People interested in TEFL teacher training often ask:
“What kind of teaching opportunities or English teaching jobs are available after I get my TEFL certificate?”
English teachers are in such high demand, there are job opportunities in more settings than you might imagine.
Government Schools
Many EFL teachers find good jobs in public schools - this is one of the main areas in which to find employment.
The Thai government has put much effort into teaching English to students. The Thai people are not ignorant and understand how important it is to learn and know English. However, unless a school can secure a native speaker of English as a teacher, the English teachers in schools are Thai, and most have never left Thailand to visit an English-speaking country, so their English is only based on classroom experience as taught by other Thais, and this has limited effectiveness in mastering English.
School administrators understand this situation and actively search out native-English-speaking teachers to come to their schools to teach. They are taking an active role in their children’s future and success by bringing in qualified teachers who will teach at a higher standard and as a complement to the current Thai teachers.
International Schools
International schools are found throughout Asia, and usually have an English program where all classes are held in English across all subjects. The student body generally consists of both Thai and foreign students, and they offer a very good curriculum.
Graduates of the TEFL Phuket course have gone on to teach at these types of schools in Phuket. The schools have found the quality of teachers we produce extremely good, resulting in requests for more students from our courses to join their schools.
Working in a program like this can also provide the opportunity to teach more subjects than English – depending on your background, education and experience.
Language Schools
These schools fill a very important need in local cities and communities for providing language education to adults seeking to improve their English – primarily to help further their career, fit in with the culture if they plan to travel, or simply to learn a new language. These learning centers offer private and group language lessons, and are a great place to start your TEFL career. Pay is usually by the hour and on a contract basis, so you can be more flexible with how many hours you work and what kind of classes you teach.
Language schools also do a lot of contract work with local schools and hotels and resorts for providing teachers, so if you are uncertain of what kind of teaching you might like, working at a language school can help you explore those possibilities.
Hospitality Industry
Hotels, resorts, and restaurants are a big part of the English teacher job market as they invest a lot of money to train their staff in English, the most commonly spoken language among tourists and in international business.
The size of these different employers varies greatly, from small family-run restaurants and hotels to internationally-run resorts. Some hire trainers full-time to work with their large numbers of employees at different levels of English ability, while others might contract with a teacher to do hourly work.
No matter the job or location, the students found in these types of jobs are generally well-motivated and eager to learn, as their supervisor expects it and they are more successful in their job.
Many others…
This is just a broad overview of the main areas of English teaching opportunities in Asia, there are many other opportunities, including jobs for corporate training and private tutoring. You can also use your language skills in ways other than teaching such as helping with translations, editing, and copy work. When you arrive, the possibilities open to you are only limited to your imagination and attitude.
For more info and to get started, visit our enroll page.
We wish you the best of luck in finding your dream job in Thailand and Asia and are here to help get you started and manage the process efficently. Your new life is ready and waiting – are you ready for it?
