I worked as an English teacher in China for two years and it changed pretty much every aspect of my life and career trajectory.

Before moving to China, I wanted to get into advertising. I’d probably have tried to get an unpaid internship at an ad agency and worked my way up the ladder. By the end, I’d realized how small of a box I’d placed myself in. My writing skills were in demand all over Asia and I had acquired the skill of English teaching which could get me work in any country. Suddenly, the world was open to me and I knew I’d never need to search desperately for work again.

My career trajectory because of English teaching in China eventually led me to join the starting team of one of the hottest startups in the Bay Area. But, most importantly, my career in English teaching taught me how easy it is to travel the world and take advantage of what it has to offer.

You probably have an idea of which countries you’d like to teach English in. I want to temper your expectations. Even though some countries are more familiar and fun than others, you need to remember the following criteria when searching for a job.

• Ease of starting – Some countries like Vietnam are now quite strict about having either a degree in teaching or a TEFL certification on top of a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Often, you can expect other requirements like 2 years in the industry if you want the best jobs. I landed two jobs in China with no certificate and minimal prior experience.
• Pay to cost of living ratio – This goes without saying, but some regions give you much better pay for English teaching than others. English teachers in Argentina make extremely modest sums, sometimes scarcely more than $500 per month. English teachers in China and Vietnam almost always make a significantly higher salary than the normal population, usually on top of perks like free housing.
• Ease of finding a job – Some countries really value learning English from a foreign teacher. Others feel their local population serves just as well as any foreigner.

Below, I’ve listed the top countries for teaching English in 2023

Top: Teaching English in China

Right now China comes with the small caveat that it is now at odds with the US over Taiwan’s sovereignty. It risks events like major sanctions. These could result in expulsion of Americans or other groups of foreigners should conflict get worse.

However, China currently has the largest and most lucrative market for English teachers and there is little sign that will end any time soon. China is largely homogenous with little foreign exposure because much of the outside world’s internet is blocked by the Great Firewall. At the same time, it is an intimidating country for many foreign English teachers who prefer more familiar countries in Asia like South Korea or Japan so it is relatively underserved

The average monthly salary range is $1,200 to $3,500. This usually is more than enough to cover the cost of living and allow you to save money or travel around the country.

The requirements for teaching English usually are the standard bachelor’s degree plus TEFL certification. Anecdotally, I noticed that the further towards the interior of the country you traveled, the lower the requirements were. 

At my school (a private college), they even allowed a Sri Lankan with less-than-perfect English to teach the subject. It may not be politically correct but, often, schools want parents to see that a foreigner is teaching their kids English more than minor details like their skill level.

Teaching English in Cambodia

This Southeast Asian country is not on many peoples’ radars but it has low requirements and high demand for English teachers. Personally, I would look hardest for opportunities here if I were to get back into the game today.

Notably, while you will need a TEFL certification to teach here, a bachelor’s degree is not mandatory. That’s a rarity. The average monthly salary range is $500 to $1,000, which can cover the low cost of living and allow you to save some money or travel around the region.

When I say low cost of living, I’ve heard it’s even cheaper than Vietnam – that means full meals for a dollar or less. Rent likely goes as low as $100 a month for something decent.

Cambodia also enjoys extremely flexible visa laws for the time being. While it’s not advisable, you could probably find an informal job teaching English while living on a tourist visa and work your way into something more official down the line. This is the tried and true process nomads were using in China and later Vietnam until things got strict.

It’s worth noting that since Cambodia is relatively undeveloped, most of the desirable jobs will likely be in one or two cities like Phnom Penh.

Teaching English in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a growingly popular destination for digital nomads. I’ve often noticed a thriving English teaching scene is a good predictor of a good digital nomad scene. The exception to this rule, of course, being China.

Anecdotally, many expats in 2023 have told me that Costa Rica is high on their list for countries to visit.

Today, I gather that Costa Rica offers very lucrative teaching positions at private schools.

The average salary for teaching English in Costa Rica is around $800-$1200 USD per month, depending on your qualifications, experience, and employer. This is enough to cover your living expenses, but not much for saving or traveling. Costa Rica is another country that often requires a TEFL certificate but isn’t strict about teachers having a bachelor’s degree.

Teaching English in Taiwan

Taiwan makes this list largely because it has a large number of jobs that pay quite well. Salaries go from $1,400 to $2,400 and you can expect perks like:

• Flight reimbursements
• Insurance
• Other perks

Taiwan has pretty standard requirements like a TEFL certification and a bachelor’s degree. I would guess it’s unlikely you’ll be able to slide into any sort of teaching role without these two requirements. Also, unlike China, you’ll also need a passport from a country with English as a native language.

Right now, Taiwan comes with the additional caveat that it could be invaded by China in the near future. China has been practicing military drills in the coastal waters nearby, however, it remains to be seen whether it will actually happen.

I’m going to try and maintain an updated list of good countries to teach English in that I edit over time. I believe these positions for the next few decades will remain as some of the best gateways into the nomad experience.

We would also like to give an honorable mention to Vietnam. It would normally have made this list but unfortunately the nation has become increasingly strict about teaching requirements at breakneck speed. If you’re interested in traveling there, we’ve crafted a guide for you.

Until next time, explorers…