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The demand for English teachers in Brazil remains high, and that demand will only increase in the foreseeable future. The need is fueled by a number of factors: flourishing tourism, expanding international trade, and a burgeoning oil and gas industry. The enormous influx of visitors due to the World Cup and the Olympic Games resulted in many new job opportunities and an interest in Brazil to learn English. The largest markets by far for teachers are Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but a quick web search will reveal opportunities all over the country. 

Jobs fall predominantly into one of two categories: teaching for a private storefront school or teaching your own private students. Jobs with corporations and public or private high schools and universities are nearly impossible to obtain. Don’t expect to land a full-time position with the type of benefits you might find back home, in the Middle East, or in the Orient. However, work abounds here, whether you have a certificate and experience or not, so if you have a bit of a knight-errant attitude, Brazil could be the place for you.

Note that Brazil is no longer cheap. The cost of living has increased a good deal in recent years, particularly in Rio, which hosted the Olympics in 2016, and saw a resultant run-up in rents. You shouldn’t expect to save a lot during your time here. However, if you optimize your income by teaching private students, and secure reasonably-priced accommodations, you’ll be able to live a very comfortable middle-class life in a truly beautiful and inviting country, and have significant free time to enjoy it. I’ve visited 27 countries and chose to make Brazil my home.

Private Schools

The easiest way to get started teaching in Brazil is to teach for a private language school. These schools are found in every town of any size. There are several franchises, including Wizard, Fisk, CCAA, CNA, Brasas, and Cultura Inglesa. Of these — and this is only my opinion — the first two are on the lower end of the quality of workplace scale, and middle two are decent, and the last two are the best places to work. I think you’ll find my assessments reflected in their respective pay scales as well.

There are also many independent language schools, particularly in the larger towns and cities. 

At either franchises or independents, you might teach in a classroom setting. You should expect to teach students of varying ages and abilities. Many schools, particularly the independents, also have private students who seek classes either at home or at the office. 

It’s easy to get started with schools if you are a native speaker. You will likely have to take a standardized test of grammar, but this should present little difficulty. No one will ask to see a work permit. (I’ll discuss visas in-depth a bit later.) 

Do note that most schools will start you on a trial basis, initially giving you only a couple of classes, or one or two of their private students. So it’s common to work for more than one school, and this practice is accepted.

Most schools, franchise or independent, offer some sort of training — though the quality of that training varies. Expect franchises to have more formal programs. Independents tend to be small — the owner may well be the office manager and teach classes as well — so teaching may amount to “ride along with me today.” However, you should receive some training, plus access to materials, and — importantly — students waiting to be taught.

Pay Varies 

Pay in Rio these days for private lessons is 60-70 reals per hour. In Sao Paulo 80-100 reals is common (note that the conversion rate at the time of this writing is 3 reals to US$1, but is subject to change, so check before you arrive). Higher hourly pay is possible, and I think that as the Olympics near, we’ll see rates increase, perhaps significantly. However, the language school business is very competitive, and overhead limits what schools can pay. You can always negotiate. I would at least ask for travel expenses, which can significantly enhance your effective earnings. 

In smaller towns, you might earn only 15 reals per hour, but then it’s all relative to the cost of your style of living. I’ll address cost of living choices a bit later.

Spanish classes are also very popular here. If you happen to speak Spanish in addition to English, you’ll find yourself in a stronger bargaining position.

This may be the place to note that your dress and how you present yourself are very important here — more so than in much of the U.S. You will be judged on appearance, so bear that in mind. While clean jeans are common in business settings, and it’s OK to wear them to classes sometimes, I wouldn’t show up to an interview in them. There are lots of surfer types in Rio and other coastal towns just wanting to teach enough to support their hobby; present yourself in a professional light, and you’ll stand out.

Private Students

My recommendation for most prospective teachers is to start with schools but to begin immediately building your base of private students. The first reason should be obvious: Without the school in the middle, the students can pay a bit less, and you still earn much more — often twice per hour what the schools can pay you. Other benefits include: freedom to accept or reject students, more control over your schedule, and (if you follow my strong recommendation) payment in advance rather than after delivery of classes. 

If you want to build up a base of private students and plan to stay put for any length of time, you should invest in some business cards. They are quite cheap here. An average price might be 75 reals for 1000 cards. If you have any special skills or knowledge, highlight them on your card. I have an MBA. I put this on my cards, and indicate that I specialize in business English. These cards work. I have often received calls from prospective students who obtained my card second- or third-hand. So have some nice cards printed up, and pass them out freely, even if the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be a likely candidate.

Once you have a few students, ask for referrals. Word of mouth is the favored means of securing business the world over, but in Brazil a recommendation is far and away the best way to secure work. After a year in Rio, all I had to do if I wanted new students was to spread the word among my existing students. The next week, my cell would start ringing. Brazilians are a very social people and like to be helpful. Leverage those traits.

I only teach private students, and much prefer this arrangement, but there are drawbacks in so doing. First, expect some cancellations, often on short notice. This problem is easy to resolve: Require payment in advance, and stipulate that payment is forfeited if the student cancels the day of the scheduled class. I have found that having simple, printed policies to hand to prospects makes it easier both to explain your policies and also lends them more weight. 

The other drawback to teaching private students is that most want classes early in the day (7:00-10:00), at lunchtime, or in the evenings. But you may find that this works out for you. In the late morning I run errands, and most afternoons I go to the gym. So the hours aren’t necessarily a drawback if you are flexible as most freelancers are accustomed.

General Note Regarding Brazilian Students 

One of the best things about teaching English in Brazil is the students themselves. Brazilians as a group are warm and friendly and given to laughter. You’ll find that your students sincerely want to learn English, and will respect you. My mother was an English professor in the U.S. her entire adult life, and her last several years working, she bemoaned the decline in students: their knowledge, their attire, their general attitude and lack of respect.

Brazilian students, by contrast, are eager to learn. OK, they can’t always find time to do their homework, but they are polite, eager, and appreciative. It feels really good to hear a student say, “Thank you, teacher” at the end of class. 

But it’s more than just manners. My students have helped me tremendously. Beyond providing me with referrals, they helped me to get provisional residency here, and then permanent residency. I’ve been invited to dinners in homes, to birthday parties, even to a wedding. Brazilians are curious and often disarmingly direct. If you are at all approachable, your students will want to know all about you. They will often advise you and want to look after you. It’s sweet. 

I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t come to Brazil to be an English teacher. Teaching was for me just a fast and sure way to start making some money here. But I found that I really enjoyed it — in large part because the students here are so wonderful.

Other Types of Work

While teaching private students or for a storefront school are far and away the most common ways here to make a living with English, there are others. And you may want to investigate some others, because you’ll find — again, especially in Rio — that your class hours will fall dramatically from December through February. Summer vacations fall during this period, not to mention Christmas, New Year’s, and Carnival. Brazilians joke that the New Year here starts in March.

So what do you do? Well, this could be a good time for you to travel yourself, either back home or around this beautiful country. 

There are also other ways to make money. Besides teaching classes, I have:

• Prepared students for the TOEFL exam
• Prepared students for interviews in English
• Interviewed candidates in English for corporate clients
• Edited articles and papers already in rough English
• Assisted students and professionals to apply for study programs

You could also do something completed unrelated. A woman I know with a background in the business does some small-scale import/export to augment her teaching income in the slow months.

Visas

It’s difficult to get a work visa unless you have a specialty such as medicine or engineering. Few English teachers get them. Most foreigners teaching English in Brazil do so on tourist visas, which are good for 180 days per year. Technically, teaching on a tourist visa is not condoned by the government, but I have never heard of a single person being ejected for teaching without a work visa. 

So what if you overstay your tourist visa? Let’s say you arrive March 1st (which is a good time to arrive, just after Carnival, when things get serious). You can stay 180 days on your tourist visa, until the very end of August. But you choose to get going until December 15th before going back home. Then, you will have to pay a fine for overstaying, 8.26 reals (updated) for every day you overstay, but it’s capped at 100 days or 826 reals. So the max that you would pay, regardless of how long you overstayed, would be less than US$400. And in this scenario, you could return again the next March 1st. Pay the fine, and all is forgiven.

Living in Brazil

Housing

It’s rare that housing is included in any teaching offer here, with the exception of a few volunteer or earn-your-TEFL-while-you-teach programs. Housing will be your major expense, so give some thought to it, and if possible, do a bit of research before you even leave home. 

Renting your own place may be too expensive, and the red tape can be daunting as well, although it’s easier in smaller towns, especially if you can deal directly with the owner. There are other options.

Aparthotels, which cater primarily to business people on extended assignments away from home, can be found in Rio and Sao Paulo. While they aren’t typically cheap, you won’t have to sign a long-term contract, and credit cards are usually accepted. Most I’ve seen have two bedrooms, so if you have or can find a roommate, this is an option to consider.

Many people rent a room or a suite (bedroom with its own bath) in someone else’s house or apartment. If you find folks that you are comfortable with, this can be a great arrangement. See the box at the end of this article for websites. 

If you’ve lined up a job before leaving home, or at least arranged an interview with a school, you could ask them for suggestions. I personally know of one woman who was matched with another teacher in this way.

Food

To my taste, Brazilian food tends to be basic and a bit bland, but also tends to be fresh, cheap and can be very healthy if you prefer a diet high in fruit and vegetables. While it’s easy to succumb to eating too much rice and beans and fried pastries, you’ll also find a wealth of healthy foods available. Fruits exist here that I never saw back in the States. There seems to be a juice bar on every corner. Farmers’ markets can be found in many towns large and small. In Rio, I could buy enough vegetables at the weekly market to last all week for no more than 14-15 reals.

Por kilo (by-the-kilo) restaurants are a Brazilian institution. The quality of these restaurants varies, but the better ones have a wide selection of foods, including great salads, for reasonable prices. Depending on the restaurant and your appetite, you could pay anywhere between 10-25 reals per meal.

When you are on the go, you can always grab a pastel (pastry). They are ubiquitous here and come in many varieties, most selling for 2.50 reals.

Transportation

Rio and Sao Paulo both have good metro systems. I suggest finding a place to live not too far from a station, as you’ll likely be traveling around to your students’ homes or places of business. 

Buses in Brazil are cheap and will get you almost anyplace you might need to go, although the bus drivers tend to drive as if they are on the NASCAR circuit. Look at it as an adventure.

See the box at the end of this article for useful links.

Health Care

Brazil has free public health care, and foreigners will be treated. (I’ve used it myself when bitten by a stray dog.) But lines can be long, and the quality of care is hit or miss depending upon your locale. It’s likely you’ll be working in a larger city, where lines will be longer. So you may choose to obtain private health care — which is also available to foreigners. 

In Rio, I paid 280 reals per month for a medical plan. In the small town where I now live, I pay 400, due largely to lack of competition. These plans are middle of the road but do protect me in case of emergency. As a side note, I’ve been pleased with my treatment here.

Off-the-Clock Activities

If you’ve chosen to teach English abroad, there’s a good chance that you have an adventurous soul. There’s also a good chance then that you’d love Brazil.

Certainly, you’ve seen footage of Carnival many times on TV. But Brazilian culture encompasses so much more. From Oktoberfest in Blumenau to the Festival Literaria Internacional de Paraty (FLIP) here in my little town (Paraty), Brazil really presents an amazing wealth of things to do, many of them free or inexpensive.

Some of the simplest activities are my favorites: meeting my friends at the usual bar, or the usual barraca (shack) on the beach. Walking along the beach. Striking up a conversation with the person who invited you to share his table on the crowded sidewalk. 

For the active, there is surfing, hang gliding, parasailing, mountaineering, kayaking — the list goes on and on. And Brazil is a photographer’s dream.

Many ESL teachers choose to work only Monday-Thursday. Most private students will have classes either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, leaving you free to spend Friday morning getting organized before heading out to begin the weekend seeking adventure or simply relaxing. 

There is plenty of work for you here in Brazil, and — certainly in the larger locales — there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained. The perpetual challenge is to balance the two!

For More Information

The following site lists countries for which Brazil does NOT require a visa: PassportVisasExpress.com. Note that this is not an official Brazilian government site, but a site for visa services. Better yet, check find your closest Brazilian embassy for the latest information in the COVID pandemic era.

You can also check out selected expatriate websites for Brazil here on Transitions Abroad for more information on organizations that bring together locals and expats or provide information needed by expats, including where to find temporary and permanent accommodations. In addition to much practical information, you can make friends and network on expatriate websites.. 

Transportation links: 

• Rio bus
• Sao Paulo bus
• Sao Paulo metro 

Note from the author: “Many schools these days are now asking for a work visa. I would suggest trying smaller, independent language schools, who often are happy to find native speakers. Also, I would encourage teachers to look for their own private students, with no school as a middleman. I’ve never once been asked by a private student if I had a work visa. Additionally, without the school as a middleman, the teacher makes a great deal more. Business cards and strategically placed flyers (at universities, multinational businesses, etc) also will bring initial students. Then, ask for referrals! That’s the single best way to land new students. Private students never ask.”

Despite the rumors, a native’s knowledge of the English language is not an automatic passport to employment anywhere abroad. It can, however, be put to profitable use in many Asian countries. In South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and in immensely populated China a high proportion of the population are eager for education from English speakers. A university degree in any subject is the main prerequisite, often a 4-6 week certificate in TEFL and CELTA, while in some cases just a degree of enthusiasm will suffice. 

Most foreign teachers work as employees of privately-run language institutes whose owners are often much more interested in maximizing profits than in maintaining high educational standards, though more and more programs protect their participants and insist upon higher standards. Working as a self-employed private tutor is more lucrative than teaching at an institute but normally requires considerable experience of the market and suitable premises from which to work. 

Teachers must be prepared to face a range of challenges in some cases—from the high cost of housing in Japan to some remnants of ingrained racist attitudes in some quarters—and a resistance to innovation. However, with tact and perseverance it is possible to overcome the obstacles encountered by new arrivals. 

Persuading shy or under-confident students to speak in class will be a challenge in many Asian contexts. Like teachers the world over, those who can make their classes fun and can encourage students to use the English they already know, however limited, get the best results and find the job more rewarding.

Despite the rumors, a native’s knowledge of the English language is not an automatic passport to employment anywhere abroad. It can, however, be put to profitable use in many Asian countries. In South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and in immensely populated China a high proportion of the population are eager for education from English speakers. A university degree in any subject is the main prerequisite, often a 4-6 week certificate in TEFL and CELTA, while in some cases just a degree of enthusiasm will suffice. 

Most foreign teachers work as employees of privately-run language institutes whose owners are often much more interested in maximizing profits than in maintaining high educational standards, though more and more programs protect their participants and insist upon higher standards. Working as a self-employed private tutor is more lucrative than teaching at an institute but normally requires considerable experience of the market and suitable premises from which to work. 

Teachers must be prepared to face a range of challenges in some cases—from the high cost of housing in Japan to some remnants of ingrained racist attitudes in some quarters—and a resistance to innovation. However, with tact and perseverance it is possible to overcome the obstacles encountered by new arrivals. 

Persuading shy or under-confident students to speak in class will be a challenge in many Asian contexts. Like teachers the world over, those who can make their classes fun and can encourage students to use the English they already know, however limited, get the best results and find the job more rewarding.

China: An Explosion of Private Language Schools 

The Chinese nation remains huge and hungry for the English language. 

For decades there has been a flow of native speakers from the West to teach at schools and academic institutions around the country. But the past few years have seen a remarkable explosion in the number of private language institutes and companies, something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The emerging middle class aspires to send their children for private tuition just as in the capitalist countries of Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. So a great many opportunities for jobs teaching English in China are opening up and are being advertised, especially via the web. 

The eagerness to import English teachers continues unabated in provincial academic institutes. Many middle schools and normal schools (teacher training colleges) have trouble filling teaching posts and turn to foreign recruitment organizations like CIEE which places U.S. nationals in their Teach in China programs.

Requirements for teaching posts in China are not always stringent: a university degree is often sufficient and teaching experience counts for more than formal training. In many cases teachers receive free airfare, a local salary, and perks. Wages are best in the big cities (Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai) where there are scores of English schools. But many teachers feel that the drawbacks of Chinese city life are so great that they prefer to work in the provinces for less money. The western provinces like Yunnan are more pleasant and less money-mad than the east coast cities. Once you get a job make sure the school sorts out the various permits for which you are eligible. Ask for help in obtaining a temporary residence so you can avoid the tedious and expensive necessity of renewing your visa.

Indonesia: Foreign Teachers Receive Ten Times the Local Wage

The world’s fourth most populous nation, Indonesia, has been rapidly recovering from the political and economic instability that rocked the country at the end of the 1990s, as well as natural disasters. The major language schools survived the crisis and continue to be staffed by foreign teachers. Big companies and rich individuals support about a dozen large schools that can afford to hire trained foreign teachers and pay them about ten times the local wage. Unlike in Thailand and Korea, beginners lacking the appropriate background or training will have to confine their job search to the locally-run back-street schools. The best teaching prospects in Indonesia are for those who have completed some TESL training and are willing to sign a 12- or 18-month contract. Contracts tend to start in July or October. Most jobs are in Jakarta, though there are also schools in Surabaya, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Solo (among others). Jobs are occasionally advertised in the Jakarta Post or Indonesian Observer. Schools are willing to hire teachers with either a British or North American accent. 

Visas are an issue whatever the nationality. Work permit regulations are rigidly adhered to in Indonesia, and all the established schools will apply for a visa permit on your behalf. You must submit your CV, teaching certificate, and other documents to the Indonesian Ministry of Education, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Immigration/Manpower Developments. English teachers must have English as their first language and be nationals of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, or New Zealand. With more informal teaching positions it is necessary to leave the country every two months (normally a day trip to Singapore). 

Most schools pay between six and eight million rupiahs (net) per month ($800-$1200) and some offer free accommodation alongside the salary, which permits a comfortable lifestyle.

Japan: The Financial Rewards Can Be Considerable

For decades, North Americans have been tempted to spend a year or two working in the land where English commands an almost reverential respect. Consequently, competition for teaching jobs has become acute. Be prepared to spend a sizable sum of money while conducting the job hunt because of the high cost of living in Japanese cities. But many people persevere because of their commitment to an extended stay in Japan and also because of the potential earnings. Once established, the financial rewards can be considerable. 

Japanese people of all ages eagerly sign up for lessons, especially evening classes, held in schools, town halls, and offices. “Conversation lounges” or “voice rooms” are popular among young adults who simply want to converse or socialize with a native speaker. These can have a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, though they do not pay well and are probably unsatisfactory for serious English teachers. 

The most common means of recruitment after the internet—on websites such as www.ohayosensei.com—is by advertising in English language newspapers, especially the Japan Times on Mondays and, to a lesser extent, Metropolis. 

To shine over the competition, you must be prepared when you present yourself to a potential employer. Dress as impeccably and conservatively as possible. Take along (preferably in a smart briefcase) your undergraduate diplomas plus any other education certificates you have earned and a well-produced resume that does not err on the side of modesty. Be prepared at the interview to be tested or to be asked to teach a demonstration lesson. 

Anyone arriving in Tokyo to conduct a speculative job hunt should go straight to one of the dozens of “gaijin houses,” relatively cheap long-stay hostels for foreigners, listed in guidebooks or the glossy monthly The Tokyo Journal. Popular gaijin houses will be full of new or nearly new arrivals chasing teaching jobs. Because rents in Tokyo are virtually prohibitive, some foreign teachers stay in gaijin houses throughout their stay. 

Most Americans enter Japan on a 90-day tourist visa and then begin the job hunt. The best times are late March and August. The key to obtaining a work visa is to have a sponsoring full-time employer in Japan. If you are hired by a school or company able to offer a full timetable, your employer must take your documents to the Immigration Office for processing within six weeks. Technically, you are not supposed to work until this process is complete, but most schools seem to get you working immediately. Once your visa is confirmed, you must leave the country and apply to a Japanese embassy abroad for your tourist visa to be changed. You can do this in 48 hours in Seoul. The government of Japan will not give work permits to anyone without a university degree. 

A third visa option is a “cultural visa.” To qualify, you must be able to prove that you are studying something Japanese like flower arranging, Shiatsu massage, martial arts, or the Japanese language. 

If you want to arrange a teaching job in advance, the best bet is the government’s JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program. Each year, more than 6,000 foreign language assistants from 40 countries receive 1-year renewable contracts to work in private and state junior and senior high schools. Anyone with a university degree who is under 40 is eligible to apply. The program is fairly competitive, partly because of the generous salary of ¥3,600,000 (about $44,000) in addition to a free return air ticket on completing a contract.

South Korea: Competition for Teaching Jobs Less Acute Than in Japan 

The demand for native speaker English teachers in Korea far outstrips the supply, so competition for jobs is much less acute in Korea than in Japan. More than two-thirds of the work available is teaching young children and adolescents so any native speaker with experience of or just enthusiasm for working with children will have a large choice of job offers. Language institutes advertise for teachers on a host of websites and also in the English language press, principally the Korean Times and Korean Herald. The bias in favor of North American accents helps in the job search and Canadian teachers are particularly in demand, with several recruitment agencies based in Canada actively looking for university graduates willing to give teaching a go for a year.

A typical package available through recruiters in exchange for signing a contract to teach a minimum of 120 hours a month is a salary of 2,000,000-2,600,000 won ($1,700-$2,300) and sometimes more, return airfare, free accommodations, paid holidays, medical insurance, and a bonus on completion of the contract. It is a requirement of the E2 visa that teachers have a four-year degree or a 3-year degree plus TEFL Certificate. 

Jobs are easiest to find at hogwons (language schools) in the Chongro district of Seoul, in Busan, and in the smaller cities. The minimum qualifications are fluency in English, a bachelor’s degree, and a positive attitude. Berlitz Korea hires dozens of teachers at its schools, while Ding Ding Dang Children’s English also hires 50 native speaker teachers for 18 franchised schools throughout Korea. The English in Korea Program (EPIK) is a scheme run by the Ministry of Education to place more than 1,500 native speakers in schools and education offices. The monthly salary is between 1.7 and 2.1 million won plus accommodations, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, and visa sponsorship. 

Some neophyte teachers who arrange their jobs while still in North America wish they had waited until arrival in Seoul before committing themselves to a school. Often better wages and working conditions can be negotiated in person. Twelve-month contracts normally include a sizable bonus, so it is in the teacher’s interest to complete the contract.

Private tutoring normally requires traveling to the clients, though in Seoul this is less stressful than in Japan since the subway stops are announced in English. Most people who have taught in Korea report that the students are friendly and eager to learn but the hogwan owners are more interested in profit than in honoring their promises and even contracts with native speaker teachers. As a general rule be suspicious of anything that sounds like a dream contract. Lessons are not generally strenuous since the emphasis is on conversation rather than grammar.

Taiwan: Requirement Is a College Degree and a Certificate

It has been said that the only requirement for being hired as an English teacher in Taiwan is a college degree. Increasingly, there is a requirement for some form of certificate such as a TEFL, CELTA or TESOL. Despite changes in immigration legislation which have made it more difficult for foreigners to undertake private tutoring, the demand for college-educated native speaking teachers who are prepared to stay for at least one year is huge. Many of the hundreds of private children’s language institutes (as in Korea, the children’s ESL market predominates), cram schools (called buhsibans) and also some state secondary schools are keen to sponsor foreign teachers for the necessary visas. 

The requirements for a working permit include the original of your university diploma, health certificates issued in Taiwan (including an HIV test and chest X-ray), and a 1-year contract signed by your employer. This must be done within the 60-day validity of your Visitor Visa. With the working permit you can obtain a resident visa and Alien Resident Card (ARC). The American accent is invariably preferred, especially in the capital Taipei. Yet not everyone wants to stay in Taipei where the air pollution is second only to that of Mexico City; the traffic congestion is appalling, and the rents are high. Jobs are plentiful in the other cities of Taiwan such as Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan. The majority of schools pay at least NTD$550-600 ($18-$20) per hour, and quite a few pay NTD$650-$700 or more after a teacher has proved him or herself. Fees for private tuition are considerably higher.

To see which schools are hiring, see the tealit.com website. Recruiting agents can be found, such as Reach to Teach, which has also recruits for jobs in China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam. 

Thailand: Teaching Jobs Are Virtually Guaranteed

While Bangkok absorbs an enormous number of English teachers, both trained and untrained, there is also demand in the other cities such as Hat Yai, Chiang Mai in the north, and Songkhla in the south, where there is less competition for work. Not much teacher recruitment takes place outside Thailand. Even Thai universities and teachers’ colleges, as well as private business colleges, all of which have EFL departments, depend on finding native-speaking teachers locally. 

In short, anyone who is determined to teach in Thailand and prepared to go there to look for work is virtually guaranteed to find opportunities, though for less pay than in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan in general. Finding language schools to approach is not a problem. Most new arrivals in Bangkok start with the English language yellow pages. Job vacancy notices appear in the English language press: The Bangkok Post and The Nation. Popular hostels often have bulletin boards with job notices and other information for foreigners. The best place to start the actual job hunting is around Siam Square and the Victory Monument where language schools and institutes abound. Check the Ajarn Teaching in Thailand website for the some of best inside information about potential employers. 

First impressions are important throughout Asia. Dress smartly for interviews. A professional-looking resume and references help. University graduates (ajarn) are highly respected in Thailand and are expected to look respectable. At your interviews, be prepared to undergo a grammar test. As usual, it may be necessary to start with part-time and occasional work with several employers, aiming to build up 20-30 hours in the same area to minimize travel in the appalling traffic conditions of Bangkok (smog masks are cheap and a wise investment). 

The busiest season for English schools is mid-March to mid-May during the school holidays, when many secondary school and university students take extra tuition in English. This coincides with the hot season. The next best time to look for work in private schools is October. The worst time is January and February. 

Working as a self-employed private tutor pays better than working for a commercial school, but tutoring jobs are hard to set up until you have been settled in one place for a while and found out how to tap into the local elite community. Placing an ad for private pupils in English language papers often works. Possible venues for would-be teachers include hotels where a native speaker is needed to organize conversation classes for staff. 

The majority of EFL teachers in Thailand do not have a work visa, and this seems to cause no serious problems, though there has been a recent crackdown on that practice, and “visa runs” are often necessary. At present, foreigners mostly teach on a tourist visa or (preferably) a non-immigrant visa. Universities and established language schools may be willing to apply for a work permit on behalf of teachers who have proved themselves successful in the classroom and who are willing to sign a 1-year contract. To be eligible for a work permit you must have a minimum of a B.A. and, in most cases, a relevant teaching certificate. However, most teachers simply cross the border into Malaysia every three months where a new visa can quickly and easily be obtained from the Thai consulate. 

In a country where teaching jobs are so easy to come by, there has to be a catch—low wages. The basic beginning monthly wage in Bangkok is only about 30,000 – 35,000 baht (US$850-$1000), with a few schools paying less and some considerably more if you have experience, especially when travel to outside locations is required. Rates outside Bangkok are often lower. 

By the same token, living expenses are also fairly low, though growing. Out of an average monthly salary of 35,000-45,000 baht ($1000-$1250) teachers can expect to pay ($300-$650) in rent, depending on location in and outside of Bangkok. Tasty food can be had from street stalls for a few US dollars, and more substantial and exciting meals enjoying the area’s marvelous fresh fish and fruit cost very little. See Numbeo.com for the cost of living in Bangkok to find more detailed information. It is still possible for even part-time teachers are able to afford to travel around the country, including to the islands, where life is slow and the beaches are wonderful, though life in the city is more expensive all the time.

Jobs in Vietnam and Cambodia are Increasing Rapidly

Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, which are relatively wealthy, mainly turn to Britain for teachers, and pay is good. 

In Vietnam, the many teaching opportunities continue to grow as trade and tourism expand and the need for English speakers increases. Searches for jobs in Vietnam turn up hundreds of options, many relatively well-paying. Cambodia is also now offering many more paying opportunities as well.

Vіеtnаm’ѕ bоrdеr hаѕ bееn сlоѕеd tо tоurіѕtѕ ѕіnсе Маrсh 2020. Іn Арrіl, thеу fіnаllу lіftеd thе trаvеl bаn аnd ѕtаrtѕ wеlсоmіng tоurіѕtѕ аgаіn. Тhе gоvеrnmеnt іnіtіаllу ореnеd расkаgе-bаѕеd tоurіѕtѕ but wіth thе dоmеѕtіс оutbrеаkѕ, іt dіdn’t rеаllу lаѕt.

Еvеntuаllу, оnсе thе соuntrу’ѕ vассіnаtіоn rаtе іѕ grеаt аnd mаnу соuntrіеѕ hаvе аlѕо ореnеd thеіr bоrdеrѕ, Vіеtnаm fіnаllу mаdе thе dесіѕіоn.

Іn thіѕ аrtісlе, І wіll ѕhоw уоu hоw tо еntеr Vіеtnаm аnd whаt аrе еntrу rеquіrеmеntѕ tо еnѕurе уоur trір wіll hаvе lіttlе hаѕѕlе аѕ роѕѕіblе.

Еvеn thоugh fоrеіgn trаvеllеrѕ аrе nоw wеlсоmе tо trаvеl еvеrуwhеrе іn Vіеtnаm, thе еntrу lіѕt оf rеquіrеmеntѕ fіrѕt саmе а bіt unсlеаr. А mоnth lаtеr, tоurіѕtѕ ѕtаrtеd tо ѕhоw uр іn Наnоі. Но Сhі Міnh Сіtу, Nhа Тrаng, аnd еvеn thе рорulаr hіghlаndѕ оf Dа Lаt.

RЕLАТЕD РОЅТ: Васkрасkіng іn Vіеtnаm аnd 24 Fun Тhіngѕ tо Dо іn Vіеtnаm

ТАВLЕ ОF СОNТЕNТЅ hіdе
VІЕТNАМ ЕNТRY RЕQUІRЕМЕNТЅ ІN 2022
НОW ТО ЕNТЕR VІЕТNАМ ІN 2022
VІЕТNАМ ТRАVЕL ТІРЅ
FІNАL ТНОUGНТЅ
ЅАVЕ ТНІЅ РОЅТ ОN YОUR РІNТЕRЕЅТ:
VІЕТNАМ ЕNТRY RЕQUІRЕМЕNТЅ ІN 2022

Тhе rеquіrеmеntѕ сhаngе quіtе оftеn аnd іt lооkѕ lіkе ѕоmе dосumеntѕ аrе bеіng сhесkеd rаndоmlу. Yоu ѕhоuld bе аblе tо gеt thе lаtеѕt rеquіrеmеnt lіѕt frоm уоur аіrlіnе.

Аt thе mоmеnt, оnlу fullу-vассіnаtеd trаvеllеrѕ саn еntеr Vіеtnаm аnd hеrе аrе thе dосumеntѕ уоu ѕhоuld рrераrе:

Раѕѕроrt – vаlіd fоr 6-mоnthѕ uроn аrrіvаl
СОVІD-19 vассіnаtіоn саrd
Vіѕа – іf уоu wаnt tо ѕtау lоngеr thаn уоur frее vіѕа аllоwѕ уоu, gеt аn еvіѕа fоr 30-dауѕ, thіѕ саnnоt bе ехtеndеd
Nеgаtіvе RТ-РСR rеѕult – thіѕ hаѕ bееn rесеntlу (mіd-Мау 2022) rеmоvеd, but рlеаѕе dоublе-сhесk wіth уоur аіrlіnе
Неаlth dесlаrаtіоn – dоwnlоаd thе РС СОVІD арр – ѕоmе ѕау thіѕ іѕ nо lоngеr rеquіrеd but ѕоmе аіrlіnеѕ mіght ѕtіll аѕk fоr іt
Тrаvеl іnѕurаnсе – muѕt соvеr аt lеаѕt $35,000 fоr СОVІD-19 trеаtmеnt – gеt оnе fоr $42 fоr 4-wееkѕ – rаndоmlу сhесkеd
Ехіt оr rеturn flіght – рrе-соvіd, thіѕ wаѕ а rеquіrеmеnt but nеvеr аѕkеd tо bе ѕhоwn, gеt оnе fоr $19
Маѕkѕ – Vіеtnаm ѕtіll rеquіrе еvеrуоnе tо wеаr mаѕkѕ іn рublіс рlасеѕ
НОW ТО ЕNТЕR VІЕТNАМ ІN 2022

Неrе іѕ а quісk guіdе оn hоw tо еntеr Vіеtnаm frоm bоаrdіng уоur flіght tо gоіng thrоugh thе іmmіgrаtіоn аrеа:

Fіll оut thе РС СОVІD Арр аnd ѕсrееnѕhоt/ѕаvе thе QR соdе – 24 hоurѕ bеfоrе thе flіght, hоwеvеr thеrе hаvе bееn rероrtѕ thаt thіѕ іѕ nо lоngеr rеquіrеd. Аlthоugh, ѕоmе аіrlіnеѕ mіght аѕk уоu tо dо ѕо; bеѕt tо соntасt уоur аіrlіnе оr dо іt аt thе аіrроrt іf rеquіrеd
Рrеѕеnt уоur еvіѕа/vіѕа, vассіnаtіоn саrd, аnd tеѕt rеѕult tо thе сhесk-іn dеѕk
Маkе ѕurе tо wеаr а mаѕk whеn уоu lаnd іn Vіеtnаm
Тhе іmmіgrаtіоn оffісеr wіll ѕtаmр уоur раѕѕроrt оf еntrу аnd ехіt dаtе dереndіng оn thе tуре оf vіѕа уоu uѕе оr hаvе
Тhе tеѕt rеѕult, РС СОVІD Арр, аnd vассіnаtіоn саrd mіght nоt bе аѕkеd whеn уоu lаnd ѕіnсе thе аіrlіnе hаѕ сhесkеd thеѕе аlrеаdу
Тrаvеl іnѕurаnсе аnd ехіt оr rеturn flіght tісkеt аrе rаndоmlу сhесkеd
Тhіѕ Fасеbооk grоuр hаvе mеmbеrѕ асtіvеlу роѕtіng thеіr еntrу ехреrіеnсеѕ. Іt’ѕ аlѕо а grеаt рlасе tо аѕk уоur quеѕtіоnѕ.

VІЕТNАМ ТRАVЕL ТІРЅ

Wе hаvе ѕо mаnу аrtісlеѕ аbоut trаvеllіng іn Vіеtnаm thаt wіll bе hеlрful іn сrеаtіng уоur trаvеl рlаn оr wrіtіng уоur іtіnеrаrу. Неrе іѕ а quісk lіѕt:

Ноw tо ѕреnd 3-wееkѕ іn Vіеtnаm
Моtоrbіkіng іn Vіеtnаm аnd mоtоrbіkіng rоutеѕ
Веѕt саvеѕ іn Vіеtnаm
Веѕt bеасhеѕ іn Vіеtnаm
Vіеtnаmеѕе ѕnасkѕ tо trу
Тhеrе аrе mаnу buѕіnеѕѕеѕ thаt wеrе аffесtеd bу thе раndеmіс аnd hаvе tо ѕhut dоwn. Yоu mіght ѕtіll nоtісе рlасеѕ lіkе Nhа Тrаng whісh uѕеd tо bе ѕо buѕу аrе fіllеd wіth еmрtу ѕtоrеѕ, ѕhutdоwn hоtеlѕ, аnd rеѕtаurаntѕ nо lоngеr ѕеrvіng.

Ѕоmе реорlе mіght fіnd thе ѕmаllеr сrоwd bеttеr аnd еаѕіеr tо trаvеl, whіlе оthеr реорlе рrеfеr thе buѕtlіng numbеrѕ оf tоurіѕtѕ еѕресіаllу іf уоu аrе trаvеllіng аlоnе. Rеgаrdlеѕѕ, Vіеtnаm ѕhоuld bе аblе tо brіng bасk іtѕ tоurіѕtѕ numbеrѕ аnd thе buѕіnеѕѕеѕ іn nо tіmе.

FІNАL ТНОUGНТЅ

То еntеr Vіеtnаm tоdау іѕ nоt muсh dіffеrеnt thаn bеfоrе, thеrе аrе аddіtіоnаl рареrѕ аnd rеquіrеmеntѕ but іt’ѕ ѕtіll рrеttу muсh thе ѕаmе. Маkе ѕurе tо рrераrе аll уоur dосumеntѕ аѕ еаrlу аѕ роѕѕіblе. Іt аlѕо dоеѕn’t hurt tо dоublе-сhесk wіth thе аіrlіnе іf thеrе’ѕ аnуthіng thаt іѕ аlѕо rеquіrеd bу thеm.

І hоре thаt уоu fоund thіѕ аrtісlе оn hоw tо еntеr Vіеtnаm hеlрful. Wе wіll trу tо kеер thіѕ аrtісlе uрdаtеd аѕ оftеn аѕ роѕѕіblе.

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