Updated for 2024
If you want to make a lasting difference for people in need worldwide, international teaching is the way to do it. Education is the key to poverty alleviation: it encourages children and youth to build brighter futures for themselves, and allows men and women to break the cycle of poverty.
There are so many different teaching abroad opportunities for travelers of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels – whether you want to teach English to children, educate adults in business English, mentor youth through sports coaching programs and classroom activities, or even empower women and girls through entrepreneurial and life skills workshops, you’re bound to find an incredible teaching opportunity anywhere you want to travel.
The types of work you can expect to do will vary based on your background and qualifications – if you’re new to teaching, there are wonderful training programs available (many of which are featured in this post!).
As an example, Maximo Nivel is a great organization that offers top-rated TEFL certification and English teaching volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. If you want to get paid to travel and make a difference for communities in need, Maximo Nivel is an amazing choice. Through high-quality TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certification programs – which you can complete in-country, online, or even through a hybrid program where you’ll start your learning online and then travel to Latin America to complete your certification – you’ll be able to teach English abroad to learners of all ages and skill levels even if you don’t have any prior experience as a teacher. And better yet: a TEFL certificate will open you up to job opportunities and paid internships globally. What better way to get paid to travel?
International TEFL Academy (ITA) is another great organization that provides all the resources you need to get a great job teaching English overseas. The organization offers online and on-site TEFL courses to get you certification and then lifetime job placement assistance in popular destinations such as South Korea, Costa Rica, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. Their comprehensive guaranteed Job Placement Program in Asia can help you start your teaching career aboard. With ITA, you can truly get your dream teaching job abroad!
If you cannot go abroad for more than two weeks, you may focus more on helping local teachers with their daily work, teaching basic English phrases to students, or even assisting with a school’s administrative work. As an example, GoEco is a volunteer organization with numerous teaching English abroad programs with minimum 1 week committment in various countries to inspire you to teach underprivileged adults and children. Currently, GoEco is offering a special travel grant where you can stay for the 3rd week free! Check out the qualifying programs here!
Moreover, Intern Abroad HQ (the sister organization of International Volunteer HQ) is another choice that offers education internships, pre-school internships, women’s education internships, special education internships to add variety and experience to start your teaching abroad career.
If you’re interested in earning your TEFL certificate and teaching in Africa, then we recommend checking out African Impact, which allows you to earn your TEFL certification and serve as an intern.
Other trustworthy organizations such as GoEco, Project Abroad, Volunteering Solutions, and GVI offer plenty of impactful teaching English programs to check out.
Teaching English in particular can be a way to make the best, and longest-lasting impact on your travels. As English speaking and writing has become one of the most valuable skill sets worldwide for those entering the workforce – particularly in international sectors – it’s vitally important that people all across the world have access to quality English education.
Ready to travel? Let’s take a look at some of the very best teach abroad programs you can sign up for all over the world right now!
Trending Guidebooks
Volunteering Abroad AFTER the Coronavirus Outbreak
Read 25,175 times2024 Best Internships Abroad: Medical Care, Marine Biology & More
Read 86,978 timesVolunteer in Australia: Animals, Conservation, Ranching and More
Read 47,157 times2024 Best Volunteer Abroad Programs, Organizations, and Projects
Read 3,628,080 times
Since 2003, Maximo Nivel has offered volunteer abroad programs, internships, study abroad opportunities, and teach abroad placements in Latin America. This wonderful organization partners with local NGOs and schools to provide the best impact on their communities throughout Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. If you’d like to teach English abroad, Maximo Nivel offers TEFL certification. What is TEFL? In this course, it includes 150 hours of coursework, 6 hours of practical teaching experience, and 6 hours of observation from teachers. After completing your TEFL certification through Maximo Nivel, you’ll have lifetime job placement assistance to help you find paid teaching placements worldwide.
Through Maximo Nivel’s volunteer teaching English program, you can travel to Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Peru to educate ESL learners. The public education system in these countries does not usually offer high-quality ESL programs, so as an instructor volunteer, your job will be to fill in this gap to provide students with greater academic and career opportunities. You’ll have the chance to teach in a variety of settings, such as public schools, community centers, after-school programs, and other locations to create lesson plans, teach classes, help with tutoring, and planning games and activities. Learn more here!
If you’d like to get TEFL certified – which will open you up to paid English teaching opportunities worldwide – take a look at Maximo Nivel’s four-week, 150-hour course in Latin America. Modules include Approaches to Learning and Teaching, Critical ESL Techniques, Class Management, Lesson Planning, English Grammar, Teaching Vocabulary, Assessing Learners, and more. In this course, you’ll participate in 100 hours of in-class instruction, 35 hours of reading and written assignments, and 15 hours of observation and practical teaching. During the final week of your course, you’ll take over duties in an English class, teaching hour-long lessons for five days so you can become more familiar with the work you’ll do as an ESL instructor. Then, you receive your TEFL certificate. Click here to learn more!
Founded in 2010, International TEFL Academy (ITA) provides the best internationally accredited TEFL courses both online and in-person in 20+ locations across the world. ITA certifies 5,000 people per year, and graduates are teaching in over 80 countries and online. In addition, they can help with securing teach abroad jobs in Asia in their guaranteed Job Placement Program.
For those looking to teach English abroad, ITA is a great choice. They can truly help you achieve your goal of getting a great job and enjoying the experience of a lifetime teaching English overseas. If going overseas isn’t an option at the moment, ITA can even assist you with getting an ESL job online.
All ITA TEFL courses – including online TEFL classes – include live practice teaching and employ a state-of-the-art curriculum taught by highly credentialed and experienced instructors. In addition, all International TEFL Academy students receive lifetime job search assistance that includes personalized guidance from a team of expert advisors. To learn more and begin your journey, download your free TEFL Guide now.
ITA can assist with job placement in Spain, one of the most popular destinations in the world for teaching English. You need a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certificate, which you can get through International TEFL Academy. Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona offer the most options for English teachers, and teaching jobs are usually a part of a government program such as the Cultural Ambassadors Program. Pay ranges from $1,800 – $3,000+ per month.
Head to the ‘Land of Smiles’ and teach English in one of Asia’s fastest growing markets. Destinations abound for teaching English in Thailand too. You can choose to teach in the bustling city of Bangkok, journey to the beaches of Phuket or experience the jungles of Chiang Mai. It’s up to you. If you have a 4-year degree and a TEFL training through ITA, obtaining a job in the location of your choice shouldn’t be a problem. English teaching jobs are in abundance in primary schools, language centers, universities and other educational institutions. Salary is quite solid, typically between $1,000 – $2,000+ monthly, and usually more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand.
The Teach Abroad Program in South Korea offers a seamless job placement service with a bundle fee of $1,332. Catering to educators year-round, the program promises competitive pay ranging from $1,700 to $1,900 per month, along with substantial benefits including free accommodation, medical insurance, flight reimbursement, and a completion bonus. The program emphasizes location preference matching, enabling teachers to work in their desired region within South Korea. With 80% of placements in private schools and 20% in public schools, teachers have a broad spectrum of environments to choose from. The inclusion of comprehensive cultural orientation ensures that educators are well-prepared for the classroom and life in South Korea. The support extends throughout the teaching term, with 24/7 in-country assistance, ensuring a fulfilling teaching and cultural experience. Check here for more details!
Founded by International Volunteer HQ, a trusted organization that has placed more than 130,000 volunteers on programs worldwide since its founding, Intern Abroad HQ provides affordable, responsible, and flexible internship opportunities around the world. A variety of fields are offered through Intern Abroad HQ, whether you’re passionate about business and communications, social work, environmental conservation, law and human rights, education, engineering, or economics. These experiential learning internships include a guided reflection course to foster resume-building skills that are universally transferable within diverse employment and social settings. In the field of education, teaching, social work, and youth development, Intern Abroad HQ provides internships throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, including access to discounted online TEFL certification.
If you’re focused on developing your skill-set as an educator, or simply interested in diversifying your talents, Intern Abroad HQ offers a specialized online TEFL certification course to help students and young professionals invest in their career. The 100-hour course costs $399 and is offered via TEFL HQ, a worldwide leader in TEFL training. The course equips trainees with knowledge and abilities that will boost preparation and the confidence to teach, mentor, or provide classroom assistance. Upon completion, you’ll have earned experience in planning, designing, and adapting diverse language activities and materials. And of course, you’ll walk away with your TEFL certificate. Learn more here!
Interns in Bali can join an internship that will provide teaching experience within structured classroom environments starting from just two to four weeks’ minimum. Interns are provided with a current curriculum and topic to assist alongside local English teachers or even proactively lead their own classes. Early Childhood & Primary Education internships placements are available in kindergarten or primary school settings, and interns who would like to work with intermediate and secondary school children in Bali have additional scope to assist with creative lessons in vocational skills and careers in tourism and hospitality. Learn more and sign up here!
If you wish to work with adult learners and have a passion for speaking Spanish, then the Micro-finance / Women’s Empowerment internship in Costa Rica can provide a rewarding and engaging professional experience! This program combines the provision of micro-finance guidance and support to local women with awareness promotion related to self-esteem, abuse, violence, bullying, sexual health, and emotional health. Interns must speak Spanish at an intermediate level and stay at least four weeks. This internship may involve group counseling sessions, workshops, or outreach programs to schools. Learn more and apply online!
If you’re looking for an education internship that incorporates elements of social work, then the Youth Development & Education programs can be an excellent option. Intern Abroad HQ offers internships in both Cape Town, South Africa and Cusco, Peru, focusing on assisting youth and teens in areas where they need the most support. There is broad scope to gain valuable experience – interns with basic to intermediate Spanish language skills are encouraged to join placements in Cusco, Peru, while English-language speaking placements are provided in Cape Town, South Africa. These flexible internship destinations offer weekly intakes for new interns. Learn more here!
Lovers of Spanish language and Latin American culture can direct their passion for education toward affordable internship opportunities in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Teaching English & Education internships enable students and young professional to enhance their confidence within a classroom, supporting local teachers with a variety of lessons. Diverse placements can include public schools, private schools, or more informal education settings. Available from just two weeks in Guatemala, and four weeks in Costa Rica, interns are advised to apply online in advance. Learn more here!
Since 2006, GoEco has offered affordable volunteer abroad programs and internships in over 40 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australasia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. With more than 150 different wildlife, marine, medical, and teaching programs, GoEco is a great organization to check out if you’re looking for a variety of impactful trips to choose from, from wildlife conservation to teaching English overseas. GoEco was recently recognized as the Top Volunteer Abroad Organization from GoAbroad, Top Eco-Enthusiast by Greenmatch, and has been recommended by Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and more. As a volunteer, you will have 24-hour support from the GoEco team, from start to finish.
Want to break down international education barriers? This English literacy project for women in Sri Lanka gives you the wonderful opportunity to help women become more confident, empowered, and employable. Your main daily task involves teaching English to women in small groups. It’s an amazing experience to see their language skills improve.
What’s also nice is that you’ll be teaching English near world-class beaches. During free time, relax on the sand, do yoga, cycle around town, and more. Interested? Project fees begin from $950 for one week. Learn more here!
Teach English to children ages 6-18 years old with local teachers in primary and secondary schools, while immersing yourself in Thai culture. You will plan lessons and fun activities to engage the children to learn English, as well as assisting local teachers as needed. There are no formal requirements to teach as long as you have intermediate English, even teenagers are welcome to assist teaching (with parental consent)! Known for being a beautiful beach destination, this coastal town has golden beaches for swimming and snorkeling during your free time.
Teach and care for local children at a boarding school in Accra. The school is under-resourced, which means overworked teachers need your assistance in the classroom. Your main role will be to arrange activities with the students and teach English through conversation and play. You can also lend a hand in renovation work on the school building.
Additionally, Accra, the capital of Ghana, offers plenty to do when you’re not teaching. Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, hang out at Bojo Beach, and more. Want to learn more? Get all the details here!
Lend a hand in the settlements of Cape Town for a unique type of teaching volunteer program abroad! Rather than teaching English language skills, volunteers on this program will teach the children in the settlements how to swim, surf and skate after school! Volunteers who choose to can also teach in the local schools in the morning. Learn more here.
You can impact the lives of children from disadvantaged communities by volunteering as an English teacher with Projects Abroad. Teaching in a developing country is a great way to gain experience if you’re considering a career in teaching, or if you want to do something meaningful during a summer break or gap year.
Being able to communicate in English is extremely valuable for those in developing countries who are striving to build a sustainable future for themselves and their families. By volunteering as an English teacher, you’ll provide an important boost to those who need it most.
You don’t need any teaching qualification or experience to join one of Projects Abroad’s teaching placements. Staff are there to guide you throughout your project, and they have helpful resources that you can use to improve your experience. Through these programs, you’ll volunteer at local elementary schools, high schools, or universities.
- Visit the fascinating city of Cusco on a Teaching Project in Peru
- Experience life in Nepal as a teacher in a local school
- Travel to Southeast Asia to teach in Thailand
You also can teach other subjects! If you have expertise in another subject like mathematics, science, music, or a sport, Projects Abroad will help you find a school that needs your assistance.
Founded in 2007, Volunteering Solutions has helped more than 17,000 volunteers to date. With 150+ projects across 27 countries, Volunteering Solutions has programs in popular destinations such as Nepal, South Africa and Ecuador. They’re known for their affordable, high-quality and impactful service projects.
In addition to 120+ volunteer projects, Volunteering Solutions also offers intern and teach abroad opportunities. Whether you want to do a medical internship in Thailand or teach English in Cambodia, Volunteering Solutions has the project for you.
To learn more about Volunteering Solutions and apply to their program, visit their website here (UK readers, please visit their UK site here). Also, check out the three great programs below for teaching English abroad.
Journey to Hanoi, and teach English to children in underserved communities. By doing so, you’ll help these youth obtain a skill that can help end the cycle of poverty. Vietnam has a rapidly growing tourism industry, and is becoming an increasingly important player in global manufacturing and business. Those with English skills will have a strong position in the job market.
You’ll work in schools in the Cau Giay District. This is the perfect chance to gain valuable international teaching experience, while having fun in the amazing city of Hanoi.
Program fees begin at $530 for 2 weeks ($750 for 4 weeks; $1190 for 8 weeks). If you’d like to apply to teach English in Vietnam with Volunteering Solutions, click here!
Head to Nairobi, where you’ll help underprivileged children learn English and improve their future job prospects. Duties include assisting with conversational English, helping local teachers, creating lesson plans, playing games with students to encourage speaking and more. This program is a fun and rewarding experience, and will certainly improve your ESL teaching skills.
Volunteering Solutions will either place you in an elementary or high school, or an orphanage school. During free time, you’ll be free to explore Nairobi, a wonderful city with plenty of places of interest.
Program fees begin at $270 for one week ($590 for 4 weeks; $990 for 8 weeks). If you’d like to apply to teach English in Kenya with Volunteering Solutions, click here!
Make your way to Jaipur, the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. There, Volunteering Solutions will place you in a government or NGO-run school to teach students Math, English or Sports. As a volunteer teacher, you’ll get to know the local challenges facing educators and students as well as implement new ways of learning, including games, activities and interactive sessions.
When you’re not teaching, you can sightsee in Jaipur, a city known for architecture and pink buildings (it’s called the Pink City). This program overall is a great chance to have an adventure abroad while helping others and improving your teaching resume.
Program fees begin at $650 for 2 weeks ($1000 for 4 weeks; $1700 for 8 weeks). If you’d like to apply to teach in India with Volunteering Solutions, click here!
African Impact is an award-winning, responsible travel organization that offers TEFL, volunteer, and internship opportunities in 7 countries across Africa. It was founded in 2004 and has since hosted over 35,000 volunteers. African Impact has over 20 different projects, ranging from teaching in Zambia to marine conservation in Zanzibar. The organization is known for its long-term objectives and measurable change. It is also recognized as a trusted specialist on volunteering and interning in Southern Africa. African Impact offers internships, as well as group, family, and high school projects. The minimum age requirement for their projects is 16, making African Impact a great option for teen and high school volunteers.
African Impact offers an online program to become certified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) in more than 50 countries worldwide. The course is part-time and combines 150 hours of academic online coursework with 20 hours of live practice teaching. The classes are taught by university professors and the curriculum was written by experienced instructors. The program also includes access to recorded lectures and webinars, as well as at least 20 hours of practical teaching experience. Participants can receive lifetime job placement guidance after completing the program. The program is aimed at improving education in disadvantaged communities in Africa and aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The TEFL Teaching Internship in Zanzibar is a program that allows participants to complete their qualification to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) by providing a minimum of 28 hours of practical teaching experience in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Through this internship, participants will have the opportunity to teach children aged 4-7 and adults, as well as work with members of the Maasai tribe. The program also includes work at African Impact’s Education Centre in the village of Kizimkazi, helping adults learn English and access job opportunities. Participants will be able to gain exposure to varied classroom situations and diverse learning and cultural contexts, while supporting a rural community in a seaside fishing village. The internship is based in the beautiful coastal village of Kizimkazi and offers participants the opportunity to experience the stunning white beaches and turquoise waters of Zanzibar. Please note: This program is only available to those who have booked their online TEFL course through African Impact.
African Impact also offers a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) internship program in Livingstone, Zambia. Participants in the program will complete the final requirement to become qualified to teach English as a foreign language by undertaking 38 hours of practical teaching experience over a period of two weeks (longer stays are possible). Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to apply learned teaching principles to real-life situations, build confidence in their teaching skills by working with children aged 9-16 and adults, and gain exposure to varied classroom situations and diverse learning and cultural contexts. The program also supports a community in rural Livingstone while providing participants with valuable teaching experience. This program is only available to those who have booked their online TEFL course through African Impact or who have completed the required academic hours for their 170-hour online TEFL course.
Since 1997, GVI has placed more than 25,000 volunteers and interns on meaningful programs all over the world. With opportunities in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australasia, and Africa, GVI has no shortage of impactful adventures you can sign up for – and right now, GVI is offering several dozen teaching placements where you can help out in a classroom, develop your leadership skills, and make a difference for children and teens. GVI also offers TEFL certification if you would like to get paid to teach English worldwide.
GVI is unique from other volunteer programs in three ways: they operate their own volunteer projects to ensure real, sustainable impact on the ground; they provide 360 degree support before, during, after your placement; and lastly their alumni network provides increased access to higher education and career development opportunities.
GVI offers a variety of teaching programs in many different locations. Their teaching programs support English language skills, educating women and Buddhist monks, and more. Programs are based in Thailand, Madagascar, Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Nepal.
Kickstart your dream of becoming an international English teacher with GVI’s comprehensive TEFL program in Phang Nga, Thailand. This project requires a commitment of 6 months to ensure you are set up for success. During the first 3 months, you will study and earn your TEFL certificate with the GVI team. Then in the second half of the program, you will join an apprenticeship to teach English in a local institution. Because this program is so comprehensive with intense training, you are strongly positioned to get a job offer in one of the local communities. Six months is plenty of time to immerse yourself in Thai culture, enjoy touristy places, and build your support network. Phang Nga is a quieter and slower paced community, yet still offers beautiful beaches, and village life with plenty of food vendors and shops. Your accommodation will be in a GVI volunteer house with staff and other participants to ensure you have a good support system. For more details about this amazing opportunity, click here!
Travel to Cartago, Costa Rica with GVI to teach English to children. This is one of GVI’s most popular programs and so it can fill up quickly. This is a great opportunity to visit the beautiful Costa Rica country, and at the same time leaving a positive impact. No previous teaching experience is required, just the enthusiasm to teach. You will be teaching English to school aged children in a childhood development program. You will also engage them in physical activities and other group activities to develop social skills. In your free time, there are many places to visit such as tour San Jose city, coffee plantations, and national parks. Get started here!
Combine a vacation with volunteering in the cultural city of Siem Reap, Cambodia to make your trip more meaningful and memorable! This program aims to bring education to Buddhist monks and children living in Siem Reap. You will be teaching conversational English to Buddhist monks one hour a day, and then introductory English to children in the community for the rest of the time. Minimum time requirement for this project is 2 weeks, and this allows you to have more time to immerse in the local culture and community rather than just being a tourist. In your free time, spend time exploring the rich culture of the city, and of course, visit the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. Click here to get started!
Teach English to eager, excited students who need your attention through Plan My Gap Year, which offers teaching opportunities in Bali, Cambodia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam. New volunteer programs are introduced each year, with Costa Rica, Peru and Ecuador on the horizon. You’ll teach a variety of students, from Buddhist monks to young Indian women, and disadvantaged children and adults throughout Asia and the South Pacific.
Plan My Gap Year offers TEFL Express, a 60-hour, internationally recognized and accredited online course that allows you to learn the core principles of teaching English on your own time, at your own pace. Founded in 2011, Plan My Gap Year provides meaningful and safe volunteer opportunities abroad, and to date has placed around 3,000 volunteers worldwide. Plan My Gap Year has received numerous awards, including recognition from the United Nations for its work in Sri Lanka. All programs are personally inspected and vetted by the team, and risk assessment is performed on an annual basis.
Volunteer with Plan My Gap Year to teach English, as well as other topics, to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Morocco, where public secondary schools have among the highest dropout rates in the world. Literacy rates for 15- to 24-year-olds are as low as 87%, due to a decline in governmental spending on education. You can help change this by volunteering with students in the primary school system, where attendance is at 90%. Use your presence in Moroccan schools to influence younger children to continue their education. Program fees start from only $225 for your first week abroad, and you are invited to stay up to six months to make the greatest impact on this program.
Teach English abroad in the beautiful island nation of Fiji with this opportunity, and share your unique culture with local children. Help English teachers by preparing lesson plans, assisting at the school library, maintaining classroom discipline, and encouraging active learning. You’ll work with Fiji students attending a Catholic school located close to the volunteer house in Suva – this school currently supports 700 boys aged six to 13. Utilize an informal teaching style with the younger students, and select creative activities such as singing, dancing, and storytelling to round out their educational development. Older students will benefit from formal lessons in English, math, and geography. Program fees begin at $390 for two weeks.
Volunteer to teach abroad in Nepal with Plan My Gap Year, working with one of the country’s poorest communities. You’ll help to combat the low standard of education in a country where more than 40% of the adult population is illiterate. Nepalese teachers are often overworked and under-qualified, and your assistance is desperately needed. Knowing how to speak English can open doors for young people seeking employment in tourism, Nepal’s biggest industry. Your background in teaching is secondary to your presence as a native English speaker. Class sizes at the community education centers range from around 20 to 30 children. Program fees start at $375 for a two-week stay.
English teaching volunteers with Plan My Gap Year in Cambodia have the opportunity to help students learn a new language, preparing them for a future where the country shifts from a economy of sustenance farming to one driven by industry and service. In the years that the Khmer Rouge ruled, it undermined Cambodia’s education system, and since then, the government has invested time and money into slowly rebuilding. Still, Cambodia has one of the poorest literacy rates in Asia, especially among women. Volunteers like you may work at a community school established in 2010 in Takeo to provide accessible education and English development to children in nearby villages. Volunteers generally lead their own classes, and English is the main subject. And if you would like to do more than teach English abroad, you’ll also have the opportunity to teach computer studies, math, art, dance, and sports. Program fees start at $360 for two weeks.
Love Volunteers is one of the fastest growing and affordable volunteer abroad organizations you can sign up for right now, with more than 20,000 travelers placed on more than 120 projects in 34 countries worldwide since 2009. There are lots of different teaching opportunities you can check out through Love Volunteers, including English teaching, sports coaching, women’s empowerment, and beyond.
Based in Arusha, this program invites you to support women who have been subjected to injustices and traumatic events. As a volunteer, you will work with women and their children in a safe space where they can recover from their past and build brighter futures. One of the project’s goals is to provide quality education and skills development opportunities, and you can help by volunteering in the daycare or pre-school, teaching computer skills or English, and providing vocational training. Learn more and sign up here!
Through this program, you will be able to help improve the educational and career prospects for some of Rio de Janeiro’s poorest and most disadvantaged residents. Because access to basic English education is severely lacking in Brazil’s favelas, your assistance can make a great difference by helping residents prepare for the job market, school exams, and much more. You can help lead classrooms, design lesson plans, network with local residents and project staff, monitor students’ progress, and much more – click here to learn more and to sign up.
Founded in 2011, Agape Volunteers supports humanitarian efforts and environmental conservation initiatives in Africa. A registered UK charity, this organization specializes in volunteering, tourism, and development work in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Ghana, and Maasai-land, and its founders and team have a strong background in the volunteer and teaching abroad industry. Agape Volunteers is an excellent choice if you are looking for a reputable and affordable teach abroad opportunity – program costs include registration and administration fees, as well as travel insurance, tours and excursions, and much more.
Nurture talent and boost confidence as you help develop the skills of underprivileged schoolchildren as a teaching volunteer in Ghana. Join Agape Volunteers and help build students’ conversational English-speaking skills through planned lessons, games, and sports. Work alongside a teacher, and bring your own ideas for creative learning. Volunteers live at the local center for street-children, which also acts as Agape Volunteers’ base camp in Ghana. Take part in a free tour of Jamestown, an historic area of Accra that is now the site of a fishing village. Agape Volunteers also offers extra adventures, including jungle trekking, cultural excursions, and visits to a variety of National Parks and animal sanctuaries. Stay for a week or even a year, with program fees starting at £510. Click here to read more!
If you enjoy working with schoolchildren, take a look at this volunteer teaching opportunity in Tanzania. No experience is needed to have a huge impact on the lives of students eager for lessons in English, math, and science. Hold conversations that help students improve their language skills, or play games and sports to develop fitness levels. Stay at Maisha Cottage, a guesthouse in the city of Arusha and just five minutes’ walk from the city center. The cottage has hot showers, wifi, and communal space for you to meet and connect with other volunteers. Spend your free time on excursions, including overnight safaris on the Serengeti or a weekend visiting the beautiful Moshi Waterfalls and Chemka Hot Springs. Volunteer teachers stay from one week to one year in Tanzania, with costs starting at £695. Read more here!
Are you ready to share your knowledge and skills with eager students on a volunteer teaching program in Kenya? Join Agape Volunteers in understaffed schools, lending a hand with lessons in English, math, science, and more. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and how the students will benefit from your enthusiasm and ability. Decorate the room as you wish, and teach games, sports, and arts and crafts.
You’ll also help to support an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp, assisting with medical outreach work, distributing supplies, or helping with the building and maintenance of ongoing construction projects. Stay at the purpose-built volunteer house in dorm-style rooms, and spend your free time taking part in the free Nairobi City Tour, relaxing and getting up close and personal with giraffes and elephants at an animal center there. Durations range from one week to one year in Kenya, with costs starting at £590. Learn more and apply today!
If you’re interested in a teach overseas experience that’s unique, exotic, and off the beaten path, check out Fronteering. With volunteer programs and internships in 14 different countries worldwide, Fronteering offers amazing opportunities to visit unspoiled locations and make a positive difference in a variety of sectors.
One of Fronteering’s many unique travel experiences invites you to Madagascar to teach alongside educators in an underprivileged school and help make a difference for children in need. Most of the teachers in the area where you’ll work have little access to proper training, so as a volunteer, you will be able to help make sure local children have the education they need. There are many different ways you can assist, including after-school support, helping teachers with their daily work, providing training to the teachers, and helping students improve their literacy and numeracy skills. Click here to learn more and to apply!
Another teaching opportunity you should check out with Fronteering takes you to Ghana, where you will teach English, sports, math, and economics in a local classroom, or even help with arts and crafts, rhymes, songs, and storytelling if you volunteer with younger students. Your responsibilities as a teacher will vary based on your background and the needs of the project, but you can be sure you’re making a positive impact among the students you’ll work with each day. Learn more and sign up here!
Since 1994, i-to-i has provided TEFL certification, adventure trips, paid internships, and jobs for travelers who would like to get paid to teach English abroad. More than 175,000 graduates have completed i-to-i’s accredited TEFL courses, which provide TEFL certificates that are recognized by thousands of employers all over the world. i-to-i offers many amazing journeys for international English teacher travelers, including four- to five-month trips to China and Vietnam, and even shorter-term TEFL experience trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and other countries.
One of i-to-i’s paid internships invites you to Vietnam, where you will spend four-and-a-half months teaching English to students in a local classroom. To start, you will take a 120-hour online TEFL training course to help you learn to teach English confidently, followed by 20 hours of in-classroom training once you arrive to Vietnam. With the TEFL certificate program and training, you’ll feel prepared. After that, you’ll begin your teaching experience, where you can work with students aged 4 to 18 in a major city. You’ll earn a living allowance of $700 each month, plus housing will be provided with fellow interns. Upon successful completion of your internship, you will earn a $700 completion bonus. Learn more here!
Another excellent opportunity i-to-i is offering right now is a two-month Cambodia TEFL Experience, where you will travel throughout the country and teach English at a private school in Phnom Penh. To get started, you’ll complete i-to-i’s 120-hour online TEFL qualification for the TEFL certificate, and then take on seven weeks of practical teaching experience in a school with students aged 3 to 16. At the end of your trip, you’ll spend a week relaxing and reflecting at a Sihanoukville beach resort. Click here to sign up!
Another excellent organization you should check out if you want to teach overseas is A Broader View. Since 2007, A Broader View has dedicated more than 1.5 million volunteer hours and raised $2.5 million in donations for their program partners worldwide. Right now, this nonprofit is offering dozens of teaching opportunities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Based in Quito, Ecuador, this English teaching opportunity invites you to work alongside local teachers at a local high school. For two weeks to three months, you will have the chance to teach in a high-quality school and assist staff and educators with anything they might need. Through this program, you’ll be able to help prepare students for higher education opportunities as well as successful entry into the workforce. Learn more and apply here!
Based in Nepal, this program gives you the wonderful chance to teach nuns aged four to 18 in a monastery. Most of these nuns are from poor families, and are sent to the monastery for better living conditions and to receive an education. As a volunteer, you will teach English under the supervision of a local teacher or administrator, and you can also help with other activities throughout the monastery to provide extra support. Learn more and apply here!
Since 1989, Frontier has invited travelers of all ages to work along with researchers and local communities in capacity building, ecosystem protection, community development, economic growth, and the development of civil society. This nonprofit scientific research organization hosts more than 400 projects in 72 countries worldwide, and offers volunteer programs, gap year travel, internships abroad, and teach abroad / TEFL programs.
On this program, you will have the chance to teach in a school in Puerto Jimenez, offering support to local children and assisting staff with curriculum development, lesson planning, and much more. There are a variety of classroom activities you can assist with based on your background and the needs of the school, which will allow you to engage with the children, be creative, and help out with many aspects of their education. A few subjects you can contribute to include math, English, and reading, and you may even have the chance to plan your own lessons to teach a small group. Learn more and sign up here!
Another opportunity being offered by Frontier right now invites you to Madagascar, where you will help teach at a school that suffers from underfunding and lack of resources for their students. As a volunteer, you will help teach language, sports, music, and science at the school, and depending on the time of year that you travel, you also can teach adults at language camps or at churches. Learn more and apply here!
Naturally Africa Volunteers also offers excellent teach abroad opportunities for travelers who want to make a positive impact. For two weeks to three months, you can volunteer in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, or South Africa, with teaching programs available in preschools, children’s centers, primary schools, and more. Depending on the teaching program you sign up for, Naturally Africa Volunteers may ask you to complete a basic TEFL course before you travel – their team can work with you to find the best program for your schedule and needs, and ensure that you are comfortable leading your own classroom.
Through this teaching program, Naturally Africa Volunteers invites you to Malawi, where you can provide care and development support for children in a preschool group. Because there is little formal education in this country for students aged six and under, there is much you can do to help young children get a head start before they enter primary school. As a volunteer, you can teach basic English, serve meals to malnourished children each day, record children’s weight to monitor their improvement, and promote the benefits of good hygiene by teaching children how to brush their teeth. Learn more and apply here!
Since 1993, International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT) has been a leading TEFL and TESOL course provider for aspiring English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers. Training is offered through an online course that you can take at your own pace, in-class courses in 27 different countries, as well as a combined course. With worldwide accreditation and 7,500 graduates each year, ITTT offers lifetime job support for alumni, such as exclusive leads on unadvertised jobs, unique databases of potential employers, CV and resume review, cover letter assistance, contract consultation, and interview prep. Online courses start at $249, and in-class courses start from $1,490 for four weeks.
ITTT offers internationally accredited online TEFL courses for students of all learning styles – which means that you can earn a certificate from home on your own time, with or without tutor support. In the online course, you have the opportunity to earn your TEFL certificate in Teaching Business English, Teaching English to Young Learners, and an advanced Diploma in TEFL. Courses range from 60-hour introductory programs, to 50-hour specialized classes, to 250-hour TESOL diploma classes. The online program is available to those aged 17 or older, and you must be a native English speaker or fluent in English to sign up. Learn more here!
If you’d like to receive TEFL or TESOL certification abroad, check out ITTT’s in-class courses, which are offered in more than 25 locations in 15 different countries. These programs start from $1,495 for a comprehensive four-week program, which is divided into six main areas: teaching practice, foreign language experience, language awareness, student profile, teaching techniques, and a materials project.
One course to check out abroad is ITTT’s TEFL class in Thailand, where you’ll learn from teachers who have years of experience teaching English as a foreign language, plus extensive backgrounds in curriculum development, customized course creation, eLearning, teaching business English, and much more. ITTT’s Bangkok TEFL training program brings you to a school that teaches children in the afternoon, and business professionals in the evening. The program in Phuket (ITTT’s most popular program in Thailand) invites you to learn to teach English and enjoy the country’s beautiful beaches. And once you complete certification, ITTT will provide alumni job placement assistance so you can be placed as quickly as possible in a paid teaching position in Thailand or beyond. Click here to learn about ITTT’s in-class courses!
ITTT also has an amazing program where you can combine online training with in-class experience through its combined courses, which start with a 120-hour online class, followed by one to two weeks of onsite training. This program lets you study at your own pace with assistance from a highly-experienced personal tutor. For the online portion, you’ll learn about language awareness, teaching theory, and general methodology. After that, you can choose to take a five-day in-classroom course and finish your TEFL certification in one of more than a dozen locations in the US or Canada, or an 8- to 10-day program in Spain, Thailand, Italy, France, or the United States. Register for a combined course here!
Ready to Travel?
If you’re looking for more inspiration for your teach abroad experience, check out these articles:
How to get TEFL Certified
Teach English Abroad: What’s the Difference Between TEFL, TESOL & CELTA?
Volunteer Abroad to Teach Children: English, Sports Coaching & More
Paid Work Abroad: J-1 Visa, Teach, Au Pair & More
Sarah Vandenberg ยท Director of Partnerships
Sarah has worked as a researcher and consultant in the volunteer travel world since 2004. With a BA from the George Washington University and background working with both public and private sector volunteer organizations, she enjoys exploring the world and collecting and sharing stories, trends, and advice with travelers who want to volunteer, intern, or teach abroad.