How to Make Money Teaching English Abroad

You may not have considered teaching English abroad as a way to travel and make money, but it makes perfect sense if you’re considering taking a gap year between college and career, or if you’re just plain antsy at your job and want to expand your horizons out of the country.

A lot of people ask me how to make money teaching English abroad. The truth is, I haven’t had the opportunity to do it myself, but several of my fellow travelers have such as Samuel Jeffery, who you may know as Nomadic Samuel. He taught English in South Korea for 3 years, which propelled him into a prolific travel vlogger.

There are several destinations where you can teach English – with each job ranging in monthly salary, length of contract, and allowances such as airfare and housing. The basic requirement to teach English abroad is to become a certified ESL teacher. ESL stands for English as a Second Language. Students who enroll in an ESL course are non-native speakers studying the English language to develop their speaking, writing, and reading skills.

Companies like Oxford Seminars offer the course in over 100 locations throughout the United States and Canada to help you become a certified ESL teacher (also known as the TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certification). Once you’ve obtained your certificate, you’ll get help finding a job abroad.

Here are four examples of how much money you could make teaching English abroad in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

South Korea

• Monthly salary of $1,620 – $2,700 USD
• Partially or fully reimbursed airfare
• Accommodations usually provided or allowance given
• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
• Contract length: Year round

Italy

• Monthly salary of $890 – $2,220 USD
• Airfare not included
• Accommodations not included
• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
• Contract length: Summer

Qatar

• Monthly salary of $2,250 – $3,500 USD
• Partially or fully reimbursed airfare
• Accommodations usually provided or allowance given
• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
• Contract length: January/February, August/September, or year round

Colombia

• Monthly salary of $380 – $1,380 USD
• Airfare not included
• Accommodations not included
• Requirements: High school diploma, Bachelor’s degree preferred, and TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
• Contract length: Year round

South Korea and China are known to pay the highest salaries compared to the cost of living, but if you have relatives you could stay with in let’s say, Mexico or Colombia, this could be a great way to pocket all of your earnings (or use them to see more of the country).

Tips for Teaching English Abroad:

• Get your TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate (typical cost is $1,000 – $2,500)
• Go with a course like Oxford Seminars, which provides you with job placement assistance
• Do your research about when countries typically hire English teachers
• Secure a teaching job before you leave
• Asia and the Middle East pay the highest salaries
• Be sure you have enough money to cover expenses before your first paycheck is issued

If you’ve ever considered getting your feet wet in terms of traveling, teaching English abroad may be the perfect solution to opening that door for future travels. I began traveling as a way to see my family in Italy, which eventually became my passion and full-time career.

Even if this isn’t a way to become rich, working internationally will give you the priceless gift of experiencing another culture.