Everything you need to know about teaching English in Austria

English teachers often overlook the option of teaching English in Austria and tend to favor the Czech Republic to the north. For a small country, Austria has a lot to offer and this article looks at what to expect if choosing to teach English in four of the largest cities in Austria.

Where is Austria?

Austria sits bang center in the heart of Central Europe with perhaps the most attractive location of any European country. It has of course its Sound of Music mountain peaks and the sea isn’t too far away with its southern neighbor, Italy. The other countries which it borders are the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Austrians are perhaps most well-known for Arnold Schwarzenegger, their Habsburg castles and for their famous Sacher Torte.

To understand Austrians better, you need to have some general knowledge of their recent history.

From 1867–1918 Vienna was the de facto capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and – just as is the case with London’s size – Vienna was developed in view of an expanding empire. This is the reason why it sits uncomfortably in the east of the country today and is overly bloated for such a small country in the middle of Europe. However, despite this, it still retains a local feel – albeit a little like an open-air museum in places.

With the rise of the Nazi party and their eventual control of power, Austria was annexed by Germany and spent the duration of the Second World War essentially occupied by their “older brother”. At the end of the war, when other nations like the Czech Republic were drawn more towards socialist ideals, Austria opted to turn the other way and became a staunch ally of the USA and accepted the conditions of the Marshall Plan – also known as the European Recovery Program. This astute, political move protected the Austrian lands from Russian invasion and set the wheels in motion to develop Austria into the wealthy country which it is today.

Austrians are connected to Germany through their joint history and elements of their language, but the similarities stop there and Austrians are very much so a fiercely independent nation. Austrians are also in general a very open-minded people and despite their current conservative government’s views are a welcoming people.

Teaching in Vienna

Vienna, the capital, has year-on-year been voted the world’s most livable city and when you visit you soon understand why. It’s clean, safe and although day-to-day costs are higher than in Prague, it isn’t a prohibitively expensive city by any means. Teachers starting out in Vienna can expect to earn between 15-30 Euros per hour – working for local language schools – and once you have settled in and formed good contacts, you can expect that rate to rise to 40-60 Euros per hour for teaching private students.

The procedure for finding work in Austria is very similar to that of finding work in the Czech Republic, and if you are interested in what it is like teaching English in the Czech Republic then you can find the relevant tefl online pro article here.

A degree isn’t mandatory for teaching English in Austria, unless you want to teach in the state school system, and all that is required is an international TEFL certificate from a reputable school.

Austria also follows the same school year semester times, with summer holidays taking place during the summer months of July and August, and the optimum time to come here to find work is at the start of the school year in September. The secondary time to look for work is in January – when some teachers fail to return after their Christmas break.

Please remember that at tefl online pro we assist our graduates with ongoing job support, help and advice, so feel free to reach out and contact us if you would like assistance in finding English teaching work in Austria.

Teaching contracts in Austria are usually arranged for one year and these can of course be shortened with a few month’s notice should your plans change. It is always best to look for work whilst being on the ground as schools generally don’t employ from abroad.

Teaching in Graz

Graz boasts a medieval old town main square, and is the capital of the southern Austrian province of Styria. It is also close to the vineyards which are famous for producing Austria’s excellent, not so well known wine and is only a 2-hour drive from Slovenia’s fairytale capital, Ljubljana. As Austria’s second largest city, there is a fair amount of work around with slightly lower hourly rates of pay than in the capital. Graz definitely has a much more laid-back vibe than Vienna and has an excellent expat support network too.

Because Austria is a member of the European Union, nationals of the EU can move here and teach without needing a visa. Non-EU nationals will arrive and receive their 90-day Schengen visa, which is the perfect amount of time provided to find teaching work and get yourself legally entitled to work in Austria.

A very good point to note here is that although we are obviously biased when it comes to the Online versus Onsite TEFL certificate course debate, choosing to travel to Austria to take an Onsite TEFL course before you look for work will eat into the first month of your 90-day tourist visa limit and means that you will then only have a further 60 days or less to secure your teaching job and work permit papers/accommodation.

On another note, the system here is set up similarly as it is in the Czech Republic and in both countries we do recommend obtaining a trade license as this will provide you with greater financial freedom and allow you to miss out the language schools completely and directly invoice clients.

Again, please feel free to reach out and contact us if you are a tefl online pro graduate and need assistance with work permit or trade license application information help or advice.

Teaching in Linz

Linz, the 3rd largest city in Austria, is a Baroque-lovers dream and sits thoughtfully next to the resplendent Danube river. It also has a vibrant arts and music scene, and is home to the world’s largest outdoor graffiti gallery. Given its size and population, it has slightly fewer teaching English options that Graz but the salaries are around the same figure and one perk of teaching in this Upper Austrian city is the feeling you get from being one of the few expats around enjoying its local, unspoiled, café culture, cobblestone atmosphere.

In Austria, most teaching work involves teaching adults and this means teaching either General English or Business English, and either groups or individuals.

You will be expected to dress smartly and you will definitely be expected to be on time. Austrians are notorious for their time-keeping (in a good way) and frown heavily on anyone who arrives late.

When describing Austrian students, it’s good to compare them with Czech students. After all, they did belong to the same empire for a good many years and they do share many customs and quirks. Both countries place emphasis on titles – postboxes in the cities state the name of the person preceded by their academic title – but Austrians take this custom more seriously and while it isn’t necessary to hold a college degree, unless you are wanting to teach in the Austrian state school system, Austrians will hold you in greater stead if you do have one.

Austrians are also grammar fanatics, though not as much as the Czechs, and might leave you wondering why you are having to focus so much time on conjunctive verbs when what you feel your students need is to master the art of English conversation.

Perhaps the one big difference though is that while Czechs couldn’t give two hoots if you learn their language or not, Austrians will expect you to learn Österreichisches Deutsch if staying for an extended period of time. With this in mind, the good news is that Czech is a more difficult language and learning Austrian German is comparatively easy.

Teaching in Salzburg

Birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg has got to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It borders Germany and on a clear day enjoys impressive views of the Alps. Salzburg though is no Vienna and it pales in comparison to the capitals sheer size and opportunities. Still though, despite Salzburg being a very popular destination for tourists to visit and expats to live in, there are opportunities to earn a good living teaching English and surprisingly, salaries are on par with what you can expect to be earning in Vienna.

Read more Teaching English Abroad Country Specifics articles on the tefl online pro Blog

tefl online pro run three internationally recognized TEFL courses:

The Fast-Track 60-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Professional 120-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Hybrid 140-Hour International Online/Onsite TEFL Certification Course

TEFL Online Pro is a fully accredited, award-winning provider of international Online TEFL/TESOL certification courses.

We have won the prestigious Teachers’ Choice Award four years in a row (2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022).

You can read verified TEFL Online Pro customer reviews on the leading independent TEFL reviews website, Trusted TEFL Reviews:

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2022/

TEFL Online Pro video testimonials can be viewed on the Reviews page of our school website:

https://teflonlinepro.com/tefl-online-pro-reviews/

Our customers have also left verified reviews on the TEFL Online Pro official Facebook page, where we are currently rated 5 out of 5:

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews

Where will you teach English?

Posted on April 13, 2019 by TEFL Online Pro

Teaching English abroad country specifics

Teaching English in Austria, Teaching English in Graz, Teaching English in Salzburg, Teaching English in Vienna, Teaching English in Wien, TEFL Austria, TEFL Graz, TEFL Salzburg, TEFL Vienna, TEFL Wien

Everything you need to know about teaching English in China

The Chinese economy is booming, with huge demand for qualified teachers of English. This article covers five of the more popular cities that teachers tend to choose to work in and what to expect if you do decide to teach English abroad in China.

Where is China?

The People’s Republic of China is the most populous country in the world, with a population of almost 1.5 billion. It is a huge country located in East Asia and has grown over the last 10 years to become one of the top destinations for people teaching English abroad. Come to China to taste the legendary cuisine, visit the imperial sites, hike the Great Wall of China, see the Terracotta Warriors at Xi’an and to get your ultimate shopping fix. It is a country with so much to offer and see, and it is a fantastic location to teach English.

China is one of the countries where a Bachelor’s Degree (in any subject) is mandatory for the work visa process. It is also necessary to have a TEFL certificate from a reputable online or onsite TEFL company or two years of teaching experience, and to be a passport holder from Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, UK or USA. In addition, you also need to obtain a clear background check.

Non-native speakers can find teaching English positions but because of the strict work visa rules here, you won’t qualify for the work visa. Some schools get round this by hosting non-native speakers on a business visa. It is sometimes recommended online to teach in China on a tourist visa, but this is illegal and you could wind up in serious hot water if discovered doing so.

An average teacher’s starting salary comes in at US$2,500 and it is possible to begin earning much more than this figure once you become established – as much as $4,000 per month, with accommodation and medical insurance as part of the package. China is also an attractive location because of its low cost of living, meaning this is a great location to save.

The five most common types of teaching location in China are teaching at a public school, language school, university, international school and teaching as a private tutor. While it is typical for teachers starting out in China to find themselves teaching children, there are also lots of opportunities for teaching adults in the larger cities – of which there are no shortage of in China.

Teaching in Beijing

The capital, Beijing, officially ranks (as Shanghai does) as one of the most expensive cities in the world, but much of the data is based on property prices and day-to-day costs are very reasonable and allow for a comfortable lifestyle. Beijing is the most popular city for teachers to teach in and is a fast-paced, incredibly modern metropolis. It also has a superb public transport system and many possibilities of escaping the frenetic city buzz, and definitely reminds us of the similar energy found in New York or Tokyo.

An important point to note is that some schools say that they will guarantee you at least 20 teaching hours a week, which is generally accepted as making up a standard teacher’s working week, but in reality you might find yourself starting off on between 10-15 hours per week. While this is still absolutely fine to allow you to live comfortably, many teachers who find themselves in this situation do often opt to find additional teaching hours to beef up their schedule.

Teaching in Shanghai

Salaries and costs in Shanghai – on China’s central coast – are on par with Beijing, but where Shanghai differs is the overwhelming sense that it is here where traditions from the east and west fuse. Some describe Shanghai as being the skyscraper capital of the world, and taking the elevator to the 100 Floor Observation Deck of the Shanghai World Financial Centre will definitely convince you that it’s a tall city. It’s super clean too and as with all cities in China, the cuisine is to die for.

Anyone teaching English in China who has ever taught in the UK or US, will know and love that English teachers in China are often treated with as much respect as doctors. Students are also extremely well-behaved and this is one reason why China is considered to be one of the best places in the world to teach English.

It’s also becoming more frequent for schools to cover your accommodation costs and even to fund your airfare over and some schools are now offering a bonus for new teachers, to help them get settled into their new city.

We would like to take this opportunity to expound a little on the topic of airfares and provide a tip for you regarding choosing which airline to take if you have not been lucky enough to land a free flight over, compliments of your school. If you can, try and choose Hainan Airlines. Hainan Airlines is China’s only 5-star airline and lightyears ahead of their other national carriers. Their airfares aren’t usually that much more than China Eastern Airlines (to mention an example) and given the long flight time, your future self will definitely thank you for it.

Teaching in Chengdu

Chengdu is the temperate climate capital of Sichuan Province and it offers a unique perspective on life in China, with perhaps the first notable difference being the strong, local Chengdu/Sichuan dialect which seems to loudly permeate all walks of life here. It is located within the plains of the country, surrounded by various stunning mountain ranges. What we particularly like about Chengdu is that despite being a major city, costs seem lower here and if there was one destination in China we had to pick, it would be here.

Unlike the other countries featured so far on our newly updated blog pages, applying for teaching work in China is usually carried out from abroad and this is mainly due to the work (Z) visa requirements.

The Z Visa can be issued to an applicant between the ages of 18 to 60 and can be applied for at a Chinese embassy or consulate. It isn’t possible to mail your application in – you must apply in person – but embassy and consulate guidelines do permit a friend, travel agency or visa agency, acting on your behalf, to submit your application instead of you needing to.

It is important to note that the Z Visa just permits a 30-day duration of stay in China, from the date of arrival in the country. During this 30-day period, you and your employer must obtain a Temporary Residence Permit which will cover the entire length of your teaching contract. Your Temporary Residence Permit will be valid for a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of five years, depending on how long your teaching contract has been arranged for.

As previously mentioned, a college degree (in any subject) and an international TEFL certificate or two years of teaching experience are mandatory for this work (Z) visa.

Teaching in Hangzhou

As one of China’s most frequented holiday spots, subtropical Hangzhou – sat majestically on the Qiantang River – is just a 100km stone’s throw from Shanghai and a spectacular town with wonderful scenery. Its position on the coast with a number of natural beaches is one of its many draws, just as the West Lake is – apparently celebrated by artists and poets since the 9th century. We found Hangzhou to be more expensive than Chengdu and while you can still save money here, the higher costs are definitely a negative of the region.

Unlike the other teaching locations featured so far on our updated blog pages, we do – in certain cases – recommend going through a recruiter when searching for work in China. These certain cases are when you are wanting to teach specifically at a public school, where benefits, salaries and working conditions can vary considerably. Just by going online, you can find examples of teachers who hadn’t done their homework and who travelled out to China to begin their teaching abroad adventure at a public school; only to discover when they had landed that the school was poorly equipped and literally out in the middle of nowhere.

At tefl online pro we assist all of our graduates with finding the right teaching position after they have graduated and if you are one of our graduates and are requiring help with your choice of public school in China, then please feel free to reach out to us and we will be there to guide you through the whole process if you like. This assistance is complimentary for all tefl online pro graduates.

It is also useful to note here that when applying for other types of teaching work in China, we don’t recommend going through a recruiter as positions are advertised online and there is absolutely no need to go through a recruiter if wanting to teach for an international school, language school or university.

Again, please feel free to contact us if you are a tefl online pro graduate and needing assistance with this process.

Teaching in Guilin

Guilin is another well-developed tourist city and the landscape – salt and peppered with bamboo forested hills and karsts reflecting onto crystal clear waters – is one of the natural wonders of China. Guilin is above all a historic city and has served as the cultural, economic and political hub of the Guangxi region since the 960-117 Northern Song Dynasty. One of the major benefits of living in Guilin, which became apparent when we visited schools in the region earlier this year, is its relative close proximity to Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Read more Teaching English Abroad Country Specifics articles on the tefl online pro Blog

tefl online pro run three internationally recognized TEFL courses:

The Fast-Track 60-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Professional 120-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Hybrid 140-Hour International Online/Onsite TEFL Certification Course

TEFL Online Pro is a fully accredited, award-winning provider of international Online TEFL/TESOL certification courses.

We have won the prestigious Teachers’ Choice Award four years in a row (2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022).

You can read verified TEFL Online Pro customer reviews on the leading independent TEFL reviews website, Trusted TEFL Reviews:

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2022/

TEFL Online Pro video testimonials can be viewed on the Reviews page of our school website:

https://teflonlinepro.com/tefl-online-pro-reviews/

Our customers have also left verified reviews on the TEFL Online Pro official Facebook page, where we are currently rated 5 out of 5:

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews

Where will you teach English?

Posted on April 12, 2019 by TEFL Online Pro

Teaching English abroad country specifics

Teach English in Beijing, Teach English in Chengdu, Teach English in China, Teach English in Guilin, Teach English in Hangzhou, Teach English in Shanghai, TEFL Beijing, TEFL Chengdu, TEFL China, TEFL Guilin, TEFL Hangzhou, TEFL Shanghai

Everything you need to know about teaching English in Cambodia

This article is the first in a series of write-ups about teaching English abroad country specifics, and covers an overview of teaching English in Cambodia. There is a plethora of work available to qualified teachers of English in Cambodia, teaching in either the cities or the countryside, and this article deals primarily with what to expect if you choose to teach English in the major urban districts.

Where is Cambodia?

Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is located in Southeast Asia and it shares a border with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. It boasts jungle forests, bustling cities, the temple complex of Angkor Wat, charming locals and enjoys a relatively long coastline on the Gulf of Thailand. The country was completely ravaged during the 4 years of Khmer Rouge political control but has recently been making up for lost time and is now considered to be an emerging economy, reinventing itself whilst rediscovering its rich cultural heritage.

To legally teach English in Cambodia, you will be expected to show an international TEFL certificate, but a college degree isn’t mandatory for either gaining employment or for the work visa process.

Cambodia is by far the easiest and less stressful locations to set up shop as an English teacher in Southeast Asia, although the work visa requirements (see below) are becoming stricter year-on-year as more and more people decide to make this kingdom of the Khmer their home base.

Work is very easy to come by and is available throughout the year. The absolute best times to arrive though are in the months of March, April and May, when many teachers leave for the summer and when lots of new employment opportunities arise.

Most schools pay monthly, some bimonthly, and for the first month, you should expect to just have a handful of classes. This is widely considered here as the norm and likened to a probation period. After this short period, you can expect to be in a position where you are having to turn down work because your schedule is becoming too full, or because you decide for example that you don’t want to teach on Mondays or Fridays because of your desire to enjoy long weekends.

Lastly, always dress smart: an ironed shirt, clean shoes, pressed trousers or a skirt if you’re a woman and a tie if you’re a man.

Teaching in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh definitely represents the best salary over costs in the kingdom and is a frenetic city with a soft underbelly. Teachers can typically expect to earn between US$1,000 – US$1,500 per month, with some international schools even paying as high as US$2,500 monthly. The capital has the highest number of language schools – ranging from top end international schools to side street mom-and-pop school outfits. Some prefer the ambience of smaller towns, but there is a reason Phnom Penh is such a popular choice.

While it was once possible simply to turn up on a tourist visa and extend it indefinitely once the initial 1 month had expired, the Cambodian authorities have recently begun to make it slightly more difficult to get started here. However, compared with neighboring Thailand, it still represents a far easier option of starting out.

We recommend flying into Phnom Penh International Airport and getting a 1-month Business (E) Visa. For this you will need two passport-sized photos and US$35. You can then extend your Business Visa for a further three months before then needing to leave the country to then return and repeat the process. If this is your first time to Cambodia then instead of the 3-month extension, you can apply for a 6-month visa extension. Once you have your work all lined up with a work permit from your school, you are free to apply for the longer 1-year visa and this can then be renewed annually. Please note that if you arrive and only ask for a 1-month Tourist Visa then you can only extend this by an additional one month before you will need to leave the country and repeat the process.

Teaching in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia – located approx 300km from Phnom Penh and famous for being the home of the Angkor Wat temple complex. Teaching English work is plentiful here, but you will be competing with the many expats who have chosen to make this major tourist hub their home. Hourly rates for teaching come in at around US$10 per hour, but you might consider a slightly lower starting salary to begin with until you demonstrate that you are here to stay for a while.

Many people also travel to Cambodia to teach English on a volunteer basis and this can be a wonderfully insightful experience into rural Cambodian life. There is also a special sense of life purpose and job satisfaction which can be attained by volunteering and this is usually the emotion which drives people to choose to work for little or no salary.

Generally, volunteer teaching English positions require you to make a donation for accommodation and food costs, typically averaging US$10 per day, and you should be prepared to chip in with other types of work besides teaching English while you are there.

Please feel free to contact us for impartial advise if you are considering this option as some members of our Team have direct experience with volunteering in Cambodia and we can help you avoid the common pitfalls and errors which volunteers unfortunately very often make.

Teaching in Battambang

Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia and located in the north-west of Cambodia. The average hourly rate for teaching English here hovers at around US$10 per hour and finding work here isn’t difficult. Battambang is a charming, riverside town which seems to primarily be famous for the bamboo train which we hear is no longer in operation anymore. It also boasts an excellent culinary scene and a reassuring lack of the droves of tourists and expats alike who descend on Siem Reap in their droves.

One of the major benefits of teaching English in Cambodia are the startup costs.

The average monthly rent of an apartment in Phnom Penh comes in at only US$500 and this price decreases when you leave the capital. A meal in a local restaurant should cost you no more than a few USD and a cool glass of Angkor beer will set you back a dollar.

How much do we recommend you take with you? It can be done on only US$2,000 and this will enable you to stay in a hostel or guesthouse when you first arrive – while you are securing your accommodation and employment – and cover your new apartment costs and your daily expenses. We do recommend though ideally taking with you between US$4,000 – US$5,000, if you can afford it, as this will provide you with even more breathing space and comfort.

Teaching in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville was for many years the backpackers go-to chillax place, but recently the Chinese developers have moved in and incredibly, in just the space of a few years, the skyline has transformed from sleepy coastal town to high octane casino central. While this is great news for the local economy, as long as it does benefit the locals, it has meant the last nail in the coffin for teaching English here and unless you can get lucky teaching wealthy Chinese businesspeople, it’s now best just as a stopping off point to the islands.

You can apply for teaching English jobs from abroad, but Cambodia is one of the countries where it is recommended to find work once on the ground here.

The reason for this is that you will be in a much better bargaining position once you are here as you will have a clearer idea about teaching rates of pay and as there are so many schools taking on teachers, you will be able to see the schools for yourself and then form a more objective decision.

You can choose to teach adults or children in Cambodia and you will find Cambodians to be respectful of teachers and will bring to classes a wicked sense of humor.

Despite officially holding the title of being a third world country, Cambodians always dress immaculately for classes and there is no better demonstration of this than the sight of schoolchildren leaving their rural villages in the mornings, dressed similarly as any child in the UK would on their daily to and fro from school.

The only negative regarding the classroom setting, which we would like to make note of, is the quiet insistence of the education system not to teach Cambodian history as it was truly represented – particularly regarding the four terrible years of the Khmer Rouge.

However, apart from the tendency to whitewash the history books, Cambodia is an exhilarating country to teach in and a location we definitely recommend.

Teaching in Koh Kong

Koh Kong (Krong Koh Kong) is a frontier town with a Wild West feel, nestled close to the Thailand border in the south-west of the country. In the past, the only reason to travel here was if you were catching an onward bus, but this might well be Cambodia’s best kept secret. Costs are extremely affordable here and although teaching wages do reflect this, if you do choose to teach here, you will find a refreshing sense of being one of the only English teachers in town and with a friendly and supportive, non-clique expat scene.

A word of warning!

When we recently crossed over the Cambodian border at Hat Lek – the southernmost border crossing, on the road from Trat – we each had our US$30 Tourist Visa fee ready, as well as our two sets of passport photos. This is likely one of the worst border crossings in Southeast Asia, and we have received reports of similar shenanigans occurring on other Cambodian border crossings.

We duly handed over our passports, our visa fees, and our photos. Then, to our surprise, the slothfully-dressed “Visa Immigration Officer” asked, instead, for 1,500 Thai Baht – equalling almost double the price of the official US$30 Tourist Visa fee.

We reiterated, politely, but firmly, that the fee is US$30.

The Wild West officer then demanded, instead, US$35 each from us – meaning we would be overcharged a total of US$10 for our combined Tourist Visas.

It was at this stage in our group dialogue that I felt the call of my ancestors rise up from within, and calmly, I asked why he was asking for US$35 per Tourist visa, when the official fee is in fact US$30.

What happened next was that he very curtly asked us to exit the office – leaving us to wait a full half hour – until eventually, we both received our US$30 Tourist visas.

Our advice, is never cross this border and pay for your Cambodian Tourist Visa with Thai Baht : you will otherwise end up paying a higher price, pocketed by the “Visa Service official”.

Just stand your ground, be polite, but firm, and eventually, you will receive your Tourist Visa stamp for the correct Tourist Visa price.

The Cambodian authorities should really do something about the outright, blatant corruption on this border, as it gives a terrible first impression of a country that is otherwise a pleasure to travel in.

Oh, and the safest for of travel from the Cambodian Hat Lek border to the nearest town of Koh Kong, is by Tuk Tuk, We paid 200 Baht combined for this journey of less than 20 kms, but it is far safer than a motorcycle taxi. We also advice not accepting a ride to Koh Kong in a private car – at least by travling in a tuk tuk, you are clearly seen by other people, and are not at such a high risk of a mugging soon after crossing into Cambodia.

Should you decide to take a private car, make sure you are alone with the driver. There have been reports of another person, or person(s) sharing the ride, and upon arrival to Koh Kong, money and valuables missing from backpacks and clothing pockets.

In the event that you are overcharged at this border, calmly take one of the Customer Service Feedback Forms, take down the number of the official who scammed you, and then lodge a complaint through your Consulate/Embassy in Cambodia.

Actually, I grabbed one of these forms while I was waiting for my passport to be returned, and the officer inside must have seen this, because as soon as he had, my passport was issued immediately.

Also, take a pen with you so as to avoid the people there renting pens, and whatever you do, never become convinced to enter a ‘Red “Cross Health Tent’, on the right of the immigration offices, where they will charge you money simply for entering the tent.

But again, please don’t let the corruption at the border put you off this wonderful country. Almost everyone whom we met during our Cambodia travels, were honest, warm, and hospitable

Read more Teaching English Abroad Country Specifics articles on the tefl online pro Blog

tefl online pro runs three internationally recognized TEFL courses:

The Fast-Track 60-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Professional 120-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Hybrid 140-Hour International Online/Onsite TEFL Certification Course

TEFL Online Pro is a fully accredited, award-winning provider of international Online TEFL/TESOL certification courses.

We have won the prestigious Teachers’ Choice Award four years in a row (2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022).

You can read verified TEFL Online Pro customer reviews on the leading independent TEFL reviews website, Trusted TEFL Reviews:

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2022/

TEFL Online Pro video testimonials can be viewed on the Reviews page of our school website:

https://teflonlinepro.com/tefl-online-pro-reviews/

Our customers have also left verified reviews on the TEFL Online Pro official Facebook page, where we are currently rated 5 out of 5:

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews

Where will you teach English?

Posted on April 7, 2019 by TEFL Online Pro

Teaching English abroad country specifics

Teach English in Battambang, Teach English in Cambodia, Teach English in Koh Kong, Teach English in Phnom Penh, Teach English in Siem Reap, Teach English in Sihanoukville, TEFL Battambang, TEFL Cambodia, TEFL Koh Kong, TEFL Phnom Penh, TEFL Siem Reap, TEFL Sihanoukville

10 top teaching English destinations for 2023

There are so many destinations worldwide where you can teach English, and the types of destinations are as varied as people’s destination tastes. Here is a list we chose of 10 places to teach English that are definitely worth considering taking a look at in 2023.

Japan

Japan has emerged from its years of recession with a now buoyant teaching English industry and teaching salaries here can be among the world’s best, with some teachers earning as much as US$5,000 per month. As a new teacher though, you should expect to be earning well below this figure and we conservatively estimate that you can expect a monthly starting salary in the range of US$2,000 – US$3,000. A college degree is mandatory for the work visa, as well as an international TEFL certificate.

Spain

Spain is one of Europe’s most popular countries for studying and teaching in and offers hourly teaching rates of between 15 to 25 Euros. An international TEFL certificate is the main requisite for landing a job here as a college degree isn’t mandatory. The main bulk of teaching work is centered in Madrid and other major cities. Many teachers do choose to teach English in Spain because of the opportunity to learn or further their Spanish. Spain is a vibrant country to teach in and is famous for its legendary cuisine and nightlife.

China

To teach English in China, you are required to have a college degree and international TEFL certificate. In the past five years, there has been a boom in schools providing English as a Foreign Language classes and there is an abundance of work for English teachers. An average teacher’s starting salary comes in at US$2,500 and as in Japan, it is possible to begin earning much more than this figure once you become established. However, where China beats Japan is with its low cost of living, meaning this is a great location to save.

South Korea

To teach English in South Korea, it is mandatory to have a college degree and international TEFL certificate. It is also required that you hold citizenship from a recognized English-speaking nation: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, UK or USA. You can expect to earn a minimum of US$1,800 per month if teaching outside of Seoul and a minimum of around US$2,000 per month if teaching in the capital. South Korea is famous for its sweet and sour kimchi and boasts a fantastic cuisine culture.

The Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is nestled bang centre in the heart of Europe and has – since its Velvet Revolution in 1989 – been a magnet for teachers of English from around the world. The only requirement for teaching English here is that you hold an international TEFL certificate. Wages are a bit on the low side, ringing in on average at around US$15 – US$20 per hour, but the cost of living is relatively low (even in Prague) and its location means that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to weekend trips and holidays.

Vietnam

Vietnam is the new financial tiger powerhouse of Southeast Asia and has seen a huge increase in demand for English teachers over the last few years. When comparing to other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam offers the best bang for your buck in terms of how much you can earn and how much your daily costs will be. New teachers arriving to Vietnam can expect to be earning up to US$1,700 per month and this means that you can realistically expect to be saving around US$500 per month.

Colombia

Whilst there are more higher paid locations to teach English on the South American continent, Colombia gets our thumbs up because it is a country recovering from years of turmoil. The offshoot of this means that English teachers are now being welcomed with open arms to come and teach here, with only an international TEFL certificate mandatory. The costs to live here are low, the coffee is amazing, the wildlife is breathtaking and the people are generally very friendly. Expect to be earning just under US$1,000 per month.

Taiwan

The average teaching English monthly salary in Taiwan hovers at around US$2,000 – US$2,500 per month, which is pretty good value considering the low cost of living. Mandatory requirements for entry level teaching English jobs are a college degree, international TEFL certificate and a clean criminal record. Native English teachers are given preference to teaching jobs but non-native speakers will also have the opportunity of teaching here. Its location in Asia also makes it a great base for trips around the region.

Thailand

Location number nine is a nod to the Land of Smiles and a gratuitous Thailand beach photo 🙂 Thailand has built up over the years a name for itself in the world of TEFL as being one of the heavyweight places to teach English abroad, and we can’t see that reputation waning anytime soon. Wages vary tremendously depending on where you are teaching, but for Bangkok expect to be earning up to 50,000 – 60,000 Baht per month. The cuisine is awesome, the coastlines breathtaking and those smiles are definitely genuine.

Teaching Online

The last location on this list is basically any location where you have your laptop and access to the internet. Teaching English online is a booming industry and takes away all of the legwork required when looking for teaching work in the traditional form. The other positives are that you can teach wherever suits you best and the hours are often flexible. The only real negative is that you lack a support base which a traditional school provides. You can earn up to US$40 per hour, teaching English online, but starting salaries are usually in the US$20+ per hour range.

Wherever you chose to teach English, make sure to check out the tefl online pro five top tips for travel, over at tefl-online-pro-reviews.com Please note that these two links will redirect you to an exterior website – a blog established by TEFL Online Pro, mainly to respond to business competitor attacks. The Online TEFL/TESOL certification course industry is highly competitive, and some of the less reputable Online TEFL/TESOL programs – the ones that are usually unaccredited – will often spread false information online about their more successful (fully accredited) competitors.

Read more Teaching English Abroad Country Specifics articles on the tefl online pro Blog

tefl online pro run three internationally recognized TEFL courses:

The Fast-Track 60-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Professional 120-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course

The Hybrid 140-Hour International Online/Onsite TEFL Certification Course

Where will you teach English?

Posted on April 6, 2019 by TEFL Online Pro

Teaching English abroad country specifics

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Our refutation of online attacks by TEFL business competitors

TEFL Online Pro response to online attacks by TEFL business competitors.

The TEFL/TESOL industry is highly competitive and TEFL business competitor co-ordinated attacks are, unfortunately, a commonplace occurrence.

The purpose of such attacks is to discredit a competitor and try to win business for the company instigating the attacks.

Although this can undeniably affect the business revenue of a TEFL company, the real victims of this behavior are you, the Customers, who may be swayed into purchasing a TEFL course option that isn’t Fully Accredited and isn’t internationally recognized.

When TEFL Online Pro first started offering Online TEFL/TESOL certification courses – courses that are both Fully Accredited and internationally recognized – we did notice a few posts pop up online that were obviously not written by any of our Customers.

As we have grown – winning the prestigious Teachers’ Choice Award now five times in a row – we have witnessed a developing number of online competitor attacks that are, to put it bluntly, defamatory.

Other reputable TEFL/TESOL certification course companies have also been a target of misinformation smear campaigns.

This post is long and detailed, and we do recommend that you read it fully to the end.

We want you to avoid falling for this popular TEFL common competitor scam.

A. False assertions

TEFL Online Pro is the owner of trustedteflreviews.com.
TEFL Online Pro only has reviews on trustedteflreviews.com.
TEFL Online Pro is the owner of acteflc.com.
TEFL Online Pro’s video reviews have been recorded by paid actors.

In addition to these assertions, a handful of competitors have made false claims that TEFL Online Pro is a fraud/scam and that we are not a legitimate company.

These false claims have typically appeared on websites such as Complaints Board – a Russian-owned and operated website – and on Reddit.

To become a “verified customer” on Complaints Board, all you need to do is verify your email address. Anyone can do this and the website is notorious for publishing false information with absolutely no verification process. The same applies to similar websites, such as Dirty Scam.

We have written our own (true) review of Complaints Board, and a lot of business owners have written to us to explain that they are in the same situation – their competitors have used the website to spread false information about their products and services.

Regarding Reddit, which can be a useful resource for some types of information, the main community is r/TEFL.

r/TEFL is run by a moderator who lives in China and it is obvious that they are either connected with one of our competitors, or that the r/TEFL community was purchased by one of our business competitors.

None of our Customers have ever posted a comment on Reddit. The vast majority of TEFL teaches don’t – they are too busy teaching English and traveling than to be drawn into mud-slinging on one of many Reddit TEFL communities.

On one specific Reddit community (r/TEFLScams) it is stated (by an anonymous user, of course) that, “Scam Alert! TEFL Online Pro – A fraudulent company backed by a fake tefl review site. They have no business license and SAFEA staff says “they are a scam.”

This was news to us because we regularly help our graduates find teaching work in China.

It is all just made-up nonsense.

B. Our response to the false assertions

1. TEFL Online Pro does not own trustedteflreviews.com.

TEFL Online Pro is currently the top-rated TEFL/TESOL program listed on trustedteflreviews.com.

teflonlinepro.com and trustedteflreviews.com are both hosted on WordPress – 455 million websites worldwide are hosted on WordPress.

We won the prestigious Teachers’ Choice Award in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and we have verified customer reviews published on trustedteflreviews.com.

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2023/

The similarity between teflonlinepro.com and trustedteflreviews.com ends there.

In addition, the TEFL Online Pro Facebook Page was created an entire year before the creation of the Trusted TEFL Reviews Facebook Page. If we owned Trusted TEFL Reviews, which we don’t, wouldn’t we have created its Facebook Page around the same time as the Facebook Page for TEFL Online Pro? We definitely wouldn’t have waited a whole year before doing so.

2. TEFL Online Pro does not only have Customer reviews on trustedteflreviews.com.

As well as having verified Customer reviews listed on trustedteflreviews.com, TEFL Online Pro has approximately 100 verified Customer reviews on the TEFL Online Pro company’s Facebook Page. We are a 5-Star rated company on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews/

We also have verified Customer video reviews on our company’s YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@teflonlinepro

And, furthermore, we have a few graduate reviews on the TEFL Online Pro Google Business Listing.

You may notice that some TEFL programs receive in excess of ten Customer reviews per day.

This is odd – it is an unusual pattern – and it has been suggested that the questionably high number of reviews brings one to realize that they are fake reviews, or reviews that have been written by a Customer in return for a free bonus course.

TEFL Online Pro does not write fake reviews and we do not incentivize our Customers to write reviews – it is entirely upon the wishes of our Customers as to whether they wish to write a review of their TEFL Online Pro experience.

3. TEFL Online Pro does not own acteflc.com.

TEFL Online Pro is Fully Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Teaching English as a Foreign Language Courses (ACTEFLC).

https://www.acteflc.com/

ACTEFLC accredits online distance learning and in-class international TEFL/TESL/TESOL certification course programs and is recognized internationally as a reliable authority on educational quality.

As a Fully Accredited course provider, we have the authorization to display the ACTEFLC logo on our school website and our international TEFL/TESOL certificates.

The claim that TEFL Online Pro owns acteflc.com is just as intentionally misleading and far-fetched as the claim that TEFL Online Pro owns trustedteflreviews.com.

4. TEFL Online Pro’s video reviews have not been recorded by paid actors.

TEFL Online Pro currently has eleven Customer video reviews uploaded online, with three graduates having recorded a post-course and follow-up employment video – describing their course experience and how their TEFL Online Pro certificate has enabled them to secure online and overseas teaching English employment.

https://www.youtube.com/@teflonlinepro

All eleven videos have been recorded by graduates of a TEFL Online Pro Online TEFL/TESOL certification course.

None of the reviews were recorded by a person who has not taken a TEFL Online Pro Online TEFL/TESOL certification course.

The majority of our customers that have recorded a video testimonial for us have also left a customer review on the TEFL Online Pro company Facebook page.

TEFL Online Pro is not a fraud/scam. TEFL Online Pro is a legitimate company.

TEFL Online Pro has been a verified business member with Paypal since 2019.

All three TEFL Online Pro certification courses are Fully Accredited and lead to the awarding of the international TEFL/TESOL certificate.

TEFL Online Pro certificates each contain a unique international accreditation number and are authenticated worldwide – they can be apostilled, legalized, and notarized for all online and overseas teaching jobs and visa applications.

If TEFL Online Pro were not legitimate, there would be multiple (verified) complaints made online by our Customers, and Paypal and our international education partners would not continue to partner with us.

Our graduates teach online and on-site in every country in the world where there is a teaching English job market. Our verified customer reviews back up these facts.

C. The intention of the assertions

The intention of the assertions is simply to try and reduce the credibility of TEFL Online Pro in the eyes of potential TEFL student Customers and try and convince potential TEFL student Customers to purchase an alternative TEFL course option.

None of the assertions come from a reputable source.

All four assertions, along with the claims that TEFL Online Pro is a scam and is not a legitimate company, have been published by our business competitors.

TEFL Online Pro has sought legal advice and is acting accordingly.

D. Which competitors have made the assertions?

A rogue handful of our business competitors are responsible for trying to trash our reputation online.

The most prolific of these is Ian Patrick Leahy, who runs the ESLinsider TEFL program.

The ESLinsider (unaccredited) TEFL program is run exclusively by Ian Patrick Leahy.

ESLinsider has been banned from Facebook (since 2017) for spamming and publishing misinformation, and it has had a number of its videos deleted by YouTube for the same reasons.

ESLinsider is notorious in the TEFL world for writing fictitious, malicious content about its business competitors – on anonymous complaint websites, discussion forums, Reddit, on the blogs it runs, etc.

Pick any TEFL accreditation body, TEFL program, or TEFL reviews website – ESLinsider (and his many online aliases) will have written some trash about it.

Ian, btw, began the ESLinsider TEFL program after a short time teaching English in Asia, and he has no formal education in TEFL/TESOL.

Ian has also been accused of providing terrible advice to his TEFL students – such as working in China with fake diplomas – and this could be one of the reasons why Ian now runs ESLinsider part-time, while spending the majority of his time driving across the USA in a used postal van and finding seasonal jobs on ski resorts.

If you read anything negative online about TEFL Online Pro, it was very likely written by one of our business competitors.

However, we do, of course, understand that not everyone can be satisfied with our products and services.

If and when a customer writes a complaint, we always aim to respond to that customer with complete understanding and right a wrong.

Currently, though, not one of our customers has written a negative review of TEFL Online Pro.

The only negative content written online about TEFL Online Pro has been written by our business competitors.

E. Why has TEFL Online Pro published this rebuttal?

First and foremost, we have issued this rebuttal to protect you, the Customer.

Not everyone is aware that the TEFL marketplace is highly competitive and that some TEFL programs do not follow better business practices.

We don’t want our potential Customers to be swayed by false information into taking a TEFL course from a TEFL provider that is not fully accredited or internationally recognized.

TEFL Online Pro is a transparent, award-winning, fully accredited, reputable program with an excellent reputation.

Our customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and we work incredibly hard to maintain our high standards of tuition and post-course services.

We have an extensive worldwide network of education partners. These partners know our brand and routinely employ our teachers.

With a TEFL Online Pro TEFL/TESOL certificate, you are guaranteed a teaching English job online and in any country overseas where there is a teaching English job market.

It is, therefore, imperative that we defend ourselves against false and misleading accusations.

We also chose to issue this rebuttal in support of all the TEFL Online Pro Customers that have written or recorded a review of their TEFL Online Pro course and post-course experience.

F. TEFL Online Pro verified customer feedback

Verified TEFL Online Pro Customer feedback can be viewed on the TEFL Online Pro school website, on the TEFL Online Pro Google Business Listing, on the TEFL Online Pro company Facebook Page, on the TEFL Online Pro YouTube channel, and on the independent TEFL reviews website Trusted TEFL Reviews:

https://teflonlinepro.com/tefl-online-pro-reviews/

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews/

https://www.youtube.com/@teflonlinepro

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2023/

Three of our Customers, who recently graduated from a TEFL Online Pro international TEFL/TESOL course, recorded a post-course and TEFL employment follow-up video testimonial:

1a. Clara Vinthagen’s post-course video reviews her 120-Hour Professional certification course experience.

1b. Clara Vinthagen’s TEFL employment follow-up video reviews how her TEFL Online Pro TEFL/TESOL certificate was instrumental in finding teaching work online and how it has been an essential document for successfully securing a teaching English position abroad at an international language school in Spain.

2a. Astrid Mendieta’s post-course video reviews her 120-Hour Professional certification course experience.

2b. Astrid Mendieta’s TEFL employment follow-up video describes how her TEFL Online Pro TEFL/TESOL certificate was instrumental in landing teaching English job interviews in Japan, South Korea, and Spain. This certification has also been an essential document for the purpose of teaching English online for a reputable training company. Astrid also describes how her TEFL Online Pro certification has been an essential document for successfully securing a TEFL position abroad at a high school in Valencia, Spain.

3a. Noor Yafaie’s post-course video reviews her 140-Hour Hybrid certification course experience.

3b. Noor Yafaie’s TEFL employment follow-up video reviews how her TEFL Online Pro TEFL/TESOL certificate was instrumental in finding teaching work online with PalFish and Preply and how it has been an essential document for successfully securing a teaching English position abroad at a government school in South Korea.

The experiences of Astrid, Clara, and Noors are representative of all of our Customers who take a TEFL Online Pro Online TEFL/TESOL certification course.

TEFL Online Pro accepts students from all native English-speaking countries, as well as students from non-native English-speaking countries.

G. Conclusion

After winning the Teachers’ Choice Award for the first time, in 2019, TEFL Online Pro veered onto the radar of the larger TEFL course providers and it was soon after that we noticed some online attacks by business competitors.

When we won the prestigious award for the second and then the third time, TEFL Online Pro increasingly became a target for online attacks.

We have now won the Teachers’ Choice Award for the fifth year in a row.

None of the attacks were instigated by a TEFL Online Pro Customer or a TEFL Online Pro education partner. Any such attacks were instigated by a TEFL program business competitor.

The most important thing for us is that the vast majority of our Customers provide overwhelmingly positive feedback on our courses and services and that they recommend us after taking one of our fully accredited and internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL certification courses.

We just thought that you should be made aware that there are an awful lot of people trying to make money from TEFL, and that some of them will go to extraordinary lengths in order to do so.

A large number of TEFL programs comply with strict codes of business practice and focus on developing their products and services.

A few TEFL programs, on the other hand, operate with limited reliance on codes of business practice and tend to focus solely on extracting as much money as they possibly can from their Customers – by whichever means is possible.

TEFL Online Pro belongs to the former.

If there are any questions regarding this rebuttal statement, please feel free to contact the TEFL Online Pro school office: https://teflonlinepro.com/contact-us/

Thank you for reading this rebuttal statement.

Kind regards,

Paul Murphy | Operations Manager | TEFL Online Pro

info@teflonlinepro.com

https://teflonlinepro.com/enroll/

https://www.youtube.com/@teflonlinepro

https://www.facebook.com/teflonlinepro/reviews/

https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/tefl-online-pro-teachers-choice-award-winner-2023/

The Teachers’ Choice Award winner in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

https://www.acteflc.com/ Fully Accredited TEFL Course Provider

Related content: https://teflonlinepro.com/scams/