What Kind of TEFL Job Opportunities Are There?

There are hundreds of millions of potential students out there. In fact, in China alone there are over 400million people learning English. And the good news? Every single one of them needs an English teacher! This page will give you an introduction to the types of TEFL jobs that are available, where they can be found and what type of training might come in handy.

Teaching English to Young Learners

English is the international language of business and plays a huge part in international tourism, so parents around the world want their kids to get a decent education in English. Young learners are usually classed as children between the ages of six and 12. There are opportunities to teach young learners in all of the major TEFL destinations, and it is widely regarded as one of the most rewarding types of TEFL job. Our specialist TEFL certificate in Teaching Young Learners should come in handy if you fancy teaching youngsters.

Teaching Business English

English is seen by many leading employers to be a vital skill and millions of professionals and business people worldwide are now taking English lessons. This obviously leads to a huge demand for TEFL teachers, especially those with a TEFL certificate, and some training in Teaching Business English. Due to the nature of the market, the vast majority of teaching opportunities are in major cities and industrial areas. The best business English teaching opportunities exist in China, South Korea, the Middle East and the European Union.

Private Tutoring

Teaching English privately, usually on a one-to-one basis, can be both profitable and flexible. It can be an excellent way to supplement the salary from your TEFL job and some people even manage to make private TEFL tutoring their main source of income. Teaching one student for an hour can be challenging, as there is little scope to ‘relax’ as you would in a normal class while your students do group work. However, if private tutoring suits you, it can be both personally and financially rewarding. A specialist certificate in training to Teach English One-to-One is available here.

Teaching English In Schools

There are two main types of schools you can teach in: State Schools Because these schools are run by the local authorities, they offer a reliable and (hopefully!) well-organised teaching environment. You’ll have the chance to teach kids aged anywhere from four to 18. The wages are normally pretty competitive and there’s little chance of getting ripped off. Private Language Institutes Most major cities across Europe, Latin America and Asia have a number of private language schools. When working for private schools you’ll need to do a little research to make sure you find a reputable school. The top private schools offer great benefits: a stable income, a regular working week, a long-term contract and, in many cases, a slightly higher salary than in state schools.

Teaching English in Universities

TEFL jobs in universities are considered by many to be among the best English teaching jobs available. The working conditions and wages are both good, and the students usually already have a decent level of English. In many countries, university jobs are reserved for people with higher degrees (MA/MSc), higher-level TEFL certificates or DELTAs and teaching experience. But it’s worth checking the local job sites and newspapers once you arrive in-country.

Teaching English for Specific Purposes

Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is often divided into EAP (English for Academic Purposes) and EOP (English for Occupational Purposes). ESP is further divided up into business English, professional English (e.g. teaching English to doctors and lawyers) and vocational English (e.g. teaching English for tourism, nursing and specific industries) English for Academic Purposes (EAP) usually revolves around teaching students to use English in order to study. It’s a branch of TEFL that has grown in recent years due to the number of students taking on higher-level studies in English.

Conversational English

Teaching conversational English is a great option if you want to start teaching English, but are nervous about getting to grips with grammar. In conversational English classes your sole aim is to get your students talking, so that means lots of games, group work and activities.

Volunteer Teaching

If making a difference in the world is more important to you than making cold hard cash, volunteer teaching is a great choice. NGOs, charities and locally run teaching projects operate in developing countries worldwide. Volunteer teaching is also a good way to build up your CV and improve your TEFL employment prospects.

TEFL Jobs and Opportunities to Teach English Abroad

English is the international language of business, finance and tourism, so there are TEFL jobs and opportunities to teach English in pretty much every continent and country on the planet!

TEFL Opportunities in Europe

The use of English as the international language of business has led to an increasing demand for English teachers across Europe. From Prague to Paris and Madrid to Moscow, there are ample opportunities for qualified TEFL teachers. But competition for TEFL jobs in many parts of Europe is high, so if you plan to teach here you should take either our 120 Hour TEFL Course or 140 Hour TEFL Course to stand out from the crowd.

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TEFL Opportunities in Asia

The sheer number of TEFL jobs in Asia means that it is the world’s top TEFL destination, especially for first-time TEFL teachers. It’s estimated that in China alone there are around 400million people learning English – 66 times the population of Ireland!

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TEFL Opportunities in Africa

Africa isn’t one of the world’s leading TEFL destinations, but many of its economic and cultural leaders see English skills as key to its development. It is not the place to go if you hope to make buckets of cash, but it does offer the TEFL beginner the opportunity to develop teaching skills in a region where the cost of living is low and the emotional rewards are high.

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TEFL Opportunities in Middle East

The Middle East is perhaps the most lucrative place in the world in which to teach English. With the oil-rich Gulf States playing such a vital role in international trade and politics, the demand for business people with advanced English skills is huge – as is the potential for experienced TEFL tutors to earn money.

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TEFL Opportunities in Latin America

Latin America’s close trade links with its prosperous neighbour, the USA, have driven a huge (and growing) demand for English teachers. Most of the jobs are centred around major cities like Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Quito.

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