Asia is full of opportunities EFL Teachers. Here are my top 5 Asian countries for anyone who wants to pursue a career in TEFL!

An English teaching qualification is a passe-partout to travel around the World and easily find a job to sustain your activities.

With a TEFL qualification, you can start Teaching English as a Foreign Language and choose your adventures.

I am originally from Bangladesh and I traveled a lot. Asia is my favourite continent and here are my top 5 countries I would definitely move to teach English. If you are already teaching English there, congratulations, you are some lucky bunch of people!

TEFL jobs can take you to your dream destination.
Many English language professionals are taking this amazing opportunity to sparkle their careers, even temporarily.
Working in TEFL is a dynamic and multidimensional opportunity that offers you much more than your regular 9 to 5 jobs.

The demand for TEFL jobs is high everywhere, and it is easy to understand why: people want to learn English.

Asia is one of the biggest hubs of TEFL job opportunities: it offers great international jobs and has also a fascinating lifestyle.

Here is my list of the top 5 Asian Countries to kickstart your TEFL career!

CHINA

China is the treasure of Asia that rules the World in more than one way.
In terms of international job opportunities, China can be a hidden gem! TEFL is an extremely in-demand profession as the massive nation still has a huge population who want to sharpen their English skills on a mass level. From schools to professional institutes, English teaching professionals are getting hired for training and grooming for creating English proficient manpower.

The average salary in the international schools/institutions can go up to $1,700-$4,300 for the ESL/TEFL professionals.

Landing a job in an international institution in China as an English teaching professional can get a little tough as the competition is quite high. In fact, many candidates’ first choice in Asia is China!

China is one of the biggest economies in the World and offers some of the most enriched cultural heritage on the globe.
Packed with world-class cities, fascinating local cuisine, culture, and amazingly hospitable, down-to-earth people, China is a treat to endeavor. Cities like Shanghai and the capital Beijing are blooming with the blend of old and new: Tradition and technology!
The country offers great places to stay and visit.
The great wall is about a 1-to-2-hour ride by bus from downtown Beijing.

The living cost is quite reasonable if you are into minimalistic urban life and some jobs even offer their own accommodation facilities within the city.
The rent can be about $300 to $600/month.
This massive country connects many of the major cities around Asia through its transportation too.
This can be heaven for your next international TEFL job opportunity.

Useful Links to work in China:

TURKEY

Some of you might be questioning whether Turkey should be considered Asia or Europe!
And this is what sets Turkey apart from all other countries in the world: it is the perfect blend of west Asian culture and modern European lifestyle.

Packed with some of the most exquisitely beautiful travel destinations in the world, Turkey offers anything you can ask for to get a good life.
The history of Turkey traces back to biblical times.
Byzantine and Ottoman chapters shaped today’s modern Turkey’s base. Then Constantinople – modern-day Istanbul – is a beauty that is hard to savor in a single visit.

Turkey has a great middle eastern blend in the cuisine, welcoming locals, and all the necessary amenities that you will need to make a career in the TEFL sector. The major cities like Capital Ankara, Izmir are some more additions that are great choices for any cosmopolitan lover.

The living cost in Ankara is quite reasonable compared to Istanbul. Furthermore, TEFL professionals get to live a very comfortable life anyway. Without housing, the cost can be around 3500 tl/month in Istanbul (around 460 $).

The demand for English teaching professionals is high, as Turkey is continuously increasing its standards of business, education and technology.

Depending on the experience, qualifications, and requirements, the salary of an English teaching professional in Turkey can be between 1,000 to 1,800 $ per month.

You don’t necessarily need to have a bachelor’s degree in English, but if you have a relevant degree, especially an ESL teaching certificate or TEFL certificate, the chances of you getting shortlisted spikes up big time.

The competition is high because they prefer native professionals over foreigners.

Useful Links to work in Turkey:

SOUTH KOREA

Besides being a primary hub of global technological disruptions, South Korea is a major name in the contemporary world.
If you are a fan of the Asian entertainment industry, you have to be aware of how impactful South Korea has become over the last couple of decades.

Koreans, just like any other Asian country locals, take huge pride in their own language and culture.
The industries are growing more than ever, as is the need of keeping up with the world through a fruitful medium.
That is why South Korea is a hot place for your next TEFL job!

Seoul is one of the most English-friendly cosmopolitan Asian countries you will ever get to visit.
Amazing cuisine, loaded with high fashion industry and shops, sophisticated suburbs, and the downtown area with great relaxing getaways like beautiful tourist spots and fun nightlife – all these describe the major cities of South Korea in a sentence.

Seoul will always amaze you, with the amiability of the locals!

Teaching English in South Korea will allow you to earn about 1.5-3 million won or $1,350-$2,650/month (public schools).

The living cost can go high in Seoul, but with a little discipline, you can save up to 700USD with an average salary.
Also, many South Korean TEFL jobs provide accommodation facilities. The requirements are stringent, and South Korea is a preferable choice for many.

Useful Links to work in South Korea:

JAPAN

Japan has to be one of the most fascinating nations to visit and stay, not only in Asia but the entire World. Japan is that one-of-a-kind country that has a deep-rooted cultural base along with one of the finest technological advancements.

You will find the world’s most humble and ethical nation while staying there. The major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto offer some of the most ethereal experiences of living. The fine cuisine, surreal tourist destinations, astonishingly advanced urban lifestyle, and highly reviewed workplace experience are waiting for you if you choose Japan for your next TEFL destination.

Japan is full of high-demand job opportunities for English professionals from the assistant teacher on a school level to the university lecturer.

The living cost is high in the capital Tokyo compared to the other cities. Be prepared to pay about 60,000 to 80,000 yen, or $540-$720 for a shared apartment.

However, there is good news about the salary: Japan is arguably the highest paying country for TEFL teachers and teachers in general.

200,000-600,000 Yen or $1,700 – 5,000 USD/month is the standard range if you qualify.

Please note that it is very difficult to teach English to the locals English. Keep it in mind and note that English native speakers get priority. So, finding the right job can be quite difficult.

Useful Links to work in Japan:

THAILAND

Thailand holds a special place for me. It is often overlooked, but some of the best people I met in my life came from this country.

Who would have thought your dream vacation destination can be an ideal job location for your next TEFL opportunity? Yes, in Thailand you can enjoy the beauty of the country as well as making a good career as an English professional.

Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the World. One of its core businesses is tourism and this sole reason depicts how precious it is for the locals to grasp the English expertise.

From the academic level to the corporate tier, Thailand is hiring a great number of English teaching professionals that can serve this purpose.

Thailand offers amazing facilities for professionals and the capital city Bangkok has great places for non-native TEFL seekers to make a comfortable stay while pursuing a career.

This country is full of beauties to enjoy and culture: extremely delicious local food, great festive culture, fine nightlife, deeply rooted sacred Buddhist culture, surprisingly welcoming people, and the laidback urban lifestyle.

Packed with some of the world-famous vacation destinations offering exquisite beaches and islands Thailand is the perfect place to choose for your next TELF opportunity.

The living cost depends on your choice of living. The cost can start from 20,000 Baht/month (651 $) and can go up to 50,000 Baht per month (1,628 $).

The language academies pay about 22,000-35,000 Baht/month (716 to 1,139 $) and the public schools pay about 25,000-35,000 Baht/month (814 to 1,139 $).
In private international schools, it is about 80,000-170,000 Baht (2,605 to 5,536 $).
In universities, the amount is 30,000-60,000 Baht (977 to 1,954 $).
There are ample opportunities to find a job in Thailand, and the requirements are suitable for all ranges of professionals.

Useful Links to work in Thailand:

Final Thoughts

It is always a troublesome job to squeeze in all the amazing countries full of opportunities while making a list like this.
We hope this list has given you ample insights to make your TEFL journey easier and your teaching career much smoother.

To look for jobs in the country of your choice, please visit Gallery Teachers job board.