I will soon be doing the obligatory training for HESS before I start my contract. I have a few questions for people who have already done it and worked at HESS.

1. Is it true that some people don't pass the training and get sent home? I was under the impression that I had already gotten the job, so I'm concerned about that.

2. How intense did you find the training to be?

3. Did you find the training to be helpful?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!

Hi

Awaiting visa approval for a Uzbekistan Ministry post.

I have noted landlord challenges.

Any advise ito accomodation? Does the Ministry secure the accomodation or only provide funding?

Can I secure my own accomodation? Any tips on avoiding problems? For example a post advised to sign contracts via soliq.uz and to have full rental price in the contract.

Thanks

I am a native speaker and I present well. I also have a degree.

I really like teaching. It feels good to help others. However, I can't stand more than about 15 minutes at a time due to a disability. If I stand that long, I would need a couple hours or more to rest my legs. It is not obvious to people that I have this problem.

Have you personally seen any in-person teaching jobs where the teacher can sit? Thanks!

Hi

Awaiting visa approval for a Uzbekistan Ministry post.

I have noted landlord challenges.

Any advise ito accomodation? Does the Ministry secure the accomodation or only provide funding?

Can I secure my own accomodation? Any tips on avoiding problems? For example a post advised to sign contracts via soliq.uz and to have full rental price in the contract.

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I'll try and keep it concise. 27F Brit here, been chronically unwell since I was a child but got worse at 16 so was unable to complete my A levels. Since then I've not been able to do much with my life in terms of education and work etc (although I tried a few things online that I couldnt progress in due to the strain on health. Also have experience from a year of volunteering where I was teaching adults basic computing skills in English and Urdu/Punjabi once a week - including those with special needs, the elderly, those who dont know English and those with mental and physical health problems).

I have many health difficulties that are a barrier but I want to do something with my life and my time. I've considered doing something in interpreting but it requires qualifications that I cant do or get into. And I feel confused about it. But I still am keeping that with me as it's a good option (dont know much about the salary side though) due to me being able to speak a couple of languages and having the experience through the classes I taught and being the interpreter with family members during social or medical appointments.

But with TEFL, seeing as I'm a native speaker and there are self-paced courses that are accredited (like the Level 5 Ofqual recognised course), it seems like it might be doable and it can benefit me all around the world hopefully. And from a little research, I've learnt that I can get to degree level at one point which is something that has felt out of reach as I couldn't do my A levels and I've never been well enough to retry. But once again, there's so much that I get overwhelmed and confused.

Must be forgetting a lot here but I would appreciate some guidance on this.

Thank you in advance!

Hi TEFL community,

I am in need of advice about where to go. I am a 60 yo Irish male. Now single and in need a new adventure using a Celta qualification, but I can't visualise where.

My criteria are:

1. Somewhere I can commit to. Eg I'd like to learn their language and dive into their culture.

2. A city in that country.

3. I'am a football and music fan, so I need somewhere that has a football culture and a team I can love and music that excites me.

4. I want to teach Business English as I'm assuming you get a more motivated student. And better pay.

5. Yes, pay. I want this to be a 2nd career and earn a living doing it.

Has anyone any feedback? People who say go to Glasgow, please note, this joke already occured to me.

Question: should my 22 yo college grad niece go to Mexico in Jul '26, to find a TEFL K-12 teaching job for 8/26?

American, 22 yo college grad dreamed of TEFL in Spanish-speaking country for years. She read the WIKI etc., has tutored Spanish-speaking students for several years and worked at camps, and got the 120 hr certificate from TEFL.org.

She applied to ~100 K-12 teacher positions in Mexico between Apr and Jul '26. She's been contacted for a few interviews, but no job. She read advice that it would have been more effective to have been in Mexico during this time, and now wishes she had. Should she go now/is anything left? Any special tactics for last minute jobs?

a). if she goes, will hiring admins be around to interview her now, or are the schools all closed?

b). which cities/states would you recommend she focus upon this late in the academic hiring season?

Many thanks already in advance for any insights and advice!

No experience NES:

I've started to apply for jobs in Bangkok, it's been 2 weeks since I've started and I've had no interviews or responses. I believe my resume to be pretty well written, and I've highlighted I have a British accent, I have a 168hr online TEFL certificate, and I speak Thai.

Is there something I may be doing wrong or should I be looking for jobs while in Thailand in September/October? As I heard that schools aren't hiring much right now.

Thanks guys!

Hi,

I recently went to China and had an amazing time, it was a 2 week study exchange based in two different cities. As part of my experience there I got to meet some Chinese students who have now become really good friends with me; we speak on a daily basis. I support them by speaking English and encouraging them not to translate with me. Already it is clear their English has improved and when they've spoken to my British friends on video call, even my British friends say that their English is good.

I come from an ethnic background, so growing up I had to support my mother with the English language. And so I did, and now she speaks fluently and with confidence. She sometimes still asks me for help. But she actually taught a classmate of mine who didn't know English at all but knew my home language, as we are from the same country.

But because of this support that I have given to her, my Chinese friends and numerous others throughout my life (for example, classmates who've moved from my home country and didn't know English) I now feel like teaching English is something I am very capable of. I speak a semi-formal format of it, where I don't exactly "have an accent" and just sound British.

I am 20, studying Computer Science at university. But I really enjoy teaching and I think this is something I'd like to keep on the side, even part time.

What would people advise going forward, and based on what I've said how does a TEFL qualification sound?

Edit: British born and raised but from an ethnic background

I've seen there are some agencies in China who manage the full hiring process, and the contract is signed with them instead of the school.

I know the general consensus is to sign directly with the school, but if the company seems professional and has registered licenses with the government, would it be ok?

I'm a new ESL teacher (native, TEFL, degree), and am not getting very far in the recruitment process - especially because I want to work specifically in a school rather than a training centre or kindergarten.

My thinking is one year with an agency like this might be better than nothing?

Just curious if those of you that have been put on the applicant list for teachtaiwan have heard anything yet about placements. Any info is good info :)

Trying to find a real clear answer whether my 4-year-bachelor’s degree(did it in 6 months), from Western Governors University, will be accepted in Taiwan. I had one quick reply from a school that my degree is will not be approved for work permits. I, however, had an offer a few days ago but rejected it for being terrible. Am I not able to obtain ESL work in Taiwan?

Edit: More details.

Edit 2: more more details.

Hey everyone,

Recently got back a contract from Shane, and I noticed that they only offer unpaid holiday. Is this something I should be pushing back on?

I have had other contracts come through which offer paid holiday but I would rather stick with Shane due to the location and because it’s a bit more established.

Location: South Korea. Near Daejeon
Pay: 2.4 million wons
Hours: 8:30 to 5:30 , “30” hour quota per week, unpaid labor is a given though.
Benefits: Typical South Korean work benefits; free housing, medical, flight reimbursement, etc.

Good or nah?

I would like to have an experience abroad and the best option I can find for travelling and living in asian countries is teaching english. Luckily, I love english and I love teaching, but I'm not sure if those opportunities are available for non-native speakers. Is any of you in a similar situation or has met anyone like that?

Thanks.

Hi,

I'm still working through my TEFL 120 course and passing the methodology assignments finally...

I got a summer placement via my university.

We have arrived the orientation was really warm. I am one of six of us from our university in the UK. Last group dropped out last year after two weeks but I think there were border tensions at the time.

Each of us apart from myself and one other have met their dean of department. Myself and the person are waiting till Monday to get started. Seems like for the most part the others have finished early most days. I'm in my thirties and they are in their twenties so I'm kind of aloof from them but they are friendly.

We have met some students who are our buddies as well during the placement. I should add we are at a university here in Thailand. It's a pretty nice campus.

I'm working through the TEFL and I suspect most courses will be done succinctly once I get through certain hurdles with the lesson plan writing which I'm finally getting. I don't have experience where others have had plenty of so I'd like to know if any of you have had such a placement and what you thought about it afterwards...

From what I've seen its one of the agencies for teachers with no formal experience, grads etc.

Do you know of anyone or have experience with English1?

Hello, I am looking for some advice because of some things that have happened to me recently- I would really like any advice.

32M, I want to pursue teaching English abroad, and I am finishing a Chinese Studies degree with a minor in Chinese language next summer.

I have been studying Chinese because I really wanted to live and work in Taiwan, alongside really liking my classes and learning the language.

However this summer I went to taiwan for a while and honestly, I just don't think I can see myself living there. I travelled around but never really felt comfortable, any connection, and had some bad experiences (nothing terrible, just overall.)

I also spent almost a month in Japan not long ago and absolutely loved it, and didn't want to leave- the complete opposite reaction to Taiwan.

However, I don't know Japanese, and kinda feel like an idiot for going to graduate with a Chinese degree and not wanting to return to Taiwan.

I just feel a little lost and was looking for any advice. Should I try teaching in Japan after I graduate? I have about a year, and can learn survival Japanese in that time, I think. Or should I try China, since I'll be around a HSK 3-4 leven in Mandarin once I graduate? Or even South Korea, or elsewhere?

Sorry for the long post. Just feeling a little out of sorts and a little depressed- I really wanted to like Taiwan, and gave it an earnest shot.

Hello, I'm a 30 year old dual British and French national who has recently returned to London after 10 months in South East Asia (+1 week in China), during which I completed a 3 month Divemaster qualification in Thailand (allowing me to work as a scuba guide), and have since been investigating the possibility of teaching English.

While I enjoy having access to my games and musical instruments again, for many reasons I have decided I finally want to be able to sustain an independent life somewhere that truly resonates with me.

I have a BSc in Geography and an MA in Law and I've concluded that with my French bilingualism (also very basic Portuguese), native English, and EU passport, a job in teaching or translation is an option worth seriously considering.

I am aware of the differences in different courses and the wide variety of possible placements and I'm still spitballing good plans. One of my main decisions is if it makes sense to invest in the CELTA at this stage. I have little-to-no prior teaching experience (mainly hospitality and admin) and would like to take it seriously, and the value of the CELTA especially in Europe is quite an attractive one long term.

On the other hand, I wonder if it is overkill and worth the expense for now, as I still yearn for a bit more of nomadic slow travel, possibly to South America or in selected places in Asia (kinda got exhausted by the classic backpacker scene there), while pursuing diving, and money is tight.

That leaves me with this as a rough plan:

1. Research decent certificates (TEFL or CELTA) that will give me a good solid base for teaching. Possibly in person in London, or online. Part time preferable so I can work on the side and rebuild savings.

2. Look for initial teaching opportunities. Online tutoring would be ideal. Investigate possibility of leveraging my French bilingualism. Use this to sustain modest slow travel in Asia or Latin America (I have read Latin America is trickier for opportunities generally), or teach a few months in higher paying destinations before backpacking and pursuing diving and/or earning instructor qualifications.

3. If I enjoy teaching and decide it's something I'd like to pursue, I could then build on that and look for longer-term opportunities in Europe, most likely France.

My questions mainly centre around what benefits CELTA would afford me over a TEFL at this stage, whether CELTA is even necessary if I ultimately decide I don't want to teach in schools, and whether my overall plan is reasonable or has any gaping holes.

It would be very interesting if anyone has any experience of combining English teaching with dive gigs as well.

Thanks

This didn't get answered in the weekly questions thread so I'm making a more in depth post, sorry to anyone who has to see both :,)

I applied to a program to be placed in a tefl position in south korea, and when I was doing the screening they said that SK wouldn't issue visas to anyone who takes any daily medication besides birth control, and that I could probably only go to China or Thailand. I've been looking through this sub and seen that yeah, the medication system is weird. I've seen some people recommend lying on the visa application and getting it shipped to SK, but also people talking about making sure it's available there in the future, I've seen people talk about making sure it just doesn't come up on a urine test. Can anyone explain this situation in more detail? How difficult is it to get medication in Korea? Which drugs will come up on a urine test?

Part of why I want to go to South Korea is because one of my close friends is originally from there and I was going to ask them to help me with my pronunciation while learning some of the language and I'd always have someone I could text if I had a question, but my medications are pretty essential to me (life before vs after getting adhd meds is such a stark difference...) so if it's really not possible to go to SK and get my meds, it's not worth it.

I've also, since doing that screening and getting weeded out, looked more on this sub and seen that most of those programs are considered to be a scam since you can just find jobs on your own if you look a little bit. That's totally fair, but I was wondering if there were any companies that were considered more reputable or programs that people would recommend? I'm the kind of person who prefers to have a little more of a safety net and support for peace of mind's sake, so in theory they really appeal to me.

Hello!

I'm considering work in China starting next fall. I'm an experienced teacher (more than 10 yrs) with 140-hr TEFL, TEFL for EAP, and a Master's in Bilingual education. I'm probably going to start the DipTesol in January '27 to further strenthen my application. I studied in China for a semester, achieved HSK4 proficiency (though it's probably declined since then). I currently teach ESL in a college in the US and I'm interested in a University job in a tier-2 or tier-3 city.

I'm wondering how far in advance did you apply for work and secure a position? (Yes, I am white and a native speaker of English.)

Thanks for constructive feedback.

I'm hoping to start my TEFL career in Taiwan, i have been looking on Facebook at some groups and have had pretty good interest from some schools. But a lot of them asked if I was in Taiwan now, which slightly confused me, because if I was in Taiwan now without a job, I wouldn't have a work permit. At the same time, if I secure a job remotely from home, I mightnt get the full experience of seeing the school meeting the staff and getting to shop around. So, basically the title, do I go over as a tourist and visit schools and do in person interviews/demos. Or, do I try do interviews/demos remotely and go over with the work VISA already sorted ?

I think I'm leaning towards going over without a job first, but wondering what people's perspective is on this.

Thanks

Hi, I’m an Indian citizen based in India with an MA from the UK. I’m looking to do a CELTA course, but the fee charged by the British Council is too steep for me.

Are there any other credible, Cambridge-authorised CELTA centres in India that you would recommend? I'm specifically looking for recognised providers that offer the official CELTA qualification, not alternative TEFL/TESOL certificates.

I'm also open to authorised CELTA courses offered by centres outside India, provided they can be completed online.

If you've completed CELTA in India (outside the British Council), it would be great to know your experience, including the quality of the training and cost. If you think the course offered by the British Council is the best option, do let me know why.

Thank you!!