The top 5 TEFL destinations for a mature teacher
Whoever said TEFL teaching is a young person’s game? It’s not! TEFL destinations all over the world are happy to consider applications from teachers who’ve been around the block and already have 40, 50, or 60 candles on that annual cake. Here, we’ll take a look at just a few, ranging from the enchanting Mediterranean countries of south Europe to the sun-kissed lands of Latin America (something of a hotspot for the mature teacher)
Italy
There’s no reason why you can’t go and live a little of la dolce vita as a mature teacher! Hit up Italy. There’s no age limit, except that you have to be at least 21 years old (ahh – remember the days?). Jobs are largely in private language institutions or in short-term summer camps. The former tend to be based in big cities like Rome and Florence, where you can fill your weekends with art, architecture, and enthralling imperial history. The latter are usually closer to the great outdoors, up in the Dolomites or the gorgeous Alps of the Aosta Valley. Oh, and we’ve not even mentioned the food and the wine. Let’s put it this way: Be ready for your fill of tagliatelle and Tuscan Chianti!
Spain
Spain has long been one of the retiree destinations of choice in Europe. We’re not saying you’re at that point yet. However, it might be a place worth considering if you’re looking for an easy pace of life. There’s the added bonus of a ready-made community of expats, too. The Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava both combine on the south coast to give beaches upon beaches of perfect yellow sand. You might find it hard to get a job in the resort towns themselves, but you could be based in cities like Barcelona or Malaga, from where it’s an easy drive out to the lapping Mediterranean waves. There’s something for the adventure-hungry mature teacher, too – look to the dust-billowing sierras and the north coast, which is strung with surf breaks and shoreline mountains.
Nicaragua
Latin America is one of the global hotspots for mature teachers. Unlike in Asia, there aren’t many age restrictions on working visas, so all the admin in this part of the world should be considerably easier to get sorted. We think Nicaragua is worth a special mention because the cost of living is so darn low. You can rent out a pretty nice apartment for just $150-200/month, while food and transportation cost next to nothing. It’s true that salaries drop in line with that, but they still top out at around $600/month. You also won’t have to worry about having a degree or previous teaching experience to get started in this land of crashing surf breaks, stunning beaches, and smoking volcanoes.
Mexico
It’s no secret that thousands of US folk look south of the border for their dream retirement. We can hardly blame them. This is a place of almost endless sun and sand. It’s where the blinding white beaches of Cancun flip to the shimmering golden shores of the Pacific. And it’s a place of charming colonial cities that buzz with life, spicy taco cooks, and mezcal. Yep, we could get used to that! But it’s also possible to do all of it while still working as a TEFL teacher. Expect a schedule of around 20-25 hours per week and earnings up to $800/month. You won’t need a degree or any previous experience.
Online
Yep, we’re cheating a little with this one, but it’s still worth considering. There’s currently a major boom going on in the world of online TEFL. With huge demand for jobs plumped up by all the remote learning that’s happening during the pandemic, more and more schools need more and more teachers, all of the time. For mature teachers with previous commitments – a family, a house, a dog – it can be a real no brainer. All you need to get started is that 120-hour TEFL cert (or our specialized 140-hour Master Course, which is specifically designed for online teaching), native-level English, and a good internet connection. Most schools will also ask for some previous experience and a bachelor’s degree. Pay ranges from $12-25 an hour on average.
There are loads of opportunities out there for the mature teacher. Latin America and Europe are particular hotspots. Or, you can get started right away if you go into online teaching. We’ve just the course for that – our 140-hour Master Course.