5 future TEFL destinations to watch
In the wake of sweeping changes to English tutoring in China and the rise of online teaching after the pandemic, we thought it might be a good time to look forward to some potential future TEFL destinations. Cue this list of five spots. It scours Latin America, Africa, and Europe in search of the lands that could just be that next Thailand or South Korea.
Argentina
Like much of Latin America, Argentina is slowly establishing itself as a solid place to go a-hunting for teaching jobs. As an emerging market, the positions don’t pay as well as some of the more tried-and-tested spots around the globe (think Thailand and South Korea, for example). But there’s something unique about teaching in a place where your weekends can be spent hiking the jagged spires of Andes or tasting wine from the grand estates of Mendoza, don’t you think?
You might have noticed, but we’ve had our eye on the home of Patagonia and the rolling Pampas as a potential TEFL destination extraordinaire for some time now. We recently launched a new TEFL internship that will whisk you away to the Tango-twirling city of Buenos Aires for teaching experience and a placement in a school at the end of it all. But there are more and more opportunities popping up here than ever before, with potential earnings in the region of $800-1,200 USD/month. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Colombia
Wipe that image of gun-toting Pablo Escobar from your mind. That’s largely Hollywood’s version of Colombia. The truth is that warring cartels aren’t really that much of an issue here these days. In fact, cities like Medellin and Bogota are positively brimming with backpackers and digital nomads on the hunt for somewhere new and exotic. There’s certainly no doubting the fruits of the country, which include the coffee farms of the Valle del Cauca and the picture-perfect beaches of the Tayrona National Park to name just two.
As Colombia enters the 21st century and sheds its old rough-and-tumble image, it’s likely that more and more TEFL opportunities will become available. Today, jobs are mainly in private teaching institutions and centered on the main cities of Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin. Pay is also usually below the $1,000 USD mark (anything from $400-1,200 is normal) but the cost of living is cheap to balance that out.
Mexico
Mexico only really entered the mainstream of the TEFL industry in the last decade. But, with a population of over 127 million and rising, there’s certainly a market there! Couple that with the advent of the NAFTA trade deal with Canada and the US, a booming aerospace industry, and an ever-growing tourism sector, and it’s easy to see how the land of tacos and tamales could rise to become a teaching powerhouse to rival even Southeast Asia.
For now, pay remains a little on the low side. You’re looking at around $900-1,200 USD/month on a schedule of about 30 hours a week. On the flip side, living costs are super low here – a bag of avocados is less than $2 and you can dine at street stalls for 10 cents a taco! It’s common to be asked for a bachelor’s, but rules aren’t set in stone, so you can also teach in Mexico without a degree if you manage to find the right opportunity.
North Macedonia
North…where? Don’t beat yourself up, because North Macedonia has only been the name of this sliver of the Balkans since 2019. The moniker was officially changed to appease the EU, allowing the country to get on the path to accession to the block. If that ever happens, you can expect teaching opportunities to come thick and fast, as demand for English learning skyrockets in the wake of free trade deals with 27 other countries.
Even without EU membership, North Macedonia is certainly worth considering. Graduates really only need a TEFL certificate to apply for jobs (most employers won’t ask for a BA), the climate is downright lovely (look – Greece is just across the border to the south), and there’s a stunning backcountry of craggy mountains and alpine lakes to explore.
Ukraine
Ukraine is another of the Eastern European countries on this list of future TEFL destinations that’s long been angling to enter the EU. When – or if – that happens, you can expect a whole load more teaching jobs to pop up. The truth is Ukraine has already made steps in the right direction. There was a palpable increase in available jobs when the DCFTA trade agreement was signed with the block back in 2016. What’s more, Ukraine has shed its old Moscow-leaning government and there’s a huge upswell in start-up companies and creative agencies who want to speak English in towns like Kiev and Lviv.
Did we mention that Ukraine is also downright beautiful? Long stretches of the Carpathian Mountains roll through, offering hiking and ski resorts. When you’re not exploring the hinterland, get ready for gold-tipped churches like St. Sophia’s Cathedral and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra – surely some of the most striking Orthodox religious sites on the globe!
If you’ve been tempted by the prospect of teaching in any of the future TEFL destinations that are listed above, be sure to get in touch for more info. Or simply head over to our courses page to start your TEFL course today.