew their contract. Here's an old job advert of theirs.
25. INSPIRITAS: They need a head teacher for an international school. You must have a BA and at least 3 years experience. You also need a certification, license, or degree in TESOL or ESL. INSPIRITAS works with international schools to prep students for admission to top-tier American universities. Employer will assist with relocation costs. You'll get $30,000-$50,000 a year tax free, accommodation, up to 10,000 rmb for airfaire, 12,000 rmb for a annual completion bonus, paid summer and winter vacations. They will also help with visa fees, work permits, and airport pickup. 
26. John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Nanjing Campus
27. Kaplan: 200,000-280,000 rmb a year plus free accommodations (or an allowance), flights, baggage allowance, insurance, settling-in allowance, and paid leave. Regular EFL positions as well as a variety of EAP positions are available. You'll need a Master's degree and at least 2 years teaching experience. They work closely with NCUK and SBC. They work with NCUK (Northern Consortium UK), SBC (Sino-British College), USPP (US-Sino Pathways Programme). Although the information might be a bit old on their site, the application form is usually kept up-to-date.
28. Keuka College in Xiamen: pay is 10,000-20,000 rmb a month to teach Business, Business Managment, Economics, Accounting, or Finance. You'll need a Master's in the subject you want to teach. Here's their job advert and a list of their partner universities. 
29. Korean International Schools: They're in Beijing, Dalian, Kunming, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, Wuxi, Yanbian, Yantai, and Zhongshi. Pay is usually around 10,000-14,000 rmb a month plus benefits. However, you're working in a Korean environment. 
30. Lancaster University and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
31. Manchester Business School China International Centre, Shanghai
32. Massachusetts International Academy: teachers work at Shida High School for two years before going to the US. $35,000-$35,000. You'll be hired by CERNET Education. 
33. Missouri State-Liaoning Normal University in Dalian: 12,000-16,000 rmb a month plus furnished housing and flights. You'll need a Master's plus at least 2 years teaching experience and to be an American. They need teachers to teach Political Science, Math, Science, History, Speech, Law, Accounting, Economics, Geography, Computer Information Systems, and English.
34. Mother Goose Academy: For teaching children aged 1-5 years old you'll get $2000 a month.You have to work 40-45 hours a week and work on Saturdays and Sundays. You'll be provided with airfare, paid holidays, medical, housing, and a contract completion bonus. The website is for HK, but they are expanding into China, starting with Dalian. mothergoosejobs@gmail.com 
35. New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Nanjing: They just opened in 2007. It seems that they mainly need subject teachers, but might also need TEFL teachers. 
36. New York University (NYU) Shanghai: Another consortium university that has started in China. They don't offer salary details, but I imagine it would be similar to what other consortium universities offer.  
37. Northern Consortium United Kingdom (NCUK): You'll need a Master's plus at least 2 years teaching experience. They work closely with Kaplan and SBC. 
38. Shi Da in Xining: You'll get to work with ethnic minority students. 
39. Sino British College (SBC): About 22,000 rmb a month plus accommodations, living allowance, flights, baggage allowance, insurance, settling-in allowance, and paid leave. You'll need a Master's plus at least 2 years teaching experience. They work closely with NCUK and SBC.
40. Soochow University: EAP Instructors are needed at the College of Nano Science and Technology.   You'll need an MA plus teaching experience. Assistance with relocation costs. An interest in science and teaching experience in China is preferred. Email yangyangcnst@suda.edu.cn 
41. Southeast University-Monash University in Suzhou
42. Sprout for Future: They have an on-campus and online school. You'll teach about 25 hours per week, 40 weeks per year and teach kids ages 6-12. The pay is $25,000, plus housing, and flights.  
43. Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce (SILC) at Shanghai University
44. University College Dublin-Beijing University of Technology: they advertise on their site on tefl.com, They offer 10,000 rmb plus 2,000 for housing. You'll be teach 14-21 hours.  
45. University of Birmingham in Guangzhou: They opened in 2011.  
46. University of Denver at Beijing: You'll need a Master's degree and at least 2 years experience. Pay is about $40,000 a year.
47. University of Dayton, China Institute, Suzhou Industrial Park
48. University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiaotong University
    
49. University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC): All jobs offer benefits such as accommodation allowance, travel allowance, and insurance. You can see some sample salaries and requirements below. They also need people to teach Economics, International Business, International Communication, International Studies, Art and Design, Math, Computer Science, Social Studies, Chinese, International Politics, Environmental Engineering, and Physics. They might also add more subjects in the future. Here's where they advertise their jobs.
• Course tutors in the Centre for English Language Education: salary is 339,554-369,000 rmb. You must have a DELTA or an MA in ELT / Applied Linguistics, extensive teaching experience, experience outside of Western Europe is preferred. You must be confident in analysing language and providing explicit, constructive feedback. Experience teaching in China or teaching Chinese foundation level students would be a distinct advantage.
• Senior Course Tutor in the Centre for English Language Education: salary is 411,458 to 491,303 rmb. In addition to having proven management experience in EAP and EFL courses, you must have a DELTA or an MA in ELT / Applied Linguistics, extensive teaching experience, experience outside of Western Europe is preferred. You must be confident in analysing language and providing explicit, constructive feedback. Experience teaching in China or teaching Chinese foundation level students would be a distinct advantage.
• Preliminary Year Senior Tutor for English Language and Literature in the Preliminary Programme: salary is 411,458-491,303 rmb. You must have an MA in English Language and Literature or related field, QTS (qualified teacher status) for example, PGCE or other professionally accredited qualification, and substantial experience teaching English Language and Literature at the secondary/post-secondary level.
50. University of Southampton at Dalian
51. Wenzhou-Kean University: They need English, Philosophy, Computer Science, Finance, Accounting, International Business Management, Economics, History, Political Science, Math, Biology, Marketing, and Interactive Graphic Design teachers. They might also add more subjects in the future. You'll need at least an MA (PhDs are preferred). They don't list salary, but say that they include travel, housing, and relocation.
52. Xiao Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU): Pay is about 17,000-25,000 rmb a month plus housing allowance. Here's where they advertise their jobs. 
53. Yucui: Pay is about 10,000 rmb a month. They work closely with Kaplan.
54. Zhejiang University of Technology through the University of Tasmania 

IELTS in China
China is a big market and they currently have 4 centres there: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. They have also been known to examine in other capital cities if the need arises. They're always hiring and often advertise on Dave's ESL Cafe.

While your income might not be stable, it's a nice source of extra income. One week you might get 10 written exams to grade, but the next you could get 60. Some people have reported getting about 3000 RMB for a day and a half of oral English. Since many employers in China pay 4000 to 10,000 RMB a month, 3000 RMB for a weekend is pretty good money. Some people have been able to make an extra 10,000 to 15,000 a month. You may need permission from your current employer in order to work for someone else. Check your contract just in case.

Due to the fact that giving exams is tiring and you will probably be asked on do exams twice a month, although in Beijing some people have done exams three times a month. Exams are usually on the weekends, but they can also be held during the week. If you are required to travel the British Council will help pay for your transport, hotel, and give you some money for food. Many people enjoy giving exams as it provides a different environment than teaching, pays well, and boosts their CV.

Disclaimer:

• Please join my Patreon page
• I use affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on links. Read more at my FTC Disclosure and Privacy Policy Statement