While many CELTA graduates are planning a long career in international education, many of our students take the program to develop the skills necessary for a year or two teaching abroad.
Destinations such as Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai are always the most popular choices for our graduates, combining as they do the excitement of the big city with ample work opportunities. Many newly minted ESL teachers, however, are looking to combine a dream lifestyle with their teaching.
Here’s our pick for the top 5 teaching destinations for Australians:
1. Phuket, Thailand
The TESOL industry in Thailand is huge, with teaching opportunities in both the big cities and smaller regional areas. Many Australians look no further than locations such as Koh Samui or Phuket for work.
CELTA graduate teachers working in beachside locations in Thailand can expect to earn in the order of 30,000 Baht a month for around 20-25 teaching hours per week.
Qualified English teachers are in strong demand for both Junior and Adult programs.
2. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is something of a second home to many Australians, and with increasingly cheap flights and a low cost of living, it’s becoming an increasingly popular ‘first stop’ for graduate teachers.
Unlike Thailand, competition for jobs can be fierce in Bali and applicants will definitely need suitable teaching qualifications (such as the CELTA). You can expect to make around $1,300-$1,500 per month for teaching a full time load; more than enough to sustain an idyllic lifestyle on the island of Bali!
3. Sunshine Coast, Australia
For graduates looking for something a little closer to home, regional Australia can provide some great teaching opportunities. TESOL graduates can find work in places such as Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach and Port Douglas. For us, though, there’s no better TESOL teaching location than the Sunshine Coast.
Graduates are paid under the Post-Secondary Award, guaranteeing a minimum of $40 per hour for casuals.
Demand on the Sunshine Coast can be seasonal, with the best months for recent graduates to move into the industry July/August, where many language and local schools host group tour programs from countries such as Japan, Korea and China.
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The demand for qualified TESOL teachers is high throughout Brazil and Rio de Janeiro is no exception. Many Australians love the laid back beach culture and see Rio as the ideal TESOL location.
Opportunities for work can be found in state schools and private language schools and CELTA graduates can expect to earn between 1,500 and 3,000 real (R$) a month. The cost of living is quite low so your salary will stretch and allow you to enjoy the Brazilian party atmosphere.
With Rio being synonymous with Carnival, this is a great place to teach and party.
5. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Croatia is still emerging as a TESOL industry and so is not as regulated as some other destinations, but Dubrovnik is fast becoming one of the more popular TESOL locations in the country. With pristine seas and beautiful beaches, this is a picturesque setting for teaching.
Contracts are normally 10-12 months with monthly salaries at about €600-700. The cost of living is fairly low so this is a great place for CELTA graduates to start out and gain some experience while living abroad.