THE ATLAS · EDITION 2 · SEPTEMBER 2026

Asia’s government English teaching programmes: pay, headcount and deadlines, September 2026

Published 20 September 2026 by The TEFL Institute. Data current as of 20 September 2026.

This is the web edition of The Atlas, our monthly partner briefing. It is published in full, free and ungated, so that partners, schools, recruiters and candidates can quote it directly. Every figure below carries its source and the date that source was published.

Canonical data block, 20 September 2026

Programme	Country	Published pay	In euro	Status and deadline
JET Programme, first appointment	Japan	4,020,000 JPY per year	approx. 22,217 EUR	2027 cycle open. Australian window closes 5 November 2026. Other windows set nationally.
JET Programme, fourth and fifth appointment	Japan	4,320,000 JPY per year	approx. 23,875 EUR	One year terms, renewable to a maximum of five.
EPIK, Level 1	South Korea	2,400,000 to 2,600,000 KRW per month	approx. 1,509 to 1,634 EUR	Spring 2027 intake opened 1 August 2026. Processed in order received.
EPIK, Level 1 plus	South Korea	2,500,000 to 2,800,000 KRW per month	approx. 1,572 to 1,760 EUR	Seoul operates a separate pay scale.
TFETP, foreign English teachers and teaching assistants	Taiwan	Set per placement on the programme portal	Not published centrally	980 positions expected in 2026. Rolling review until filled.

Currency conversions use European Central Bank euro reference rates for 18 September 2026: 1 EUR = 180.94 JPY, 1 EUR = 1,590.76 KRW. EPIK figures exclude accommodation, which is provided, a one off settlement allowance of 300,000 KRW and a contract completion bonus of 1,300,000 KRW.

Market context

• Asia Pacific accounts for 42 percent of the global English language teaching market, worth 37.4 billion US dollars in 2024. Source: The State of TEFL 2026, The TEFL Institute, April 2026.
• The region’s growth outlook is 5.8 to 8 percent a year, against 6.5 to 7.3 percent globally. Same source.
• There are around 12 million English teachers worldwide serving approximately 2 billion active English learners, with more than 2 million TEFL positions opening globally each year. Same source.

Three developments shaping Asian demand

Vietnam has written a teacher shortage into national policy

The government scheme to make English the second language in schools, covering 2025 to 2035 with a vision to 2045, makes English compulsory from grade 1 nationwide by 2030. English is currently mandatory only from grade 3, with grades 1 and 2 offering it as an elective. Delivering the target requires more than 22,000 new English teachers for preschool and primary education alone, and at least 200,000 teachers trained to teach in English. Source: Viet Nam Government Portal, 31 October 2025.

Why it matters: this is a shortage created by statute rather than by market drift, with a published deadline attached, and the domestic teacher pipeline cannot close it alone.

Taiwan expects to recruit 980 foreign English teachers in 2026

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education announced on 23 February 2026 that a total of 980 foreign English teachers and full time foreign English teaching assistants are expected to be recruited under the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews conducted selectively, until positions are filled. Source: Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan), 23 February 2026.

Why it matters: a state programme with no fixed closing date behaves nothing like an academic year intake, so organisations able to move candidates in weeks rather than seasons have a structural advantage.

Japan’s flagship scheme now recruits from 53 countries

The JET Programme reports 5,734 current participants drawn from 53 countries as of July 2026, of whom 5,238 are assistant language teachers, 481 are coordinators for international relations and 15 are sports exchange advisors. More than 82,000 people from 82 countries have participated since the programme began. Source: The JET Programme official site, figures as of July 2026.

Why it matters: the largest government English teaching scheme in the region stopped being an Anglosphere programme some time ago, which widens the pool of candidates a partner organisation can credibly put forward.

Frequently asked questions

What does the JET Programme pay in the first year?

The JET Programme states a first appointment remuneration of 4,020,000 Japanese yen per year before tax, rising to 4,140,000 yen for a second appointment, 4,260,000 yen for a third and 4,320,000 yen for a fourth and fifth. At European Central Bank reference rates for 18 September 2026 that is approximately 22,217 euro in year one and 23,875 euro by the fourth appointment. Participants pay Japanese income and resident taxes from this amount.

How much does EPIK pay teachers in South Korea?

EPIK publishes a monthly scale by level. Level 1 pays 2,400,000 to 2,600,000 Korean won a month, approximately 1,509 to 1,634 euro, and Level 1 plus pays 2,500,000 to 2,800,000 won, approximately 1,572 to 1,760 euro. Amounts vary by province and Seoul uses a separate scale. Accommodation is provided by the relevant office of education, with a one off settlement allowance of 300,000 won and a contract completion bonus of 1,300,000 won.

When does the JET Programme 2027 application close?

The Embassy of Japan in Australia lists a deadline of 5:00 pm on Thursday 5 November 2026 (AEDT) for the 2027 cycle. Application windows are set by the Japanese diplomatic mission in each country, so applicants should confirm the deadline that applies where they hold citizenship rather than assuming the Australian date.

Is the EPIK Spring 2027 intake still open?

The EPIK Spring 2027 application opened on 1 August 2026. EPIK states that applications are processed in the order they are received, so there is no single closing date and earlier submission improves the chance of successful placement.

How many foreign English teachers is Taiwan recruiting in 2026?

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education expects to recruit a total of 980 foreign English teachers and full time foreign English teaching assistants in 2026 under the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

How many English teachers does Vietnam need?

Under the scheme to make English the second language in schools for the 2025 to 2035 period, Vietnam needs more than 22,000 additional English teachers for preschool and primary education by 2030, and at least 200,000 teachers trained to teach in English, in order to make English compulsory from grade 1 nationwide by 2030.

Sources

• The State of TEFL 2026, The TEFL Institute, April 2026. Read the report.
• Viet Nam Government Portal, English to become compulsory language from grade 1 nationwide by 2030, 31 October 2025.
• Ministry of Education, Republic of China (Taiwan), MOE to continue recruiting foreign English teaching talent in 2026, 23 February 2026.
• The JET Programme official site, positions and frequently asked questions, participant figures as of July 2026.
• Embassy of Japan in Australia, JET Programme 2027 applications.
• English Program In Korea, salary and benefits, and application pages, read 20 September 2026.
• European Central Bank, euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026.

About this briefing

The Atlas is published on the 20th of each month by The TEFL Institute for partner organisations and prospective partners. Our editorial standards set out how we research, source and correct what we publish, and our employer verification service lets any school or recruiter authenticate a certificate we have issued. You can see the partner network on our partners network page. Edition 3 is published on 20 October 2026 and turns to Africa.