Landing a TEFL job in China is a great way to travel, gain skills and earn money in a rapidly growing industry and will benefit graduates who are currently struggling to find work in the UK. A recent report from the Office of National Statistics reported that graduate unemployment rates are now nearly on par with school leavers.

“Working as TEFL teacher in China could be an ideal solution for graduates or to newly qualified TEFL teachers” says Ian O’Sullivan, Recruitment Manager at LoveTEFL.

“There are many reasons why China is a great place for British graduates to gain skills and experience at the moment. Firstly, China has more people studying English than the entire population of the USA, so the demand for TEFL teachers at the moment is very high. There are currently over 2000 TEFL teachers with more than 6 million students studying English – with an even greater demand for teachers to be native English speakers.

“In addition to the millions of college and school students learning English many adults are now hungry to learn English due to the country’s expanding global economy and its rapidly growing tourist industry. This is increasing the number of private language schools and corporate English teaching jobs in China.

“Newly qualified graduates or TEFL teachers can also apply for TEFL roles with little or no teaching experience, making them a great first step onto their career ladder.”

Ian continued: “These opportunities teamed with very attractive TEFL teaching packages, which can often include pay, free housing, meal allowances, reimbursed air fares or end of contract bonuses spell great news for our British graduates.

“New teachers who arrive in China with a TEFL certificate under their belt can expect to earn around £600 a month with more qualified teachers earning more. Although it doesn’t sound like a huge rate of pay, even at  the lower end of the TEFL teaching wage scale, graduates will find they have enough money for a sociable lifestyle due to the other benefits in the package.”

LoveTEFL is currently recruiting 100 graduates to join their supported china programme arriving in Beijing in August 2005 and will be offering a free TEFL course,  a years teaching contract in some of China’s exciting provinces, a salary of around £600 a month, accommodation on school premises and three meals a day during week days.

Their one-stop service creates a sense of community for the teachers and for social and professional development to ensure applicants are given the best support, skills and experience possible to benefit them and their future careers.

For more information please visit http://www.lovetefl.com/jobs-in-china/. The cut-off date for applications is Thursday 31 May 2012

Further information for media enquirers

For further information please contact Sarah Ollington in the Red Robot Media PR team on 07948 579 827 alternatively e-mail: sarah@red-robot.net

The impressive free programme also offers the chance to gain a free online accredited Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate (TEFL) certificate, free accommodation, a salary of £600 per month, weekly meal allowances and return flight reimbursements after a successful completion of a 1 year contract.

The placements will range from kindergarten to primary, middle and high schools.

According to a recent report from the Office for National Statistics 1.03 million people between the ages of 16-24 were unemployed for the period of December – February 2012.

This programme will therefore benefit university leavers who are looking to broaden their horizons who are considering a career in teaching and who are struggling to find work across the UK.

The free LoveTEFL teacher recruitment programmes differ from most teaching programmes as they take responsibility for support and service for their candidates from start to finish.  Their one-stop service creates a sense of community for the teachers and for social and professional development to ensure applicants are given the best support, skills and experience possible to benefit them and their future careers.

Ian O’Sullivan, Recruitment Manager of LoveTEFL, said: “At a time when 1 in 5 university leavers are unemployed we believe our China programme will really help graduates across the UK gain the skills and experience necessary to kick-start their careers.

“Our programme is unique – it’s free and provides ongoing support for all our candidates. We make sure all our students are settled and offer support and social events throughout the programme to give them the opportunity to connect up with other students who started their new life at the same time.

“I’d urge anyone looking to take the first step to a new career, a new life and a new network of friends from all over the world to consider this programme.”

Graduates who are looking for further information about this programme should visit http://www.lovetefl.com/jobs-in-china/. The cut-off date for applications is Thursday 31 May 2012

Perhaps Brazil’s biggest attraction of all is the Brazilians themselves, considered to be the most hospitable and charming people in the world. Brazilian culture has been influenced by the Portuguese, evident in the fact Portuguese has become the national language, but this influence only remain a fractional ingredient of the mix which makes Brazil what it is today. Other significant influences come from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The end result is a diverse culture, with a population of so many racial mixes, with communities rarely divided by race itself, and a grand fusion of cuisines, arts, music and traditions which make Brazil unique, comparable to nowhere else on earth.

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TEFL Teaching in Brazil

The need for native English speakers in Brazil has always been reasonably high, and with Brazil’s economy on a rapid incline, that is a demand on an equally rapid increase. Whilst tourism continues to be a booming industry, the business and trade sectors are demanding more and more of their employees to reach a level of English fluency, with many agreements and contracts in place with English-speaking nations; the adult and business TEFL teach market has a wealth of jobs for native English TEFL teachers of all levels.

You’ll find business executives and other adults looking to brush up on their English, and perfect their oral skills for professional advancement, with opportunities to make good money teaching privately. With the majority of jobs being in adult and business teaching, TEFL teachers will also find the majority of their students highly motivated, and with Brazilians typically being very outgoing, fun and friendly; classes can be a real pleasure to teach.

Wages and living costs

Whilst Brazil does have some of the poorest ghettos and favelas (shanty towns) in the world, the other half of the population tend to live in certain luxury, and day to day life for those in the middle class tends to be on the expensive side, compared to neighbouring nations. Wages can be reasonably higher, but when calculating incomings against outgoings, and bearing in mind the social calling and opportunities to explore, you will undoubtedly be left little chance to save. A typical full time TEFL teaching position should expect to earn you around $800 to $1300 (USD) per month, but this can be matched equally with your outgoings, even when living away from the city centre and attempting to keep your socialising under control!

Where to teach in Brazil

The vast majority of TEFL jobs in Brazil can be found in the big cities. Here are our top 3 locations:

Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most popular TEFL destination, and home to the greatest amount of language schools and educational institutes. Here you’ll find many jobs in state schools and private language schools, listed online and in the local newspapers. As well as job opportunities, Rio is the home of Carnival, and some of the continents best beaches and nightlife.

Sao Paulo is Brazil’s largest city, the home of the Brazilian Stock Exchange, and where you’ll find the headquarters of over 60% of the country’s industry and international businesses. Whilst Rio is the home of Samba and carnival, Sao Paolo is all about vibrant culture, with significant ethnic communities including Japanese, Italian, Arab and Lebanese.

Brasilia is the country’s federal capital and home to the nation’s government. Brasilia offers potential TEFL teachers a wide variety of opportunities, with a number of state schools, private institutes, and business English opportunities. Brasilia is also one of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities with best developed infrastructure, the home to many or Brazil’s national events, exhibitions and festivals.

LINK

Here are some links to EFL jobs in Brazil:

http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/teaching/brazil/

http://www.workcircle.com/jobs/brazil/teaching

http://www.eslemployment.com/country/esl-jobs-brazil.html

Major newspaper web sites:

www.estado.com.br (São Paulo)
www.atarde.com.br Salvador)
www.oglobo.com.br (Rio de Janeiro)

*all photos posted are done so in accordance with attribution license 2.5 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

The Interview

You may think you have a school sussed out, or you may be completely in the dark about what to expect from a potential school placement, however you are feeling, your job interview with the school is the perfect opportunity for you to find out if this really is the school/job for you!

The key to this is drawing up a list of questions to take into your interview; think long and hard, write down all your concerns, what realistic details would make the right job for you, and what do you expect, and then write down the questions you need to ask!  You don’t have to turn it into the Spanish inquisition (although no one ever expects that!), nor do you need to omit serious questions or concerns for fear of asking too much (at least you are showing a keen interest in their job).

Here are a few sample questions you might want to use:

• Are the other teachers qualified and experienced? Do you employ other qualified TEFL teachers?

You may think you’ve found the dream job, but if they don’t seem interested in the qualifications and standards of their teachers then they are likely to show the same lack of interest and concern in the quality of the job they are offering, and school they are running.

• Will I be sticking strictly to a course book? Do students have copies of the course book? Or will I need to make lots of photocopies?

It’s easy to just assume schools have relevant course books, and teach structured lessons and courses, but you’d be surprised at how many bad schools just throw TEFL teachers into a room with no guidance, guidelines, syllabus, or even textbooks! Find out about the school’s policies and materials provided; some schools may be poor and have limited resources, some may even lack funding and knowledge and be genuinely relying on you to help structure their classes and course, whatever the case, workout where you stand from day one, and whether this is something you can, and are happy to do..

• How big are the classes? What ages are the children I will teach? How does the school test the students?

Find out about your students, their ages, and class sizes, it will give you a good idea of what to expect. And take note of how the school treats the students. If they don’t treat their students with care and respect, it’s likely that that won’t treat you with any either.

Make sure, that when you walk out of the door, all you concerns and questions have been answer satisfactorily. Negative problems and issue will only get worse once you start employment.

You contract

Your interview is also a good time to discuss and negotiate key parts of your contract:

• How much will I get paid? And how much will I then be taxed?
• Is there potential for other earnings (i.e. private teaching, covering for other teachers)?
• How long is the contract? And will I be paid for the school holidays?
• Will the school help with all my paper work and visa? And will they pay the fees?
• How many hours will I be teaching every week?
• Will you supply me with health insurance?

A good school will have all the answers at hand, and if they aren’t able to answer your questions give them a reasonable amount of time to get back to you, BUT don’t make a final decision until they do!

You may also want to know more about the city, town, village, or country you’ll be living in, don’t be afraid to ask about this in your interview, these are the people living there so who better to ask. And showing a serious interest in their job can only be a good thing!

The contract

Once you have your contract, read it carefully. Make sure everything you agreed on is in there, and that there are no nasty surprises. Don’t be afraid to ask them to explain anything you’re not sure about or just don’t understand (it’s not stupid to ask, it’s only stupid not to), and for anything that isn’t in your native language, be sure to ask for a translated copy of the contract. This is completely normal and should be expected.

Asian culture can offer any teacher with a TEFL qualification an unforgettable experience. Whether you teach at a school in one of the economic giants of Asia, the growing economies or those countries that are a little more off the beaten track, Asia can delight, surprise and educate even the most well-travelled ESL teacher.

Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong are well established locations for people looking to teach English as a foreign language. Work is generally hard and hours can be long, but your job will be financially rewarding in most cases. The experience of teaching in a school here is unlike any other. Teachers are treated very well by both students and schools alike. Flights and accommodation is often subsidised and the pay can be pretty generous too.

Financial rewards aren’t everything though. Asia can give an ESL teacher a rich cultural experience. When you live abroad and work as a TEFL teacher, you’ll be able to visit relics all over the area, from the ancient civilisations of China to the beaches of Vietnam. With it comes a whole different approach to life and the opportunity to explore the depths of culture offered in each respective country.

Demand for ESL teachers is high in Asia, but each country offers something different. Take the westernized city state of Singapore, where salaries for TEFL work are high – and so is the demand! However, cost of living is also high, and you can expect stiff competition for good work. The slightly more adventurous teacher may want to try just next door in Malaysia, where pay is lower, but still reasonable, and cost of living is much, much lower too.

Getting to know the cultures of each country is part of the fun of being an ESL teacher. However, it’s important to remember that things that may seem normal here can cause offence abroad. In some South Asian countries, it is not correct to thank a host for their hospitality and can be considered insulting. Defacing money and stamps in Thailand or criticising the monarchy can incur very unwanted consequences. Dress conservatively and don’t talk about the war in Vietnam. Always use your right hand to pass or receive items in Indonesia. Chewing gum in Singapore can lead to arrest, so be careful.

If in any doubt about local customs, ask us for the support you need. LoveTEFL can provide you with supported work as an ESL teacher, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Consider taking a TEFL course in Belfast: LoveTEFL can help find you the opportunity you are looking for.

As well as huge rainforest, Peru is home to the mammoth Andes mountain ranges, and long stretches of paradise like beaches, much of which is very much untouched and even deserted in places. However, most fascinating of all are the numerous ancient relics, temples, monuments and examples of the great Incan Empire, much of which can be discovered in some of the most isolated and remote locations, in particular the world famous ‘Lost City’ of Machu Picchu, known to be one of the great archaeological treasure troves of the world.

Teaching English in Peru

The Peruvian people are particularly warm, friendly and welcoming by nature, making them a pleasure to teach and live amongst. Many of those dreaming of experiencing Peruvian and Incan culture are unaware of the possibilities and rewards of TEFL teaching in Peru. With such a large and rapidly growing tourist industry, there is a great demand for English language teachers. Here are a few tips to securing an ESL teaching job in Peru:

Networking and research

It’s not too easy to find teaching work in Peru, unless you are in-country. There are many companies and agencies advertising teaching positions in Peru over the internet, but many of these should be avoided, and sometimes it is hard to sort the scams from the legitimate opportunities. Most good schools and well paying positions will want to meet their teaching candidates in person before handing out work contracts, so there is certainly good value in just doing some solid research, making contacts and heading to Peru with your TEFL certificate in hand. Contact as many of the bigger schools as you like and use expat and teaching forums to put your CV out there and chat with those already teaching in the country.

Get a good photo

Before heading off to Peru, make sure you’re CV/Resume is up to date and includes a professional photo of yourself. Those who don’t consider themselves so easy on the eye should not be put off by the need to include a photo with your job application, as long as you make the effort to look clean, tidy, professional and presentable (a shirt and tie for men), you are sure to be ticking the right boxes; CV’s without a clear professional quality photo attached, or with no photo at all, are often brushed to one-side.

Qualifications

A university degree is a big bonus but not a necessary as in many of other nations. It is possible to secure ESL teaching work in Peru without a TEFL or TESOL certificate, but a 120 hour TEFL teaching certificate is always a big advantage, especially for inexperienced teachers.

Salary

Inexperienced English teachers in Peru can expect to earn around 1500 PEN (£350, €430, $570) per month for 25 teaching hours per week, with those more experienced and better qualified expecting wages up to almost double that amount. Private teaching can earn between 20 to 50 PEN per hour (£5-£12, €6-€14.50, $7.50-$19), but potential teachers should be aware that tax is expected to be paid at 15-27 %. Despite the seemingly low wages and high taxes, life in Peru is very inexpensive and even on the lower end of the TEFL pay scale a full time teacher should be earning enough to survive on.

Where to teach English in Peru:

Cusco

Cusco is known as the gateway to the Inca trail and Machu Picchu. It’s estimated that over 70% of those living in Cusco now work in the tourism industry which has created a great demand for English language teachers, with plenty TEFL schools and ESL teaching jobs available all year round.

Lima

Lima is the capital city and home to a third of the country’s population. It is the centre of Peruvian business and economics, with lots of corporate English teaching positions and business professionals looking to improve their English proficiency though private lessons.

Smaller towns

Smaller towns such as Piura and Chiclayo are good TEFL teaching options and close to the famous beaches of the north, and some stunning coastline. Trujillo is also another strong candidate as a TEFL teaching destination, famed for being Peru’s major university town.

LINKS

Here are a few links to TEFL jobs in Peru:

http://www.expatperu.com/expatforums/viewforum.php?f=13

http://www.livinginperu.com/classifieds

http://www.volunteachperu.org/

http://www.projects-abroad.org/projects/teaching/peru/?content=teaching-english-to-18-and-over/

*all photos posted are done so in accordance with attribution license 2.5 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

The epicentre of the United Arab Emirates is Dubai, which is home to some of the world’s best shopping, finest hotels, tallest skyscrapers, cleanest beaches, and general idyllic living, not to mention the wealth of ancient history preserved within and close by, with ancient burial sites, tombs and temples aplenty in this modern paradise, a second home to so many rich and famous residents.

Currently considered to be one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations, in the UAE one can experience a traditionally run camel farm just a few minutes from a newly developed five-star hotel, some of the world’s most ancient ruins and temples, and some of the world’s most modern and impressive architecture, as well as a more than lush 430 miles of unspoilt coastline.

TEFL in the UAE

Despite being considered paradise to so many wealthy holiday makers and residents, there is no reason why our TEFL teachers can’t seriously consider this exciting nation a great ESL teaching destination. With such a booming economy and growing tourism industry, the need for TEFL teachers is as high as ever, and wages are not just in-line with the high cost of living in the UAE, they are amongst the highest English teaching wages in the world, coming tax free, full time teaching packages commonly including free housing, health insurance, and all visa fees and expenses covered.

English language jobs in the UAE are available all year round, but September, and the preceding months, tend to be the busiest in terms of recruitment. Jobs can be found in a variety of state run schools, private language classes, business English classes and busy international schools, with great potential extra earnings through private one-on-one teaching, outside of your regular job. The Average TEFL teaching wages tends to be around $2400 to $3400 per month, and despite the high cost of living, one should remember this is tax free with your accommodation costs typically covered.

The high salaries, good teaching packages, fantastic teaching conditions, and high standards of living means TEFL jobs in the UAE get a lot of applicants and schools tend to be very selective, with high standards. This should not put any potential applicants off, but anyone serious about teaching English in the United Arab Emirates should really put the research, time and effort in, making the best application possible, and successful candidates will find themselves reaping the rewards.

Things to do in the UAE

Attend a Camel Race

It may sound like a quaint and traditional past-time, and a cultural experience belonging to the ancient times, but the Camel Racing in the UAE is about as modern, hi-tech, and flash as it gets.  At the Al Wathba race track robot jockeys are used, wearing little uniforms with the whipping motion remotely controlled by the camel owners. The owners travel along a parallel track in cars, whilst operating the remote controls from within. Only extremely wealthy people can afford the fees for camels deemed athletic enough to partake, with some of the animals fetching fees in the millions of dollars, not to mention the extreme cost of training them.

Experience the Arabian Desert

One of the most extreme and unforgiving environments in the world, the Arabian Desert contains areas of quick sand and huge sand dunes, as well as being home to fascinating creature such as, lizards, desert cats, and gazelles. Whilst temperatures soar out of control during the day, they plummet to such depths at night, almost more dangerous than the unforgiving heat, with the night hours occasionally reaching freezing levels.

Take a trip to the Sharjah

In 1998, the city of Sharjah was named the Cultural Capital of the Arab World, by UNESCO. Amongst the cultural institutions in Sharjah are a number of museums, mosques, and other cultural sites dedicated to preserving ancient Arabic culture and traditions. Sharjah is also the perfect place to enjoy some traditional Emirati cuisine.

LINKS

Please take a look at some of these links to TEFL jobs in the United Arab Emirates:

http://www.eslemployment.com/location/esl-jobs-Abu-Dhabi-United-Arab-Emirates.html

http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/teaching/united_arab_emirates_uae/

http://www.academicsltd.co.uk/academics-Jobs.asp?academics-joblocation=258

http://www.naukrigulf.com/ni/nijobsearch/farea-teaching-education-languages/

*all photos posted are done so in accordance with attribution license 2.5 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Despite having no major beach resorts, Germany still remains one of the world’s most visited countries. Tourists flocking here all year round, with a vibrant winter sports scene dominating from November all the way through to March, and a buzzing festival scene taking over from there (culminating in perhaps the world’s greatest summer festival of all, Oktoberfest), there is never a bad time to visit Germany.

Berlin is Germany’s proud capital, a vibrant and artistic city, home to so much alternative culture and almost in a constant state of reinvention. In stark contrast, Munich is at the head of Bavaria, and a city which is at the centre of so many German traditions; with cobbled streets and timber buildings shaping much of the urban landscape. Germany is the home of techno music, and has one of Europe’s best clubbing scenes, and also where you will find many older traditions, such as beer, pub culture and good old socialising, making for a very interesting nightlife, even in the smaller towns and villages.

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TEFL Teaching in Germany

Anyone wishing to teach English in Germany will need to be a native English speaker and hold a TEFL certificate. If you can tick both of those boxes then you’re ready to start researching and job hunting, in what is one of Europe’s most exciting and well developed nations.

Whilst the big cities, such as Berlin and Hamburg, tend to attract the most TEFL teachers, it’s often a good idea to focus at least some of your job hunting on the smaller cities and towns of Germany. The competition in larger and more popular locations can be so high that many schools won’t even advertise upcoming jobs, with an already full database of resumes, and a waiting list of prospective TFEL teachers already in place. With that said, there is still a generally high demand for good TEFL teachers, and no matter where you find yourself in Germany, a good first step is to contact schools in the area in person, present your resume, inquiring about prospective jobs, rather than scanning newspapers and websites waiting for ads to pop up.

Wages and taxes

On initial inspection it may seem that TEFL jobs in Germany are paid extremely well (TEFL teachers can expect to earn around €25 to €30 per hour teaching privately), and whilst wages are generally high, one must take into account the high taxes; it’s not rare for new teachers to commit to jobs which seem to be paying well, only to later discover that a large portion of their wage packet is intercepted by the tax man. Make sure to fully research taxes and calculate possible deductions before committing to a job/wage. Also take into account the high cost of living in Germany, especially in the larger metropolises.

One way to lower your taxes is to be employed full-time by an education institute. Freelance and private teaching tends to be taxed at a higher rate than that of full time employees, so if you are signing a contract with a school or university, make sure you are put on their pay-roll as a full-time employee, as this may make a big difference to your take-home earnings.

Must See..

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is Germany’s national symbol. Built in 1791, the gate is headed by the winged goddess of victory, riding a four horse chariot, and was created as a symbol of peace. During the cold war Germany was split, divided into east and west, with Berlin divided in two and the Brandenburg Gate standing in the middle. It was in front of this Gate where former American President Reagan famous said, “Mr. Gorbatschow, tear down this wall, Mr. Gorbatschow, open this Gate.” In 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate became the symbol of Germany’s reunification.

Weimar is a city at the heart of German culture, and has become a site of pilgrimage for the German intelligentsia and a national artist retreat. Those who have made Weimar their home reads like the “Who’s who” of German literature, music, art, and philosophy, including Richard Wagner, Johann Sebastian Bach, Friedrich Schiller, Wassily Kandinsky, and Friedrich Nietzsch, many of whom created some of their finest work whilst a resident.

The Cathedral of Cologne is perhaps Germany’s most significant and important architectural monument, and the third tallest cathedral in the world. Its construction took over 600 years, and when it was completed, in 1880, it was said to have been built almost exactly to its original spec, drawn up in 1248. When Cologne was carpet bombed in World War II, the Cathedral was the only building that survived; still standing tall surrounded by completely levelled land.

LINKS

Here are a few links to TEFL jobs in Germany:

http://www.esljobs.com/teach-english/germany/

http://jobstefl.com/germany.asp

http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/teaching/germany/

*all photos posted are done so in accordance with attribution license 2.5 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

On initial inspection it may seem that TEFL jobs in Germany are paid extremely well (TEFL teachers can expect to earn around €25 to €30 per hour teaching privately), and whilst wages are generally high, one must take into account the high taxes; it’s not rare for new teachers to commit to jobs which seem to be paying well, only to later discover that a large portion of their wage packet is intercepted by the tax man. Make sure to fully research taxes and calculate possible deductions before committing to a job/wage. Also take into account the high cost of living in Germany, especially in the larger metropolises.

One way to lower your taxes is to be employed full-time by an education institute. Freelance and private teaching tends to be taxed at a higher rate than that of full time employees, so if you are signing a contract with a school or university, make sure you are put on their pay-roll as a full-time employee, as this may make a big difference to your take-home earnings.

There is little to really worry about, TEFL teaching jobs are plentiful in every continent, with so many countries desperate for new TEFL teachers the biggest decision is deciding where in the world you want to start your TEFL adventure!

How do I get a TEFL teaching job abroad?

When looking for your first TEFL teaching job abroad you have main two options; 1. Secure a job and teaching package from home, or 2. Make a leap of faith and head to the country of your choice to job search in-country.

Securing a job from home

If you’re not sure where you want to teach, or don’t feel confident enough to just head to your preferred country without a job secured, there are plenty of schools and TEFL companies that will interview you over the telephone or through skype, and offer you a guaranteed job before arriving at your destination. Many new teachers are now using the internet to secure their first teaching job from the comfort of their home, from application to final interview.

Depending on your country of choice, it’s common for teaching packages to include free or subsidised house, or at the very least you will be assigned a rep or assistant to help find you accommodation, as well as helping with other issues regarding visa and transport (any company that offers no such help to new teachers are probably best avoided!). It’s also not uncommon for teaching jobs in certain countries to include your airfare (although this is most commonly given to you on completion of your teaching contract).

There are hundreds upon hundreds of TEFL teaching sites, job boards and schools that are willing to hire from a distance (I have attached some links at the bottom to help get you started), some sites will cover countries across the globe, whilst some are more specific to one country or even city. It is up to you to take your time and do your research.

Searching for work in-country

Heading out to your preferred teaching destination without any work secured may be a bit scary at first, but depending on your country of choice, in many cases this is the best way to secure your ideal teaching position.

Securing a job from home may mean you have someone waiting for you at the airport, accommodation already lined up close to your school, and a classroom full of children waiting for your inspiration! However, searching for work in-country leaves the ball firmly in your court, you have the chance to first find out if this is the country or city for you, seeing firsthand what life there is really like. You can even visit schools, see the facilities, and interact with staff and students before finally accepting a job. In certain countries the best jobs may not even be online. It may be a leap of faith, but one that so often pays off.

Even when choosing to search for work in-country it doesn’t stop you making plenty of contacts before you leave home! Make the effort to contact language schools and colleges you like the look of, and maybe even arrange a visit or an interview. It’s also a good idea to check local media and expat sites and forums.

As well as researching your job and making lots of contacts for networking on your arrival, you should also do plenty of research into the country itself, reading up on local laws, customs and the cost of living, as well as being sure of visa rules and generally weighing up the pros and cons of living and working in this country. Expat forums are a great way to get past the happy, smiley, tourism and travel sites with commercial interests, reading up on what life is really like, as well as being a great place to start some early networking.

Here are some of our favourite TEFL teaching links with plenty of jobs listed all around the world:

www.eslcafe.com – Dave’s ESL Cafe is the biggest TEFL job site on the net. Not only does it host thousands of current TEFL jobs all around the globe, it also has a very active and useful teaching forum, with lots of useful warnings as well as many tips and advice for new teachers.

www.tefl.com Though TEFL.com has fewer jobs listed than the eslcafe, they are generally of a high standard. It also has plenty of other useful information for new teachers, as well as an easy-to-use search engine.

www.transitionsabroad.com

www.tefl.net

www.englishclub.com

www.ihworld.com

www.saxoncourt.com

www.englishjobmaze.com

Here are some of our favourite TEFL job site specific to Asia:

www.ajarn.com (Thailand)

www.ohayosensei.com (Japan)

The native English speaking schools with multiple branches in Jakarta and other cities throughout the country continue to deliver English courses to millions of Indonesians who still want to learn the English language. These organisations can still afford to hire trained English teachers in Indonesia and pay them about 10 times the local wage.

More and more English teachers in Indonesia are being hired on the spot which suits the major schools in Indonesia, who then don’t have to pay the airfares. Local recruits can negotiate shorter contracts, for example six months rather than teachers who are recruited from abroad who are normally signed up to a twelve month contract. Most teaching English jobs start in July/September or October. Unqualified applicants would have to be extremely well presented to teach English in Indonesia, teachers must be able to sell themselves and be prepared to commit for a longish spell or start with some part time TEFL teaching. Caution is advised at the interview stage , because promises are not always kept by the employers.

The work permit regulations are rigidly adhered to in Indonesia and all of the established language schools will apply for a work permit on your behalf.

Salaries paid by the schools can provide a comfortable lifestyle including travel within Indonesia during vacations. Outside the big cities the standard of English is normally pretty low with pupils having picked up a splattering of English. Classes also tend to be large with between 30-40 pupils all expecting to learn grammar by the traditional role methods. As is the case elsewhere in the world the average age of of English learners is getting younger, so anyone with experience of teaching teenagers or children will be in high demand.

Predictably the community of expatriate teachers participate in lots of activities including football,tennis, beach excursions, diving trips and parties.

If you get stuck job-hunting in Jakarta, go to Jalan Jaska, as small but very lively street where many English teachers hang out. They may be willing to pass on their contacts.

Start your career teaching English in Indonesia:

Aim For English: www.aimjakarta.com

English First: www.englishfirst.com/trt

Kelt Surabaya: www.k-elt.com

A number of commercial language schools employ native English speakers. The hourly rate of pay at most schools is between €10 and €15 The American language centers are located in the main cities of Morocco; see http://www.aca.org.ma.

The Moroccan ministry of labour stipulates that the maximum number of foreign staff in any organisation cannot exceed 50%. It also insists that all foreign teachers have a university degree before they can be eligible for a work permit. Work permits are obtained after arrival by applying for authorisation from the ministry of employment. You will need copies of your diplomas, birth certificate and so on.

The work-camps movment is active in Morocco and some of these summer volunteer projects take place on English Language camps for Moroccan adolescents.

Get started with your teaching English in Morocco:

American Language center: www.aca.org.ma

Amideast: www.amideast.org

Chantiers Sociaux Marocains: www.csm.netsons.org

South Korea isn’t just about ancient oriental traditions and culture, nor its picturesque and peaceful layout, modern day Korea is one of the leaders in advanced technology and at the forefront of the digit revolution. South Korea is now a stable country, with vast political power in Asia, almost matching that of China and Japan, and a global leader in electronics, motor vehicles and mobile phone hardware. In Seoul you will find a capital city of real buzz and a cultural experience that will take your breath away. In Busan you will find an equally impressive hi-tech metropolis, with some tropical beaches and hot springs, where you can relax and let the stress free. In the North East of the countries like Seorakasan, and some of the world’s most stunning mountain ranges.

 Teaching English in South Korea

It’s estimated that there are over 100,000 languages schools and colleges teaching English course and lessons, and a government scheme which is now encouraging English to be taught in public schools. For some time South Korea has been a TEFL teaching hotspot, and is one of the ideal locations for new TEFL teachers wanting to start a career in Asia, develop their teaching skills, live comfortably, and even rack up a few saving. There are, however, a large number of TEFL teachers already based in South Korea due to its excellent reputation, yet there are still lots of jobs to go around, and new and inexperienced teachers should not be put off by the potential for competition, if anything the large expat teaching community makes for good networking and pleasant social life.

The desire to learn English goes beyond the schools and colleges, with plenty of large international companies, other executives and professionals all eager to polish their business English skills. With this in mind, the vast majority of TEFL teaching jobs can be found in the big cities, such as Seoul and Busan.

TEFL teaching wages are high in South Korea, and cost of living is low. Add to this that many school and institutes commonly offer teaching packages that include free housing and airfare (some even include free meals), and TEFL teachers can expected to live comfortably and even save a nice percentage of their wages every month. The vast amount of jobs and great opportunities to save, often make TEFL teaching in South Korea the starting point for many teachers looking to do some serious travelling.

A quick break down..

Salary

New and inexperienced teachers can still expect to find a job and earn good money (with a broad smile and some enthusiasm to teach!). New teachers can also expect earn close to £1,000/$1,600, with native English speakers (Americans, Canadians and British) tending to earn higher wages then non-native speakers.

Tax

Although you will be required to pay tax in South Korean, it is incredibly low and not much more than 5 % (this includes work and residence tax).

Working Hours

One slight drawback to teaching in Korea can be the hours, with some schools expecting teachers to have upto 30 hours per week of class time, although many schools require closer to 20-25 teaching hours per week. In addition to class time you will also be expected to spend an hour or so doing prep work, and making yourself available to students.

The Benefits

Some of the benefits you could expect from a good teaching package include:

• Free, fully furnished accommodation in high quality housing
• Free return airfare on completion of a 12 month contract
• A further bonus of around one month’s salary on completion of a 12 month contract
• Around 10 days paid holiday per year in addition to around 20 Korean public holidays

LINKS

Here are a few links to  TEFL jobs South Korea

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/

http://www.eslemployment.com/location/esl-jobs-busan-South-Korea.html

http://www.gone2korea.com/