Top 10 TEFL Opportunities for 2023

International English teachers the world over will no doubt be overjoyed to learn that most major EFL teaching markets are once again accepting foreign instructors across their borders. Work visas are being sponsored, in some cases with a bit more “red tape”, and schools are clamoring to hire the best candidates for their positions. In some especially in-demand locations, such as China and South Korea, salaries on offer in the local currency are rising in effort to attract a higher volume of applicants.

Though proof of COVID-19 vaccination and/or negative coronavirus test results may still be required by immigration or education authorities in some countries, such measures have long been dropped in others. It is recommended to consult the embassy or consulate of your target country for the most up-to-date information on entry requirements.

Without further ado, here are our top 10 choices for where you should be applying to teach English overseas in 2023.

South Korea

South Korea still tops our annual list of top TEFL markets in 2023, and for good reason. Schools continue to offer free housing, at least one-way airfare reimbursement, and generous salaries, considering the relatively low cost of living. Not only that, starting salaries for first-time English teachers in South Korea have generally gone up over the last year, with some schools paying as much as 2.4-2.6 million KRW/month for newcomers to Korea. Just think how much disposable income you would have if you didn’t have to pay rent!

Private language schools are currently interviewing for yearlong contracts starting in the first term (February/March) of the 2023-2024 school year, and those wanting to go in the next few months should be applying now. The government’s flagship EPIK public school program is now wrapping up recruitment for the February intake, but various provincial public school offices of education will continue interviewing for April, May, and June starting positions in the coming months through designated recruiting agencies. The Job Placement Service has contacts hiring for the Chungcheongnam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do provincial offices of education, and can answer any questions Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate graduates have about these public school programs. Those wanting to go to Korea for the start of the second term (August/September) should plan on interviewing April through June.

Quick Facts for South Korea

Monthly Salary: 2,000,000-3,000,000 KRW

Accommodations: Usually included or allowance given

Airfare: Reimbursement (full or partial) usually given

Healthcare: Included

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in South Korea visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

China

China’s TEFL market was severely affected by visa restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so much so that many a private language school suffered to the point of closing their doors. Now that employers are able to sponsor work visas again, many are raising the salaries on offer and jumping at the opportunity to bring in new teachers to meet the great demand of their students for learning English from native speakers.

The Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service works with almost every type of school imaginable in China, from language schools, elementary, and secondary schools to business English training centers, colleges and universities. The application and visa process can be lengthy in the best of times, so it’s recommended to be applying about 4-6 months before your desired departure date. Schools and recruiters are well into interviewing for February/March 2023 starts, and will likely start considering candidates in April for potential fall term (August/September 2023) starting positions.

Quick Facts for China

Monthly Salary: 12,000-30,000 CNY

Accommodations: Usually included or allowance given

Airfare: Reimbursement (full or partial) usually given

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in China visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Vietnam

Vietnam has emerged as one of the top English teaching destinations for those who want to save money in recent years. There is a large volume of teaching positions available at private language schools, public schools, and even English-curriculum international schools available each year. Many such institutes will pay quite a good salary, often almost quadruple an average local wage, which makes for great savings potential, considering the cost-of-living. They offer help with proper visas and work permits, paid vacation, and assist with finding apartments (sometimes rent-free).

It is generally recommended to apply about 2-3 months before your desired departure date for private language schools, which tend to hire for yearlong contracts throughout the year. Elementary and secondary schools typically offer 9-12 months contracts beginning at the start of the Vietnamese school year in August.

Quick Facts for Vietnam

Monthly Salary: 28,000,000-49,000,000 VND

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Rarely included

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in Vietnam visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Japan

Salaries for English teachers in Japan are still some of the highest in the world of TEFL, and while the savings potential may not be as abundant as Korea and China due to the higher cost of living, it’s definitely enough to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while experiencing life in the land of the rising sun. Employers tend to provide rent-subsidized apartments, which helps to ease the transition into Japan’s restrictive rental systems, and generally assist with enrolling in state healthcare. Other benefits include paid vacation and contract completion bonuses.

As with China, the application and visa process for Japan can be quite lengthy, so it’s recommended to be applying to private language schools in Japan about 4-6 months before your desired departure date. The Job Placement Service works with a number of well-regarded private language school chains in Japan, as well as offers international school positions, for those with the right combination of education and experience.

Quick Facts for Japan

Monthly Salary: 225,000-300,000 JPY

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Usually included

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in Japan visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Taiwan

Just across the Formosa Strait from mainland China, and often overshadowed by the more well-known teaching destinations mentioned above, for the past two decades Taiwan has been offering salaries comparable to Korea, which are more than enough to live on comfortably and even save a bit of money, considering the low cost of living. Employers usually give paid vacation, help with finding a suitable apartment, and with registering in the local health care system.

Public school positions are reserved for those with the state teaching credentials to teach in the public schools of their home countries, but there are many private language schools across the country looking to hire teachers from English-speaking countries for January and later 2021 starts. Language schools often have openings for yearlong positions throughout the year. It is recommended to begin applying to potential employers in Taiwan about 3-4 months before your desired departure date.

Quick Facts for Taiwan

Monthly Salary: 38,000-72,000 TWD

Accommodations: Rarely included

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Included

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Taiwan visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Hong Kong

The demand for English language education is as strong as ever in Hong Kong, especially in the early childhood education market, as many parents want to give their children a head start in their English language education. Some employers are, in fact, so eager to increase the number of foreign English teachers on the ground, they are even paying significant signing bonuses to new hires who will be on the ground by the middle of January. While the high salaries on offer may not go as far as they would in mainland China, due to the higher cost of living, instructors can certainly expect to earn enough to live comfortably in Hong Kong.

The Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service has access to various types of positions in Hong Kong, for qualified candidates, including private language schools, public school teaching assistant programs, and as private elementary and secondary school positions. Depending on school type, applicants are encouraged to begin applying between 2-6 months before they’d like to depart for their new job.

Quick Facts for Hong Kong

Monthly Salary: 15,000-26,000 HKD

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Sometimes included

Healthcare: Usually included

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Hong Kong visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Thailand

Wages offered in the land of smiles may not be quite as high as other top TEFL markets, but it does boast a number of other features to draw in teachers by the thousands: easy access to tropical beaches, ancient temples to explore, exotic wildlife, popular Thai cuisine, and the availability of shorter 1-term (4-5 month) contracts. The vast majority of English teaching positions in Thailand are in public or private elementary and secondary schools, which will offer paid vacation and assist their teachers with finding suitable apartments nearby (sometimes rent-free).

Schools and recruiters in Thailand are just finishing up hiring for second term 2022 (November) openings, and will begin interviewing for first term 2023 (May) starts in January onward.

Quick Facts for Thailand

Monthly Salary: 30,000-50,000 THB

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Paid

For more information on teaching in Thailand visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Colombia

In contrast to much of the world, schools in Colombia seemed to have more teaching positions available over the last few years, as opposed to fewer. A number of language schools sought online teachers for their students when they had trouble finding in-country teachers, and returned to in-person learning as soon as possible.

There remains a huge demand for new teachers in all sorts of schools in 2023, from early childhood education centers to elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as language training centers and companies providing business English courses to adult professionals. Well-qualified subject-specific teachers for classes such as math and science in English may even get offered positions with free housing and airfare, which is generally a rare benefit for teachers in Latin America. Applicants should begin applying about 2-3 months before their preferred start date in Colombia.

Quick Facts for Colombia

Monthly Salary: 2,000,000-6,000,000 COP

Accommodations: Sometimes included

Airfare: Sometimes included

Healthcare: Included

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Colombia visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

For those seeking opportunities even closer to home, there are also some intriguing options.

Mexico

Wages in Mexico, and throughout Latin America, do not usually compare to the stronger employment packages offered in many Asian nations. But the educational requirements are also lower, making Mexico a great option for high school graduates or those looking to gain experience on shorter-term contracts. Additionally, with Mexico being just across the border from the US, relocation costs are generally much lower.

Language programs that hire foreign teachers typically assist with finding a suitable apartment, in line with their teachers’ wages, or provide free accommodations in some cases, making it a good location to experience the vibrant culture, renowned cuisine, Spanish language, historic architecture, and breathtaking landscapes without breaking the bank. Private language schools tend to hire new staff throughout the year, as positions open up, whereas elementary, secondary and post-secondary institutions mostly look to bring in new teachers for the start of the school year in August.

Quick Facts for Mexico

Monthly Salary: 5,000-20,000 MXN

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Rarely included

Holidays: Sometimes paid

For more information on teaching in Mexico visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

Costa Rica

Last, but certainly not least, is Costa Rica. Like Colombia, many schools in this Central American nation pivoted to hiring remote teachers for online learning during the pandemic. As 2022 comes to a close and we usher in the new year, many schools are now preferring to hire for in-person instruction. Wages on offer are typically a bit higher than what’s available in other countries in the region, and schools will most often assist with finding suitable accommodations.

Most of the better-paying hourly rates come from language schools focusing on business English for adult students, or general English for all ages, which hire as openings arise throughout the year. Teachers should plan to start applying about 2-3 months before they hope to arrive in the country.

Quick Facts for Costa Rica

Monthly Salary: 370,000-710,000 CRC

Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given

Airfare: Rarely included

Healthcare: Supplementary healthcare recommended

Holidays: Usually paid

For more information on teaching in Costa Rica visit the Where You Can Teach section of our website.

The Oxford Seminars Job Placement Service has numerous contacts in all of the listed locations, and specializes in assisting our graduates in submitting competitive applications. Get in touch with a Course Advisor at 1-800-779-1779 to learn more about TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification and Job Placement!