TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and it’s a certificate you need if you want to teach non-native speakers English. With a TEFL certificate, you can teach students of all ages – from young learners to adult business language learners – anywhere in the world. It’s recognised globally and is the key to kick-starting your English teaching career abroad, home or online.
SALARY EXPECTATIONS OF A TEFL TEACHER
After the following two, you need to consider flights and living costs. It may take some time before your salary and if any reimbursement costs come in. Make sure you research the country you are moving to and living costs and try to have enough money set aside for the first month.
In this blog post we will be discussing the Salary Expectations as a TEFL Teacher. Deciding to become TEFL qualified and teach English abroad has many benefits. You get the opportunity to travel abroad and live in a new country and make new friends and memories. While these are major benefits, what are the financial benefits of teaching English abroad – salaries and cost of living? So here is everything you need to know about teaching English abroad salary.
Teaching English Abroad Salaries vs Cost of Living?
Before deciding on your dream job in any country in the world make sure you have the following two things sorted out, your TEFL Qualification and if any Visa Requirements. While the price of your visa will vary depending on the country you visit this could be reimbursed depending on your school. After the following two, you need to consider flights and living costs. It may take some time before your salary and if any reimbursement costs come in. Make sure you research the country you are moving to and living costs and try to have enough money set aside for the first month. Check out this site here to check out living costs in each country: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
- English Teaching in Europe vs Cost of Living
- Teaching English in Latin America vs Cost of Living
- Teaching English in South-East Asia vs Cost of Living
- Teaching English in the Middle East vs Cost of Living
Now let’s discuss salary expectations across the most popular destinations; Europe, Latin America, South East Asia and the Middle East.
English Teaching in Europe and Cost of Living
Europe provides plenty of opportunities especially with travelling as you can visit different countries easily by train or bus. For EU Residents you don’t have to worry about a visa and can work and live in any country in Europe. For Non-Eu Residents you must apply for a visa, a cost that may or may not be reimbursed by your school. When working in Europe your salary can vary on where you live, some countries pay a higher salary than some. However, most salaries match the high cost of living making it possible to live and travel in Europe. Poland for example offers salaries between $750 to $1,000 but a meal at a restaurant would only cost $6! Spain and Italy would have a high cost of living but your salary would be higher. Expect to earn between $900 to $1500 in Italy a week and $800 to $1500 in Spain!
Unlike in Asia, there are not many offers of subsidized accommodation; however, it could be possible in some cases with some schools in Poland, Turkey, and Ukraine offering accommodation to teachers. As a TEFL teacher, you have plenty of options to earn additional income. You could pick up a few hours teaching English online on the weekend giving you the flexibility to travel on weekends. Private tutors are also in high demand across Europe, giving you the chance to save for that next trip.
One thing in mind is that if you are looking for a quieter place living in Europe why not check out some rural areas for a teaching job? This could lead to more economic living costs as you are outside the city and more chances to save!
Teaching English in Latin America and Cost of Living
Latin America consists of South America, Central America, Mexico, and some Islands of the Caribbean. If you are considering teaching Latin America, you have plenty of countries to choose from! A degree isn’t required as much as in Europe and Asia. Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil are just some countries where you could find a teaching job without needing a degree. The cost of living in Latin America can be low depending on the region/area you are in. Salaries can also be lower, but you can expect to break even or even live comfortably off your teaching salary. In Costa Rica, or Mexico for example, you could expect to earn only $700 to 900$ dollars a month but due to the low cost of living, you could live comfortably.
Teaching English in South-East Asia and Cost of Living
For any TEFL Teachers teaching in Asia is high on the bucket list. Full of adventures and plenty of teaching opportunities, teaching in Asia is worth looking at. There is a huge demand for TEFL Teachers across Asia, which leads to the school offering more incentives and benefits for teachers. Some schools offer benefits such as accommodation, work visa assistance, bonuses, and medical insurance! Another great benefit about deciding to live and teach in Asia is that most countries hire all year round. China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Vietnam are just some countries that hire all year round and have schools offering amazing benefits to TEFL Teachers.
There are also some opportunities to save, for example in China you can earn a salary between $1,200 to $2,800, with free housing you could save up a minimum of $500 a month! Hong Kong would be considered the most expensive country in Asia with a one-bedroom apartment costing up to $2,200. One of the cheapest countries to live in Asia would be Vietnam with a one-bedroom apartment costing only up to $400.
Teaching English in the Middle East and Cost of Living
The Middle East is becoming a popular TEFL destination with plenty of opportunities to teach English both publicly and privately. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates are the first places you think of for teaching there are plenty of other countries to teach in. Think Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar! Salaries in the Middle East can be quite lucrative with plenty of opportunities to save. Many schools in the Middle East offer benefits such as reimbursed flights and accommodation. In the UAE you could be looking at salaries between $1,500 to $5,000! In Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, you could be earning a salary between $1,500 to $3,000. While the salary may not be as high as in the UAE, with plenty of schools offering accommodation you could still be looking at savings of $800 or more!
While you could be earning a higher salary in the Middle East there is also a higher cost of living. Schools across the Middle East also have stricter requirements for TEFL Teachers. Most schools require a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree!
Where to start?
Before applying for any TEFL job, make sure you tick off all the requirements such as a TEFL Qualification, if a degree if needed, and the ability to obtain a visa if needed. If you tick off all the boxes for the job, check out the living costs in the country you are planning to move to. Does your salary cover it and could you live comfortably? We all have different lifestyles so would the salary provided suit yours?
While you may make a restricted salary in your teaching job, there are always opportunities to teach English in other areas. There is a high demand for TEFL Teachers online and this could help supplement your income. Why not check out our 30 Hour Teaching English Online Course before you leave to make sure you have a side income? Check out the course – Specialist Online Teacher Course.
To get a TEFL certificate you must take an accredited TEFL course. The minimum training required by employers worldwide is 120 hours. You can choose between accredited, government regulated Level 5 or combined TEFL courses. You’ll find TEFL courses are either online or combined in-class and online experiences.
Getting a TEFL certification from a recognised, trusted provider is essential when it comes to receiving high-quality training and finding a job. Always go for a globally recognised accredited certification. It’s also worth double checking company reviews to make sure customers are satisfied with their training.
What’s the difference between accredited and government regulated Level 5 TEFL courses?
The Accredited 120 Hour Premier TEFL Course is what we call one of our fast-track courses. This is the minimum recognised worldwide.
- You have 10 modules to complete usually taking 4-6 weeks.
- Each module has a multiple-choice test at the end, and you need 80% to pass.
- You’ll get your digital certificate on completion and can buy a hard copy from us if you’d like one with an embossed logo.
Level 5 Ofqual-regulated courses offer more in-depth training. If we look at the 180 Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma in comparison:
- Learners typically spend 12 – 14 weeks to complete 11 modules.
- The pass mark is 100% and assessments are multiple-choice plus open-ended answers. Don’t worry, you can redo quizzes to get 100%. Our academic team will review your answers at the end of your 11 modules and may ask for some questions to be reattempted. Some questions may require you to provide academic references.
- You’ll get your digital coursework completion certificate from us after module 11. Following successful assessment from our academic team, we’ll be able to claim the licence for your Ofqual (government) certificate from our accreditation body Highfield.
The Ofqual-regulated Level 5 course range is for those who want to gain a higher-level, more recognised qualification.
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers teach English in non-native English speaking countries. TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) teachers teach English in native English speaking countries. CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a separate qualification you can get to teach English.
TEFL: One of the most accepted certificates worldwide, this allows you to teach English to non-native speakers across the globe.
TESL: As a TESL teacher, you would likely be teaching English in your home country to students who have moved or live in an English speaking country. In other words, they are continuously surrounded by the language and will be using it every day outside of the classroom, unlike TEFL students who are likely learning in their home country.
CELTA: A very prestigious certification that follows a strict regulation created by Cambridge University. You must complete a 120-hour TEFL course and six hours of teaching real ESL students. Most of the programmes are held over a month and are full time. However, you may be able to find some courses that are part-time and are spread over three months. Due to its intense nature and requirements, the cost tends to be much higher and can be up to €1700!
Yes! Teaching English as a foreign language – online or in-class – will give you an abundance of transferable skills. From time management to problem-solving and communication, you’ll have plenty of experience to impress future employers. As your TEFL certification never expires, you can get back into TEFL whenever you wish, too.