How to teach English abroad

Teaching English abroad is one of the most accessible ways to work in another country. A bachelor's degree, a TEFL certificate, and citizenship from one of the seven approved native-English countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa) opens most of the major markets. Non-native speakers with strong credentials can also enter, especially in Vietnam, Thailand, and parts of Latin America.

The big choices are where, what kind of school, and what you optimize for. Asia hires the most teachers and pays the best for new graduates. The Gulf pays the most overall but requires experience. Latin America and Europe are lifestyle markets with lower pay.

Below is the full structure: regions, individual country guides, comparisons, and the supporting articles teachers ask us about most.

1. Pick a region

Each region has a different default tradeoff. Pick the one that matches what you're optimizing for, then drill down into countries.

2. Pick a country

Each country guide includes salary, visa requirements, hiring seasons, and a live feed of current openings.

3. Compare your top choices

Most teachers narrow to two countries and need a side-by-side view. These are the comparisons we get asked about most.

4. Get credentialed

Most countries require a 120-hour TEFL certificate as a hiring minimum. Some markets (Korea public schools, China, the Gulf) also require a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal background check, and a notarized version of each.

A teaching license from your home country unlocks the highest-paying tier: licensed K-12 roles at international schools in the Gulf, China, and parts of Asia.

5. Apply

Most hiring is direct: you apply to schools, recruiters, or government programs and interview by video. The CV needs to be tight; the demo lesson is often where decisions get made.