5 amazing destinations to look for a TEFL summer job in 2020
The TEFL summer job has long been a fantastic way to try your hand at teaching before taking the full plunge and signing up for a year in China or Thailand or Vietnam. It’s also a good way to build experience, earn a little cash during the traditional school holidaying season, and to start using that EFL qualification to explore the world right away. When it comes to scoring a seasonal position, there are a few destinations we’d say to watch out for in 2020. They’re tried-and-test favourites with good pay and lots of opportunities, but also places where you might be pleased to find that pesky COVID-19 is under control.
Greece
Visions of picture-perfect coves and turquoise Aegean waters abound in Greece, where the summers regularly see temperatures of 100+ and the sun is almost always shining. Yep, this southern corner of Europe is the place to go if you’re craving a hit of Vitamin D, but also want somewhere where you can escape to pine-ringed beaches and ancient ruins once the day’s teaching is over. In addition, Greece has surprised Europe with a robust approach to the coronavirus pandemic – lockdowns are lifted as of May and there’s talk it could be one of the first tourist spots to reopen. English camps take place on the gorgeous Greek Islands and in the enthralling capital of Athens, usually aimed at learners of between five and 12 years.
Italy
Italy was one of the worst-hit of all European countries in the Coronavirus pandemic, but things are now slowly (very slowly) returning to normality. Lockdowns have been tentatively lifted for folk across the country, so it’s possible to head to the shops and whatnot. Hopefully, that’s a trend that will continue and the stunning wonders of the boot will be accessible to global travelers sometime soon. If that does happen in time for the late summer, then Italia has some of the most acclaimed summer camps on the continent. They take place all over, from the balmy shores of Sicily in the south to the alpine valleys of the Dolomites in the north.
Sweden
The great backbone of Scandinavia bucked the trend in Europe by dodging strict lockdowns in favour of voluntary social distancing measures when COVID-19 hit. That’s helped its economy remain relatively intact and open for business. That, in turn, means there’s a chance it will be one of the few places where TEFL summer jobs actually go ahead in 2020. You might just be able to head up and make the most of the high wages that are offered by this corner of the continent, not to mention the beautiful archipelago islands, pine forests, and glistening freshwater lakes that are often the settings for their residential summer camps!
China
China might have been the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, but things have cooled down a lot since the dark days of January. The sprawling country is tentatively getting back to normal for the summer months. So, if everything clicks back into place as you’d hope, there’s likely to be an uptick in TEFL summer job positions as the kids look to catchup with all the learning that’s been missed. Placements usually last between three and six weeks and come with on-campus accommodation included.
Thailand
While Thailand is often considered a prime destination to go a-hunting for year-long contracts, it could also be a doozy for TEFL summer jobs in 2020. The reason? Mainly because it’s handled the coronavirus outbreak like a pro. At the time of writing, reports of new daily cases have dwindled to nearly zero in the Land of Smiles. There are still some lingering restrictions on international arrivals and we’re not sure what the status of incoming travelers will be by the summer months, however it’s a place worth bearing in mind, especially as seasonal placements are becoming more of a thing in these parts. They’ll usually last seven weeks between June and August, which is in tandem with the middle of the Thai school term.
These are strange times, which is why you might need to change up your plans on the hunt for TEFL summer jobs in 2020. The above destinations are a good start, but if you can think of anymore, we’d love to hear suggestions in the comments below. (Most summer TEFL jobs require at least a 120-hour certificate, which you can start working towards right now over on our courses page).