Every year, more and more people are moving away from their home countries in order to pursue a teaching career abroad. Teaching in a foreign country is undoubtedly an experience of a lifetime. It offers you the chance to learn about difference cultures while gaining valuable work experience.

It also gives you a chance to explore the world and make money at the same time. The challenges of living and working in a foreign country will not only make you more independent, but it will also increase your survival skills and help you be more adaptable. Even your communication skills will improve!

Carrie Kellenberger - Teaching in Taiwan

If global citizenship is something that you believe strongly in, if you love to travel and learn about different cultures, if you enjoy challenges and have always had a desire to travel and see the world, then teaching abroad may be the right job for you.

There are amazing opportunities for teaching abroad in countries all over the world. The following five countries are just a few favorite teaching destinations for teachers around the world.

1. SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is well known for offering teaching positions that come with some pretty amazing benefits, making it a popular destination for many teachers heading to Asia.

ACADEMIC & JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree

PROS

• Excellent pay. Basic salary is around 1.8 million Won ($1900 USD) a month

• A low cost of living

• Airfare is generally offered by most schools

• Housing or housing subsidy

• Health insurance airfare

CONS

• Minimum one year contract

• Long workweeks – 40+ hours a week.

• Korea is also well known for its dodgy schools, so do your homework and check out the schools you are applying with before you sign a contract.

JOB RESOURCES

• Dave’s ESL Cafe

2. CHINA

Dramatic landscapes, teeming cities, towering mountains, and a rich cultural heritage  make up China's wealth. Over the past ten years, China has become a popular choice for English teachers.

ACADEMIC & JOB REQUIREMENTS

College or university degree

PROS

• Most schools offer paid holidays
• Some schools offer benefits
• It’s still possible to find work without a university or college degree
• Extremely low cost of living
• Accommodations or Housing Assistance
• Visa sponsorship
• Some schools offer airfare reimbursement
• Some schools offer end of year contract completion bonus

CONS

• Be cautious when you’re searching for jobs. If you’re interested in teaching at a school that offers all kinds of benefits, make sure you do your homework.
• Not all schools are legit and many schools have been accused of all kinds of abuse, including holding on to a teacher’s passport and refusing to pay for return flight tickets.
• A teaching salary is more than adequate to live on comfortably, but you might not be able to save or travel as much.

JOB RESOURCES

• Reach to Teach
• Dave’s ESL Cafe

3. JAPAN

Jobs in Japan may be a little harder to find, but there’s no denying that Japan is one of the top destinations for teachers looking for work abroad.

ACADEMIC & JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s Degree
Preference is generally given to teachers with Master’s degrees or previous experience

PROS

• Monthly salary of $1800-$2300US
• Visa sponsorship
• Paid vacation
• Housing assistance is sometimes offered

CONS

• A high cost of living can take up to 75% of your paycheck
• One year contracts
• You’ll need start-up capital
• Teachers generally need to pay their own airfare
• You might need to be flexible about your job placement
• Good jobs can be hard to find because the market is oversaturated

JOB RESOURCES

• AEON
• JET or The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program

4. TAIWAN

Few places can match Taiwan’s cost of living vs. pay ratio. Over the past ten years, it has been an extremely popular destination for teachers looking for work abroad.

ACADEMIC & JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s Degree
TESOL, TEFL certification isn’t necessary, but it will increase your chances of getting a better basic salary.

PROS

• A low cost of living
• Excellent salary. Teachers here can expect to earn between NT$50,000- NT$60,000 a month. ($1500-$2200 USD)
• Medical Insurance is generally provided
• Some schools offer a housing subsidy
• Some schools offer paid holidays

CONS

• The market has become oversaturated in the last few years and jobs are getting harder to find
• Compensation packages for airfare and housing generally aren’t offered
• You’ll need start-up capital for your first few months
• You might only be able to find work teaching children
• 20% of your paycheck goes to taxes
• Large classes
• One year contract

JOB RESOURCES

• Reach to Teach
• TEALIT

5. TURKEY

Teachers considering a teaching position in exotic Turkey will be pleasantly surprised. The people there are friendly and hospitable, the architecture is sublime, the food is incredible and there is a dynamic mix of eastern and western cultures here. Best of all, there is a high demand for English teachers!

ACADEMIC & JOB REQUIREMENTS

Native English speaker
Bachelor’s degree is good, but not necessary
No previous teaching experience required

PROS

• Many schools will hire without the proper qualifications as the number of students wanting to learn English far outweighs the number of English teachers
• Monthly salary of $700 - $1500 USD
• Accommodations are generally provided by schools
• Six and twelve month contracts
• Some schools offer return airfare or airfare subsidy
• Summer job placements available at some schools

CONS

• Owing to low salaries, there isn’t much opportunity to save
• Most schools aren’t willing to provide a work permit
• Income tax 25%
• Cost of living is low but it has been increasing sharply because of inflation
• Some schools still treat their teachers quite badly. Do your homework!

JOB RESOURCES

• Teach International

Read More:

Popular Teaching Destinations

Related Articles:

Teaching English in Istanbul

Teaching Abroad: Choosing a School

Best Resources for Finding an International Teaching Job