Exploring the Top Five ESL Destinations in Asia

If you're considering teaching ESL in Asia, thenschool or university where you're working has the
congratulations! You're about to embark on an excitingproper credentials to hire foreign teachers, as many
new journey in your life - one that will reap majorESL job placement agencies warn that phony school
benefits in terms of your future career, finances andscams have been reported here.
overall perspective on the world.3. Taiwan. Taiwan is truly a teacher's market, as
The hard part isn't over yet though; in fact, decidingthere's a huge demand for ESL teachers all year
which Asian country you want to teach in can be oneround - and with an extremely low cost of living, ESL
of the most challenging aspects of applying to the bestteachers often report leaving their posts with as much
ESL jobs. Don't just choose a country based on theas $8,000 in savings!
number of ESL jobs available -instead, you shouldTaiwan is a gorgeous island district with a fast-growing
narrow your search down to countries where you'll geteconomy, which is why the demand for English
the best experience possible from your teachingteachers is so high. Taiwan also boasts major school
position.chains that can help initiate and train ESL teachers for
But if you're worried that selecting the right Asianlife in Taiwan, which provides a great support system
country for you boils down to simply pointing yourfor those who might experience some culture shock.
finger at a map of Asia, not to worry - we've got youThe most plentiful ESL jobs here are for kindergarten
covered! In this article, we'll explore the top five ESLteachers at chain English schools; if you have a MA,
destinations in Asia based on previous teacheryou're qualified to teach at universities, where hours
experiences, availability of employment and benefitsvary.
offered.One important note is that Taiwanese classrooms are
So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and relax - you'remuch more regimented than that of their Chinese
about to learn which ESL destination in Asia is perfectcounterparts, so expect to have your daily lessons
for you!subject to approval. Additionally, a large emphasis is
1. Korea. Korea is by far the most popular ESLplaced on memorization and recall, and you'll be
destination in Asia for many reasons - one of themrequired to cover certain subjects by the school.
being the incredibly rich experience that teachers4. Indonesia. Although teaching positions aren't as
discover here! Korea boasts some of the best ESLplentiful as in China or Korea, Indonesia is a great place
job opportunities, with teachers free to pick the size ofto teach English as a second language, particularly as
school and number of students that they'll have toEnglish is part of a national curriculum. This means your
teach to.students will already have experienced some form of
Additionally, the availability of jobs in Korea means thatEnglish teaching. Indonesia boasts some of the best
you'll be able to pick where you'd like to go. For fans ofweather in Asia, along with a delicious cuisine that's
the big city, Seoul is a metropolitan paradise: with aextremely popular among ESL teachers. Additionally,
population of over 12 million, this bustling city offers aESL teachers can expect a low cost of living (get
huge range of unique cultural experiences, includingready to sharpen your bartering skills!) in a culture that's
shopping, museums and a glowing nightlife. Although angenuinely fascinated by English speakers - in fact, you'll
ESL salary doesn't stretch as far in this city, manymake plenty of friends with the locals! As a teacher,
teachers find the diversity of Korea's largest city to beyou'll live in a middle-class neighborhood in a house with
an exciting and rewarding experience.other English teachers. The most job vacancies will be
Plenty of jobs are also available in the warmeron the islands of Java and Sumatra. According to
climates of Daejeon, Gwangju and Busan. English isprevious ESL teachers, it's difficult to get a job on Bali,
moderately spoken in Korea, and most public transportas they prefer to hire people from within the country.
and food stores contain information in English, allowing5. Japan. Japanese culture is rich, exciting and full of
teachers to acclimate without risking severe culturalenergy - and now has never been a better time to
shock.teach English in Japan!
2. China. The most populous country in the world isThere are plenty of ESL chain schools in Japan, which
also one of the biggest providers of great ESL jobs -means that it's relatively easy to find work within the 3
in fact, many ESL teachers report feeling as thoughmonths of your tourist visa. However, it's
they had their pick of work thanks to the vast amountrecommended that you find your teaching post before
of schools in this massive country.landing in Japan, as the cost of living in this economic
When considering an ESL placement in China, trypowerhouse is quite high; in fact, Tokyo is one of the
looking beyond Beijing and Shanghai to cities that aremost expensive cities in the world. With that said,
just as fascinating but will give you a true taste ofpicking where you want to teach in Japan is crucial, as
Chinese culture. Warmer climates and gorgeousthere are huge difference between the big and small
beaches make Southern and Eastern China a delightfulcities (and it isn't just size!). Jobs are more plentiful in
treat, although Northwestern China should be limited toTokyo and Osaka, while smaller cities will help you to
the adventurous as it isn't as developed as otherstretch your salary and give you a more authentic
areas of the country.Japanese experience.
China does come with its own challenges whenWith the wealth of ESL jobs available in all of these
applying for ESL jobs, especially when it comes toAsian countries, you're bound to have the journey (and
work visas and permits. Always check to see if thecareer training) of a lifetime!