New teachers should check qualifications, contracts, visas, and living costs before accepting any overseas role. Those four details determine how smoothly your first year abroad goes.
Yet plenty of people rush into accepting a job because the photos look good. At Tales From A Barstool, we hear from readers who are keen to teach English abroad but aren’t sure where to start. Some end up accepting the first offer without comparing their options.
To help you make a more informed choice, this teaching abroad guide covers destinations, TEFL courses, interview questions, and the contract terms that catch people out. Use it to prepare before applying for overseas teaching jobs.
Your Teaching Abroad Guide to Picking a Destination
Some new teachers pick a country from photos, then regret it within a term. Pay, rent, class sizes and visa rules vary widely between regions, so the place you choose to teach affects much of your experience abroad.
There are opportunities across many regions. UNESCO estimates the world needs 44 million additional teachers by 2030, although demand for English teachers differs by country and school type.
With so many options, three checks deserve your attention before any serious job search begins.
Check the Cost of Living Before You Choose
The headline figure on a job advert tells you almost nothing without the cost of living beside it. Before comparing offers, work out rent, transport, food and visa renewals. A teacher earning 1,200 euros a month in Madrid may save less left after rent and bills than someone earning the equivalent in Hanoi.
In practice, we tell readers to save three months of expenses at home first, and some teach online in the evenings to build that fund. This cushion covers the gap between landing and your first payday, which can take several weeks depending on the school.
Comparing Destinations: Teach English in China, Chile or Spain
Compare the regions below to see which options suit your experience and teaching goals.
| Destination | Teaching opportunities | Pay and working conditions |
|---|---|---|
| China | English teaching jobs in schools and language centres | Expect 10,000–20,000 RMB per month depending on city and school type |
| Spain | Private language academies and school-based English teaching roles | 1,000–1,400 euros per month is common; saving is difficult in Madrid or Barcelona |
| Chile | Language schools, private lessons and some shorter-term contracts | 500,000–800,000 CLP per month; many teachers supplement with private lessons |
| Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia | English teaching jobs for new and experienced teachers | $1,000–$1,800 USD equivalent per month depending on country and qualifications |
| African countries | International schools, language centres, and volunteer placements | Pay varies widely between paid school positions and charity placements |
Your choice also depends on what you want outside the classroom. Europe may appeal to teachers who enjoy weekend travel, while others start in Asia, gain experience and later apply for higher-paying jobs abroad.
Daily Life for English Teachers in International Education
Daily life for English teachers varies by school, but many roles involve classroom hours alongside planning, marking and parent meetings. Public schools usually start early, although some private academies run afternoon and evening classes that finish close to 9 pm.
Outside those hours, you’ll sort out buses, bank accounts and paperwork in a language you’re still learning. Mastering a few local phrases before you fly will make everyday tasks easier (market stalls turn out to be a brilliant free classroom).
On your days off, weekend buses and budget flights open up the region. A teacher in Vietnam can reach Laos or Cambodia for under $50, and European placements put a dozen countries within a few hours. All in all, you get to know a place through everyday life instead of seeing it only as a tourist.
Teacher Preparation: A Guide to Teaching Qualifications and TEFL Certificates
With a destination in mind, your attention turns to paperwork. Anyone hoping to teach English abroad may benefit from an internationally recognised TEFL certificate. It opens more doors than classroom enthusiasm on its own. Many schools look for at least 120 hours of training, although requirements vary.
Courses come in a few forms, so the right pick depends on your budget and your notice period. Online study suits people still working full time, and some courses include online teaching practice while you train. On the other hand, classroom-based study gives you observed practice that some panels ask about, and blended options vary in price.
Check accreditation before you pay, though. Reputable TEFL providers should clearly identify their accrediting or awarding bodies. Any provider that dodges questions about who accredits it isn’t worth your deposit (ask twice, then read the reply very slowly). We’ve seen readers repeat a whole course because the first one left no verification trail.
Beyond the basics, advanced qualifications such as a Level 5 diploma will improve your chances of securing higher-paying roles. Those advanced qualifications also help you stand out when fifty people apply for one post. You may need a degree as well. Many teaching visa routes in South Korea, Japan, and the Gulf require one.
What Should You Ask in Interviews for Overseas Teaching Jobs?
In interviews for overseas teaching jobs, ask about pay, housing, visa sponsorship, class sizes and contract length. Schools hiring you expect questions, and the ones that squirm tell you plenty about how they treat staff.
Keep these five questions beside your laptop before the call connects:
- Salary After Deductions: Ask what lands in your account after tax, pension, and health insurance, rather than the advertised gross figure.
- Housing and Flights: Some schools hand you a furnished flat, while others pay an allowance that may cover only half the rent in that city. Ask whether the allowance is capped at a fixed amount or adjusts with the local market. Check if flights home are included and how many per year.
- Visa Sponsorship: A school should explain who handles your work permit and pays the fees. Job boards still list roles with unclear sponsorship arrangements.
- Class Sizes and Ages: With thirty-five teenagers or eight toddlers, your planning changes completely. Get the numbers in writing before you agree.
- Contract Length and Exit: Many TEFL jobs offer twelve-month contracts, but early-exit penalties can be costly. Notice periods deserve a close look too.
Write the answers down during the call, then compare two or three offers side by side the next morning. Keep a simple spreadsheet through your job search, one row per school.
Job boards often repeat the same listings, so a direct email to a head of department can surface roles that never reach the public boards. Negotiate before you sign, since the offer is most flexible in the gap between their yes and your signature.
Visas, Travel Costs and Contracts Deserve a Close Read
Once an offer reaches your inbox, the maths begins. Flights, visa fees and deposits rarely appear in the advert. Add them to the salary before you compare offers.
Use the table below as a quick visa guide while you weigh up a teaching job abroad.
| Destination | Visa route | Upfront cost | Typical contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Student or working holiday visa | £800 to £1,200 | 8 months; October to June |
| Vietnam | Business visa, converted to work permit | £500 to £900 | 12 months; renewable |
| Saudi Arabia | Employer-sponsored iqama | Usually nothing; the school pays | Varies by school; check flight benefits |
| South Korea | E-2 visa with degree and police check | £400 to £700 | 12 months; severance on completion |
Add any rent and deposit you’ll need to pay yourself to the costs in that column. Schools that reimburse your flight after six months expect you to carry the money until then.
You can also check the Foreign Office advice for your destination before you book, because entry rules can change with little notice. In particular, anyone planning to teach English in Chile should confirm the correct work authorisation before travelling.
Fair warning: treat any visa guide, including this one, as a starting point rather than the last word. Contracts for jobs abroad may leave out some of these expenses. In the end, a teaching job abroad is a money decision as much as an adventure.
Take the First Step Towards Your Teaching Career Abroad
Work in international education rewards the people who check the details first. Qualifications, contracts, visas, and living costs affect how your year feels long before the plane lands.
Pick two destinations, price them honestly, then check which teaching qualifications each requires. From there, teaching English abroad will feel less uncertain because you know what to prepare for.
Tales From A Barstool shares honest guides and first-hand stories for teachers heading overseas. For more help planning your next move, contact us and start preparing for your teaching journey abroad.