Certain countries tend to be more popular than others for aspiring TEFL teachers. When considering where to TEFL, don’t bypass these great, underrated countries – they might just be places that would provide a fantastic TEFL experience for you!
It’s Asia, but very different than China and Japan. Vietnam has friendly people, a diverse culture and can be quite exciting a simpler way of life. It might not be the wealthiest of countries, but it makes up for it with its natural beauty! It’s also one of the cheapest countries to live in.
Halong Bay in Vietnam
Briona has some unexpected adventures as she explored the beautiful and exciting Vietnam:
“Despite the culture shock and the school-related problems, I am actually enjoying the experience. I really like teaching and never having been out of Europe before. Hanoi is a hidden gem just begging to be explored.
Following my first relatively successful trip to Hoa Lu and Tam Coc (the latter was absolutely stunning – it's not nicknamed "Halong Bay on land" for nothing!), I booked a few more trips. The first of these was a three day trip to the Perfume Pagoda (Vietnam's most important temple complex) and Mai Chau, where I spent a night with an ethnic family in their wooden stilt house. The morning after my return to Hanoi, I went on a two day trip to Halong Bay with one night spent on a traditional wooden junk. Neither my words nor my pictures could do the place justice! It was gorgeous. My only regret? That I wasn't spending another night there! For my final trip, I went to Hoa Binh, where I took a trip down the Black River.”
You can live and work in Vietnam for 5 months with accommodation and meals included too! Take part in our Vietnam Internship opportunity and you can live as a local TEFL teacher.
Indonesia
Looking for a stunning tropical TEFL experience? Indonesia has tons of islands, all of which are full of gorgeous beaches. Get paid to teach and tan! Nothing wrong with that! The food is delicious and the people are known to be super kind.
Robert Clarke, enjoyed a truly relaxed (and inexpensive) island TEFL experience:
“Whilst at Pueblo Ingles I was offered the position here in Indonesia! So I jumped at the chance!!! The school i-to-i works with here is the largest private language school in Indonesia and they are always looking for teachers! Pluses are probably the great weather and cheapness of everything around here; beer is approx. $2 per bottle and you can get a meal in a nice chain restaurant for under $3. You can easily travel around using Air Asia. They are extremely cheap e.g. 200,000 IDR to travel to Ho Chi Minh one-way – that’s about $20. Travel within Indonesia you can easily go at the weekends, if your happy coming back Monday morning from somewhere, that's fine as you won't start until around 2pm (most classes start at 3pm).”
Serbia
It's definitely a lesser known TEFL experience. A country bordering Central and Eastern Europe, it’s full of interesting culture and beautiful landscapes, and makes a great choice to TEFL.
Christina Spiwak is teaching in Serbia and here is what she has to say about it:
“Had a blast today with my bestie here in Serbia. She dances in a troupe. It is a traditional folklore troupe, performing dances from various regions in various costumes from Serbia. So beautiful to watch! Well, today, we dressed me in 5 of her costumes. Had so much fun!"
“Things are going great here with the school I work at. Everything here in Serbia is still going so well for me!! Cannot wait to see how things continue. January 28th will make one year here. Been working since October and I love it still!! My students are all around my age. Classes are relaxed and fun.”
Poland
Eastern Europe tends to be overlooked in favour of the Western region, and I don’t really know why. Anyone who’s been there can attest to its abundant and untouched natural beauty, with lots of gorgeous mountains and countryside. Unique cultures and traditions, interesting history and gorgeous landscapes make Poland an amazing TEFL choice.
Consider the teach in Poland internship for a chance to get your feet wet with TEFL and to explore this great country.
Costa Rica
Located in Central America, and full of gorgeous rainforests, beautiful beaches and friendly locals.
Matt Foster worked in Costa Rica and loved it:
“I was in central America doing TEFL up until June 2010. I had a great time and also managed to travel most of it as it’s not too big an area. Costa Rica is beautiful, and I would say if you are serious about teaching in Central America, Costa Rica is probably your best bet at first, as it’s more developed and organized when it comes to business, education and tourism. I put my CV in Spanish and hit all the universities and learning institutes and it was not hard to find work. I’m sure you'll soon pick Spanish up wherever you go in Central/South America. There is great night life there and the beaches on east and west coast are a must. Plus, all the volcanoes there are worth climbing and visiting.”
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How about this! (Canadians only)
http://serve.mcc.org/positions/english-teachers-democratic-peoples-republic-korea-north-korea-1
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