Qatar is certainly one of the more expensive regions in the Middle East. The cost of living in Qatar – especially in the capital, Doha – is comparable to other major cities around the world. Because a lot of food is imported, you can expect to pay much more for it than you would normally.
Read on to learn what each of these wonderful countries has to offer to the aspiring English teacher.
- China. Photo by Caitlin V., Teach English in China with CIEE Alum.
- South Korea. Photo credit: Taylor, CIEE Teach Abroad South Korea.
- Japan.
- Vietnam.
- Thailand.
- Taiwan.
- Spain.
- France.
The median salary is about QR13,000 a month, which implies that more than half of the population in Qatar are earning less than QR13,000, while the others earn more than QR13,000. A person working in Qatar typically earns about QR16,794 per month, including housing, transportation and other benefits.
Which Countries Pay the Highest Salaries for Teaching Abroad?
- The U.A.E. - $3,500-$5,500 per Month.
- Japan - $2,200-$5,000 per Month.
- Saudi Arabia - $3,000-$4,000 per Month.
- Kuwait - $2,600-$4,000 per Month.
- Oman - $2,000-$3,500 per Month.
- Taiwan - $2,000-$3,000 per Month.
- South Korea - $1,600-$2,650 per Month.
- China - $1,400-$2,200 per Month.
10 Countries With The Highest Teachers Salary In The World
- Switzerland. Average Salary – $110,000.
- Luxembourg. Average Salary – $100,000.
- Canada. Average Salary – $74,000.
- Germany. Average Salary – $70,000.
- Netherlands. Average Salary – $67,000.
- Australia. Average Salary – $67,000.
- United States. Average Salary – $60,000.
- Ireland. Average Salary – $53,000.
Private tutoring is actually illegal in Qatar: Law 23 of 2015 on the provision of educational services imposes stiff fines and punishment on educational providers who operate outside of ministry oversight.
The minimum wage is set at QAR 1,000 per month ($275) as a basic wage, QAR 500 per month ($137) allocated for accommodation expenses and QAR 300 per month ($82) for food, unless the employer already provides adequate food or accommodation for the employee or domestic worker.
Qatar provides free education for all citizens, kindergarten through high school. Two agencies oversee schools in Qatar, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Supreme Education Council (SEC). The MOE is in charge of the public schools in Qatar.
A typical online TEFL course that provides the requisite number of hours to be validated by an employer (120 hours) usually costs between $300-$600.
9 countries desperate for English teachers
- Brazil. Brazil is one of the countries in high demand for English teachers due to a boom in business, trade, and tourism.
- Cambodia. ESL teaching positions in Cambodia's job market are growing quickly.
- China.
- Colombia.
- Mexico.
- Morocco.
- Russia.
- South Korea.
Which online English teaching companies hire tutors without experience?
- Cambly. Cambly an online platform that hires native English-speakers to have short, casual conversations with students located around the world.
- QKids.
- Topica Native.
- Landi English.
- Palfish.
If you plan to teach full-time in a country that requires a TEFL certificate, I would definitely get one. If you plan on teaching abroad for less than a year or part-time, then it's a good idea but not totally necessary. A TEFL may also help you get a better teaching job where you'll have increased work satisfaction.
There are two basic ways to go about your TEFL/TESOL training: In-class and online courses. Both generally require at least 120 hours of training in order to become certified. However there are some important differences between the two. Receive your TESOL or TEFL certification online at your convenience.
Generally speaking, online English teachers typically make anywhere between $10 - $40 USD per hour depending on their level of qualification. If you're a first-time English teacher with a TEFL certification, you will likely be making $10-$20 per hour to start. Platforms such as VIPKID offer base rates plus incentives.
To teach English abroad, you'll need a bachelor's degree in any subject/major, and an ESL teaching qualification (such as a TEFL certification) at the minimum!
What are the technical requirements to teach online lessons?
- A fast and reliable computer: This can be a desktop, laptop or tablet.
- Broadband/high-speed internet: At least 400 kbps (standard Cable or DSL connection should work just fine - no dial up).
- Video Chat Software: All TakeLessons teachers can teach their online students through TakeLessons Classroom.
A degree of a 2:2 or above, qualified teacher status (QTS) and relevant school experience are required to teach in state schools in the UK. Some schools, such as private schools and academies, are able to recruit teachers without a degree but it's then difficult to progress or move schools.
9 online English teaching jobs, no degree required
- SayABC. SayABC not only has some of the best online rates for teaching English via the internet, but it also amazingly allows your own schedule so you can make it fit your own lifestyle.
- Cambly.
- Palfish.
- Magic Ears.
- Acadsoc.
- Amazing Talker.
- Skima Talk.
- Open English.
Becoming a teacher in EnglandTo teach in a state school in England, you must have a degree, and gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by following a programme of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). You must have achieved minimum requirements in GCSE English, maths, and science if you wish to teach at primary-level.
If you don't have a teaching license and are seeking an overseas teaching job, you should have both a bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate. With these under your belt, you may be lucky enough to find ESL teaching jobs in countries such as China, Japan, and Korea.
The most common TEFL qualifications are: Certificate of
English Language
Teaching to Adults (Cambridge CELTA)
You can do:
- a full-time course lasting 4 weeks or 120 hours.
- a part-time course lasting 11, 16 weeks or 36 weeks.
- a distance learning course where you may need to arrange your own teaching practice.
TEFL can be done in the UK or abroad and usually involves short-term study. Teaching English as a second language (TESL) - more commonly used for people who live in an English-speaking country, but who don't speak English as a first language.
TEFL is an acronym that stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. A TEFL/TESOL certificate is the qualification required in order to teach English abroad.
TEFL certificate entry requirements
- Minimum education requirements for online TEFL course: High school diploma/GED.
- Minimum education requirements for in-person TEFL course: Bachelor's degree.
- Proof of English profiency for non-native speakers.
- Scan of government ID.
- Written application and essay.
Generally speaking TEFL is not hard to pass. Face-to-face courses generally have interviews and strict admission requirements so if it is not likely to complete or pass the course, they will not be admitted in the first place.
As a baseline, an inexperienced teacher in Cambodia can expect to make $1,000 - $1,200 per month teaching English in Cambodia. A typical hourly rate for ESL teachers in Cambodia is $10 - $12 per hour. More experienced teachers, and those working in international schools in Cambodia can expect to to make more than that.
To be able to become an International English teacher and teach abroad at one of EF's language schools you must:
- Have a Bachelor's degree in any subject.
- Have a TEFL certification (sponsorship is available).
- Be able to teach English abroad for at least one year.
- Be able to obtain a clear background check.
Rankings are 1-8 based on content and hours. Level 4 is the standard of a 100 hour TEFL class with 6 hours of practicum and is typically the equivalent of a freshman level university course. By comparison, Level 8 is the equivalent to PhD coursework. TEFL/TESOL accreditation begins at Level 3.
If you don't have a TEFL certification, you can still apply for teaching jobs abroad. Often, you can take a course online and gain the qualification before you complete the visa process. TEFL certifications are usually awarded based on the number of hours you have studied.
In order to teach English in South Korea you'll need to be a native English speaker, hold a Bachelor's degree, and have a clear criminal record. You may also need a TEFL or TESOL certification depending on the school.
Can you teach English in Korea without a degree? Yes. Most jobs require teachers to have a bachelor's degree in almost any subject; however, there are some schools that allow non-degree holders to teach (check out number five of our list below of the best jobs and programs for teaching English in Korea).
Yes, it's possible to teach English in Russia without a degree. You'll find that some employers require/prefer their teachers to have one, but there are schools out there who don't. If you don't have one, it's recommended that you're TEFL certified as this will increase your chances of finding work.
To teach English in Japan full time, whether in a language school or on the JET scheme, you need a degree to get a work visa. This means that while you can legally work teaching English on this holiday visa, you can't do it full time and it should primarily be to fund your travels.
