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Why Teach English as a Foreign Language?

Why TEFL (teach English as a foreign language)

If you've just graduated and are finding it difficult to find decent work, or if you're stuck in a job you dislike and fancy a challenge and change of scenery. Teaching English abroad is a great way to travel and earn at the same time. You can get a TEFL or CELTA teaching qualification in accredited centres all over the UK and they are relatively cheap.

If you're not too particularly choosy about where you live then as a native English speaker you should be able to find a teaching job abroad soon after you complete your course. We take a look at the most popular TEFL destinations and what teaching is like out there:

TEFL Japan

Salary/ Living Costs:In Japan (depending on your experience and where you work) you can expect to earn up to £2,000 a month. However, living costs can be quite high especially in Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

Availability:While Japan is one of the most popular destinations with teachers, there are still a large number of jobs available. Particularly if you’re willing to live outside of the main cities.

Job Requirements:
+Native English Speaker
+TEFL/CELTA certificate

TEFL China

Salary/ Living Costs: Average earnings are between 4500-9000 Yuan (around £430-£860 a month) depending on experience. Living is quite affordable and many employers will also give bonuses like reimbursement of your flight expenses and sometimes offer free accommodation.

Availability:As the fast growing economy in the world, there is a high demand for English teachers all across China.

Job Requirements:
+Native English Speaker
+TEFL/CELTA certificate

TEFL Thailand

Salary/ Living Costs: Though in Thailand you're not likely to earn very much, you'll certainly have enough money to live on as living costs are very low. Expect to earn around £600 a month but with the opportunity to do out of hours tutoring.

Availability:There is a high demand for English teachers in Thailand and there's a wealth of opportunities for all experience levels.

Job Requirements:
+Native English Speaker
+TEFL/CELTA certificate

TEFL Eastern Europe

Salary/ Living Costs:You'll earn the most money in Russia, especially Moscow where you can earn up to around £1,000 a month with relatively low living costs.

Availability:There is a high demand for English teachers in Eastern Europe and jobs available in most major cities.

Job Requirements:
+Native English Speaker
+TEFL/CELTA certificate
+Degree

TEFL Western Europe

Salary/ Living Costs:Salary and living costs varies massively from location to location. Cities like Paris and Berlin have the highest living costs.

Availability:Jobs in Western Europe are some of the most competitive. Knowledge or a degree in business in this area will set you apart from other English teachers.

Job Requirements:
+Native English Speaker
+TEFL/CELTA certificate
+Degree
+Experience preferred

Teaching English abroad can be a great way to travel. Whenever you go abroad you need to make sure you have the right travel insurance and make sure you're fully covered for medical expenses in case you get sick or you're injured while you're out there.

If you're planning to go and work abroad take a look at our Long Stay cheap travel insurance. We can cover you for up to 15 months while you're away and also for any leisure trips you make when you're not teaching.

For full information or to get a quote:
Or call us on 0161 772 3395 * for advice on getting the right insurance.

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