Is Teaching TEFL a Good Career?

By Altiné Moumouni

TEFL can be an excellent career. The more skilled and experienced you are, the more opportunities you will have

Since I decided to move to China and work as a TEFL teacher, many of my friends and family have asked me if teaching TEFL is a promising career.

The short answer is yes, teaching TEFL can be an excellent career. The more skilled and experienced you are, the more opportunities you will have.

However, like anything in life, you will need proper planning to succeed. This article will share tips to increase your chances of succeeding as a TEFL teacher.

Qualifications required for a successful TEFL career

Generally, teaching TEFL overseas in the long-term requires a TEFL certification. And even though you can find a teaching job in many countries without any qualifications, the high-paying teaching jobs with the best benefits and working conditions will require at least a bachelor’s degree in any field.

Bilingual and international schools require TEFL experience and qualifications. They pay very well (depending on how well you negotiate your salary and how competent you are as a TEFL teacher). With international schools, you generally work long hours, and they offer perks like health insurance, tuition for your kids, and housing allowance.

Some countries like China will require you to be from a native English-speaking country, such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, the USA, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Another essential skill for teaching TEFL is written and spoken communication. Since part of your job as teaching involves talking to parents, students, and school administration, it is important that you communicate well and adopt a kind, approachable, and confident attitude. Also, since your students are non-native English speakers, speak clearly, slowly, and concisely.

In addition, you need to be aware of cultural sensitivity. Every country has topics you should avoid discussing in class. If you are unsure, discuss with your school about controversial topics to avoid. And more importantly, you need to respect local regulations and adhere to local customs and culture.

After you find a job, you will need to work hard, build a connection with the students and work with the school administration to move up the ladder.

Tips for building a long-term career

Stay in the same country. The longer you stay in the same country and school, the more likely you will advance in your TEFL career.
Make an effort to learn at least basic knowledge of the local language to help you integrate and get a deeper and more meaningful cultural experience.
Know the laws, especially regarding labor and permanent residency.
Build long-term relationships with your students, colleagues, and school admin.
Always strive to self-improve and become great at your craft.

Benefits of a long-term career in teaching TEFL

One of the benefits of teaching overseas TEFL is money-saving. The hottest destinations for TEFL teaching in terms of salaries are in the Middle East, including the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, where you can make over $3,500 to $5,500 per month.
Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, also offer decent salaries depending on your qualifications and experience, and the type of school you work for. In addition, you will get extra benefits, such as free accommodation, increasing your income, and saving.
Other standard benefits offered by the top TEFL jobs include airfare reimbursement, health insurance, signing of contract or contract renewal bonuses, and transport subsidies.
Another benefit of teaching TEFL is the amount of annual leave, about three months of paid vacations. You can use the time to visit family and friends and travel worldwide. There are no limits to where you can travel or what you can experience. For example, countries like China or Japan have so much to visit.

There are also a few drawbacks to TEFL overseas

In some countries, TEFL job contracts are limited to 3 or 5 years, meaning that you will need to leave and find a job elsewhere, sometimes starting at the bottom.
Another thing is that in some countries, including China unless you want to open your own school, you will be more likely to hit a ceiling in terms of salary and career advancement. But it is easy to move to a management role if you stay long enough at the same school. One of my colleagues (a teacher from the UK) just got promoted to be the head of the UK A-level program, after staying at the same school for about 3 years.

What other jobs can you do as a TEFL teacher?

Guest posting to share your experience (like I am doing)
Create English learning content for EFL learners
Organizer or coordinator of cultural centers
Become an official examiner for the big-name tests, such as IELTS or TOEFL

Final thoughts

If you are hesitant about moving abroad to teach TEFL, I suggest testing the waters first. You can go for a year and see if teaching TEFL is for you.

If you seriously consider TEFL teaching as a career, I suggest getting a teaching certification and only applying for teaching jobs requiring certification. These types of jobs pay higher and generally offer better career development opportunities.

Written by Altiné Moumouni for TEFL Net March 2022
Altiné is from Toronto, Canada, and currently teaches mathematics at a high school in Guangzhou, China. He has a master's degree in International Economics and Finance from Ryerson University in Canada and is passionate about helping people worldwide through his blogs. He writes about TEFL Teaching and Health and Fitness. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, running, traveling, and anything that allows him to experience the beauty of nature. You can find him at altinify.com.
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