I feel like I already know the answer to this… I received an offer of 16K RMB in Wenshan City, Yunnan province (which is a Tier 3 city), my Mandarin is still beginner. My salary expectations are 18-20K RMB, and they offered the 16.. should I keep looking? I feel like I should. I feel a little discouraged. What do you all think? I’m a woc.

What do you guys think about playing music in the classroom - not for teaching purposes more so for background music while they work on individual tasks. Do you guys do it and if so what type of music? I'm into chill house music, sometimes i'll play classic rock and 80s/90s pop (Queen, MJ, ACDC, rolling stones etc) (non explicit) but not sure if the lyrics maybe distract them from the work even though they probably don't understand all of it? What do you think?

Context: I teach Elementary and middle school Korean students.

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Hi everyone,

I recently passed my C1 Advanced exam (Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) last September, and I wanted to ask for advice regarding whether I might be ready to take the C2 Proficiency exam. Here’s a summary of my C1 results: • Overall Score: 190 (Grade C, Level C1) • Breakdown: • Reading: 185 • Use of English: 192 • Writing: 190 • Listening: 183 • Speaking: 201

I’ve been working on improving my English since taking the exam, particularly my listening skills, which seem to be my weakest area based on these scores. I also feel quite confident in my speaking ability (201) and want to make sure the rest of my skills are strong enough for the challenge of C2.

For those of you who’ve taken the C2 Proficiency exam, what do you think? Are these results a good indicator that I’m ready, or should I work on solidifying my skills further before attempting it? Any advice on specific resources or study strategies would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Hi all. I had my pt7 done. I elicited the Atlantic ocean to Beginner 3. I did this by showing a map- students didn't understand. So I wrote on the board "A______ Ocean" (they knew ocean) and a few people understood and gave me the answer. However, when it was feedback time this one lady said "That was very bad. When I was watching i thought of Antartica. Students could think of anything with that eliciting activity." She always comments on my looks, the little things I do... i have 5 more CELTA lessons to go but I just can't with her and her feedback and it makes me anxious of doing my pt8 in front of her. Any advice? I am thinking of talking with my tutor about this, but anything else you think would help me get this anxious feeling off of my chest...?

I'm just asking this out of curiosity here. I hear nothing positive about the state of TEFL in Japan currently, which is why I've avoided it. However, on a trip to Tokyo recently, I got asked about it by a few of my mom's Japanese friends. Has there been anyone who, in spite of the long hours and low pay, found the overall experience positive?

Hi Everyone.

I am really excited and looking forward to move out of the US specifically Thailand. Some quick background about me.

I work remotely in the AI/Tech/Healthcare world. It's pretty much online corporate and I am experiencing major burnout. I am 25 years old. I have been at this job for 5 years working 12 hour shifts this past month. I am a Quality Assurance Team Lead and life is just becoming boring/on autopilot. No time for myself to enjoy my life and have something to look forward to other than the weekend.

Therefore I want a change. My family has been thinking about moving to Thailand. I want this to be my last year working here at this job as it's just so miserable for me. I have seen that I can move abroad and become an english teacher. I have watched videos online, and I honestly don't mind what I see. With my current position I am already playing many roles. I have experience teaching a class at my current role on the tech side of things. I don't have a degree in anything. I was planning to go to WGU for an online bachelors as you do need one to teach. (Doesn't matter which degree you get I know :) )

I am into design and I am an artist as well in my spare time, which again I don't feel I have the actual free time to do. I would like to maybe explore UX Design. There is a bachelors degree in that.

Should I get an online bachelors in UX Design? Or should I go something for elementary education? I heard international schools pay higher, and would like someone with a degree related to teaching is that true? My purpose is to move away from the US. But I am thinking maybe if the teaching isn't longterm/doesn't work.. that at least I have a UX Design Degree to fall on?

I dont intend on living in the US anymore really other than to visiit. l have been doing research but Im a bit indecesive. I do plan on also making lifestyle vlogs/ad sense revenue on other platforms, so not just depending on teaching alone as the only way of survival. What would you recommend for me?

Thanks<3

Note: I have gone through resources and searched the sub before posting this.

This will be a long one, TL;DR at the bottom. I am an America finishing up my PhD (English Lit) in the U.S. and looking to teach abroad for the 26/27 school year (and beyond)- fine to go earlier as well.

I taught abroad in Vietnam and the Czech Republic but don't have my TEFL. I also taught at a prestigious private U.S. high-school, a private University, and a state University (also U.S.). English, fiction, film, composition, and creative writing. About 10 years of teaching experience overall. Good references. I love teaching. I am Queer and in my late 30s with nothing tying me to the U.S.

The state university I attend has a summer CIES-TEFL course (120 hours) I could take but it's $1500 and I am not paid much as a PhD candidate. I'd like to get my TEFL to expand my options. I have experience with teaching asynchronous/online courses and tutoring online/in person.

I am curious: where should I go from here? I want a relatively stable job with benefits in a LGBT safe country. I also want some time to write (I am a writer), and to be avle to save money. I don't need a fancy apartment but would like access yo a good healthcare system. I'd be fine with teaching any age group but at this point my experience is with 14 and up. Proficient English speaker with energy and enthusiasm. Should I get my TEFL? Aim for international schools? Which countries woulf be the best fit for me? I also have tattoos (relevant for cultural tolerance levels) but can wear long sleeves. Am I a lucrative candidate for any specific places? And what kind of TEFL should I get? I am thinking of going through the ITA.

Countries where I'd like to teach: Japan, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy (I know, not a lot of potential for teaching there), Germany (same- many Germans soeak better English than me!). I am also interested in a online teaching starting while I am still here in the U.S., or moving abroad and teaching online.

Open to other country suggestions. Air quality is important to me.

Did I miss anything? Let me know and I'll add it.

My question is are there any government run or well organised language assistant programs for Aus citizens in Spanish speaking countries other than Spain?

For context I'm a UK/Aus dual citizen and noticed that Australia has a government run language assistant program in Spain, whilst the UK has one that spans multiple Spanish speaking countries (Argentina, Columbia, Spain). The problem is I'm not eligible for the UK program since I haven't lived in the UK for the last 3 years so I didn't apply for the 2025/2026 year. But I'm very interested to teach in a Spanish speaking country, especially Chile, Argentina or Uraguay. I just completed my TEFL certificate through Arizona State University and I'm getting teaching experience in Glasgow currently so id have experience.

Any help would be appreciated!

I’m preparing a 25-minute demo lesson for a university job interview (with a panel and possibly international student attendees) on the topic “How can the university become more eco-friendly?” The target level is B2+. The university is in Germany. I have basically been working on nothing else over the past week, and I feel like I’ve hit a wall.

Here’s what I have so far:

1. Lead-in:

   • Prediction-based activities where attendees complete temperature/CO₂ charts and assess percentage-based contributions of pollution sources by sector.
   • Compare consumption-based CO₂ emissions for a few countries (including Germany).
   • Predict the different lifetimes of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.

2. Input:

   • Use excerpts from Drawdown (Hawken, 2017) and How Bad Are Bananas? (Berners-Lee, 2020) to explore the carbon impacts of daily actions (e.g., eating a burger, buying bottled water, sending a letter).

3. Scaffolded Group Activity:

   • Groups choose (or are assigned) an eco-friendly action they can take or advocate for. Possible options include:

     • Meatless Day: Analyse the cafeteria menu (which offers daily meat dishes) and calculate the carbon savings if the cafeteria went meatless one day a week, based on assumptions from the books and the number of enrolled students.

     • No Bottled Water: Pledge not to buy bottled water.

     • Bike/Walk Day: Promote a day of active transportation. Discuss feasibility given commuter distances and potential impact.

4. Wrap-Up:

   • Groups present their chosen or assigned carbon-saving actions and discuss their merits, impact, and implementation challenges.

What I’m struggling with:

• It might be too ambitious for 25 minutes, especially if I include pre-, while-, and post-reading questions, as well as some vocabulary elicitation/explanation.

• It feels somewhat disjointed, and I’m not sure how to make it more cohesive.

I’d be very grateful for any feedback or alternative ideas.

I will admit that I started TEFL for the chance to live away from my home country and travel. It’s fine but not something I’m interested and outside of work I’m not interested in english or languages. At work, I try to do my job to the best of my ability and clock out. I only speak english to my students and never their L1 because my job was to provide them with 2 hours of immersion per week. When I’m in front of students, it’s nonstop 120 minutes of only English speaking, articles and videos.

However, when I step out of the classroom, I don’t wish to hear or speak english at all. I didn’t travel here to live like I did in my home country, in fact I’m trying to integrate and get citizenship. But most people still speak it to me and I’m tired of having to tell them that just because i’m an english teacher doesn’t mean I wish to live my life in english every moment.

I speak the local language (C1-C2) and get by perfectly fine but because I have an accent or when they find out I’m doing TEFL, people often take the opportunity to speak english to me. Sometimes its my neighbors and roommates trying to get practice, my coworkers who think they have to in the hallway room just because I’m a foreigner, or just people I meet in random situations.

I get that it’s perhaps exciting for them to practice but I wish i could completely hide my accent and assimilate so it wouldn’t happen to me anymore. It’s been 5 years, half a decade at this point, I still get treated like a tourist because I look and sound like I’m from somewhere else (they don’t know from where, it’s just not here). Maybe it sounds mean but I’m truly not at all interested in helping people practice their english outside of my job, it’s not my job unless I’m at work.

Does anyone else feel like this? What do you do about it? Does it ever get better?

Hello all,

I’ve been reading some posts about where to take a CELTA course and it seems that I should take it in a “desired country/city” where I would eventually like to work.

However, if I’m to take a 100% online CELTA course, does location really matter?

I’m based in the UK and am considering doing it with a European centre (because of convenience, time zone, etc.) like Budapest, Barcelona or Prague because they have a good reputation and their courses are relatively cheaper.

I would quite like to try and find a job in Spain in the future but then Budapest‘s course fee is the lowest.

Any advice or recommendation is appreciated. Thank you!

Hello everyone,

I'm a 26 year old Australian currently teaching in Wuhan. I have a CELTA, a bachelor's degree, and currently two years of experience.

I'm currently only making 21K (after tax) and I've begun searching for new jobs for the August intake. However, I'm noticing more and more job listings asking for a teaching license, something I do not currently have.

The only way I can get a teaching license is to go back to Australia and do a Masters. Considering I Ieft Australia due to teaching jobs drying up because of visa restrictions, I'll probably only be studying and will be unable to find work back home.

What should I do? Should I keep searching and hopefully find a better job for August start? Or go back if I have no luck and (probably) suffer two years of unemployment while I upgrade?

Thank you very much.

Hey all,

First-time poster, and to be honest, this might be a bit of daydreaming on my part. I've been going down the rabbit hole looking at high-paying TESOL jobs in the Middle East, and I’m wondering is it possible to still break $100K+ a year?

I have an MS in TESOL and 10+ years of experience (Academic and Corporate), so I figure I might be competitive for some of the better-paying roles. Other than the usual job boards, what specific companies or institutions tend to pay the most? Saudi Aramco? BAE Systems? Military contracts? Universities like KAUST?

Would love to hear from anyone with insights on this.

Appreciate any advice, thanks!

Has anyone had a recent experience working with HESS Taiwan? What is your personal experience regarding the pay, work hours/work load? Would you recommend them?

I’m getting close to finishing my first year in Korea and I think I want to move to China. The hours, pay, and vacation just all seem better, and I’ve started to become a lot more interested in Chinese culture, history, and language. However, my current level of Chinese is basically zero. I was looking at jobs in Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Shanghai, but after more research I’m really thinking Shanghai would be best for me. I’m single and in my mid 20s and it’s important for me to have a good social life. Since I don’t know Chinese I’m worried I’d struggle a lot more with making friends outside of Shanghai (not considering Beijing because the winter is too cold). I really think I just want to look for jobs in Shanghai now, but is it realistic for me to find a job there? Or should I go back to widening my search and also looking in the other cities mentioned? Earliest I can start is June/July although I think most positions August/September start. I’ll have a year of experience teaching in Korea and prior to that I taught online for a year. I am a white female so I think that helps me (sad to say but I know it’s true). So, is it realistic for me to look for a job ONLY in Shanghai? Or will the competition be fierce?

Does anyone have any experience in becoming an ESL teacher but not going abroad? I live in the US and want to teach English to the local immigrant community. I’m feeling a little discouraged because 1) there don’t seem to be many schools that have esl classes anymore, over 20 years ago my cousins took ESL as part of their high school classes, but now it seems like private tutoring is the only option. 2) most people obtain a tefl/tesol with the intention to teach abroad. While this does interest me, it is not my main goal. I am having trouble finding resources and pathways to teach esl in the United States. Does anyone have any experience doing so? If so, how do you teach? Do you tutor or are you in a school? Do you need a tefl/tesol certificate on top of a teaching credential, or is there a separate process? Do you feel like this is a solid career choice in terms of demand and pay? I really appreciate any and all feedback!

I tried to find the answer to this (or something similar) but I very well could have missed it! So I’m sorry if this has been answered before.

Anyways, I am around 1 semester away from getting my associates degree. I did some college for awhile, and then I’ve taken time off to work and decide what it is that I actually want to do for a career. I’ve been working as a PCA in an elementary school, and I love the environment of education! I was pretty sure I wanted to work in education, but having this job totally solidified it for me. After finding out about teaching English, what a TEFL is, etc. I’ve been toying with the idea of going for my cert. However, I do know that it’s very hard to get a job teaching English without a bachelors degree! Would it make sense to get my TEFL before going back to college in order to teach English online, as well as continue working full time, to get my money up and finally get my bachelors? Or is it more logical to get a degree and then my TEFL? Very sorry if this type of question doesn’t belong here, or if it is somewhat vague. Just curious and wanted to hear thoughts from those who have taught online on websites that don’t require a degree. Thank you so much in advance for any help/advice! ❤️

I read an interesting article in which the OP said that people who take ESL jobs get stuck in them, unable to make reasonable money, unable to return to Western society, and that their jobs are edu-tainment at best.

Are ESL teachers at home or abroad, misfits of one sort or another?

What are your thoughts on this?

Here are mine, having worked in the industry abroad and domestically for 3.5 years:

Don't get me wrong, I know there are English instructors who can't spell but are great crowd-pleasers, but I would distinguish ESL as a 'low-entry' job, rather than a 'low-skilled' job. Based on their necessary resilience and adaptability.

Contrary to the OP, in my experience, places 'love' to keep people around for many years. But places are so terrible that people try to keep moving. Or people burn out.

There is a great difference between doing a good job and a bad job, but many places don't care much so long as the numbers are good. This is the state of the industry.

Are people misfits? Not totally sure. I've met some people who are totally normal, in-between jobs, fresh out of school, trying to start a new career, or interested in traveling.

In North America, I would admit there is NOT a career for unqualified teachers outside of a very spare few in Canada (graduate degrees, or grandfathered into government programs), and some college jobs in the USA (they seem to have more jobs). I have met a great many more misanthropes in these settings.

Based on the salary of people who 'actually' have full-time, reasonable jobs (I've done extensive research) I have a hard time imagining these people aren't somewhat put together. This is why people are motivated to stay in the career, I imagine, unless they are truly at a loss for what to do outside of ESL. But then they would be stuck, and worthy of our sympathy.

When I worked in Vancouver, Canada, and ran 2 classes and tutored, I worked very hard. I scraped by in one of the most expensive cities in the world, with my own apartment and paying my own bills. It was difficult and required a lot of sales skills.

TLDR: I've met some people who are great (teachers/entertainers) and who have made a decent living, save 10K a year, and manage to support the mirage that ESL is a career, overseas. Domestically, it is a rare few who get a job which is a 'career'.

I am currently doing the 120 hour TEFL course and I also have a degree. I’m pretty set on going to South America after I have completed it.

Unfortunately my TEFL program offers no in person experience so I’d be going into this completely new, will my lack of experience hold me back from going to South America? I’ve seen a lot of people say that most countries are cracking down on offering jobs to those with no real experience.

Hi, newbie here! I'm in my first full year of teaching, and I have students from 3 years old up to 16 years old. My three and four year olds are new to the school so are familiar with my way of teaching, and like what I do. However, my five year olds have come from a different teacher and seem to hate me! The problem is that he just spoke to them in Spanish! I can hear them openly insulting me in another language and it feels really bad. I know they're not even fully formed humans yet but I need to get them to respect me otherwise I'm going to lose my students! Help!

Does anyone know if there are jobs teaching ESL at universities in Indonesia? I've searched and searched online but can't seem to find any but some students I know in Jakarta say they have foreign teachers.

Hello all, I am just about to start my online tefl course (170 hours) through International TEFL Academy. Super excited!! My question to you is: How realistic is it for me to make a living in France? I plan to move there once I am certified with my French girlfriend, who is currently living there. She works in public health.

I know Paris is pricey. Been there. Loved it. Not my cup of tea however. I hear other cities and towns will fair better which I am open to. Lyon has been my favorite so far in terms of big cities.

Background: US native. B.A. Psychology degree, 1 month experience of teaching ESL in China. Loved it.

Lifestyle: Pretty minimalist, hate idea of having a car. Typically not a big spender on things. Just essentials.

How feasible is all of this with entry level? Is there room to upskill and improve?

Thanks in advance!

To keep things short, I would like to move back to my home country of Italy. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Information Technology from an American university. I've lived in the USA for years now, but I would like to leave immediately after my graduation.

Despite Italian being my native tongue, my skills in it have deteriorated after all these years spent in the USA. I'm still able to have conversations in Italian, but I have doubt in being able to work an Italian-speaking job.

As such, I'd like to explore being an English teacher in Italy. I don't think knowledge of Italian is even a requirement, but I'm sure it's a plus.

In a few years, the credentials to my name would include:

-Native-level English knowledge

-Around a B1 level of Italian (I'm working on improving it)

-Italian citizenship

-BS in Information Technology

If I decided to get a CELTA certification, would I be set to immediately start looking for some entry-level jobs?

Submitted my application with everything they asked for. Then the gardaí asked me to send proof I need a police certificate.

I explained that I can't apply for a job in order to get a work permit without a police certificate they said to teach I need vetting. I explained that all that is required in Vietnam is my TEFL, degree and police certificate they just told me they wouldn't process it.

Now I'm waiting for an appeal.

This is madness. Surely I'm not the first ever Irish person to do tefl in Vietnam

I do not need Garda Vetting, I need a police certificate as required in Vietnam.

Going to start my master's in the summer, if everything goes well, the program I'm in, I'll finish with my Master's by next year. How likely could I get a job with a Master's? Should I enroll in TEFL or TESOL during this time, to appear to be more appealing to prospective employers? I am thinking of doing JET, or teaching in South Korea, China, Thailand, or Vietnam. I was also a Peace Corps Volunteer that taught English in the past, as well.

Edit: sorry for the bad grammar, on my phone

I’m thinking of doing the standard 120 hours course from The TEFL Org. It’s reasonably priced and is all online.

From what I can tell it seems to be worth it, particularly as I want to work in Vietnam.

There is the same course offered by the same company that includes a guaranteed job and accommodation - but costs nearly £1,000 (£500 returned if you complete the five month placement).

It is obviously tempting to have everything sorted for you, but feels like a waste of money.

Does anyone know how difficult it is to get a job in Vietnam, get a flat and generally figure things out by yourself.

My main worry is having no help with visa applications, dodgy landlords etc in a country so foreign to me.

Any words of advice appreciated.

Hi Is it mandatory for non-native speakers to take IELTS as part of the IELTS Examiner recruitment process? If so, do they require it after the interview or before the interview?

Hi everyone, I'm currently in mainland china, I'm wanting to go to Taiwan next academic year for work. I've been contacted by genius English, from what I can gather they are the English First of Taiwan, which I'm trying to avoid.

Where can I look for decent jobs in Taiwan? Eslcafe is rife with recruiters. 1104 ( I think it's called ) I can't find the English settings, any help would be appreciated.

Been in Thailand the past few years, just got bachelors and TEFL. Have been trying to find a school to partner with me to complete iQTS or AOR however not having much hope. I live in a good life but don't save much at all. Thinking about moving to China with a hope of finding a school to partner in the programme and also be able to save some money, even if its for a year to get me qualified and then back to Thailand.

Has anyone else done something similar? Shall I do it etc? I'm British, 2 years TEFL experience.