Teach in Asia: China, India, Thailand, Cambodia

There is so much we can learn and accomplish by connecting with others as we travel – and teaching abroad is a wonderful way to develop lasting friendships, impact people’s lives, build new skills, and learn about ourselves. From teaching conversational English to a rural classroom, to encouraging women to be empowered and self-sufficient, to coaching youth sports programs and much more, there will always be a demand for enthusiastic and dedicated teachers all over the world.

If you want to be part of the difference for someone in need, and if you’ve always dreamed of traveling to Asia, you’re in luck: right now, there is a great need for volunteers, interns, and certified teachers to help out in all aspects of education – from tutoring, to leading classrooms, to helping with school administration – for students of all ages and backgrounds.

For many teach abroad opportunities you’ll find in Asia, you won’t need to have any prior experience as an instructor – just enthusiasm, flexibility, and patience. And regardless of where you’d like to travel, you can very likely find teaching placements there: from beautiful beaches, to modern cities, to small towns, you’ll see amazing sites, learn about different cultures, and open your eyes to a whole new world as a teacher in Asia.

If you’re ready to experience a meaningful way to travel, keep reading to learn how you can get started on your teach abroad adventure in Asia!

Teach in Asia with International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

International Volunteer HQ offers myriad opportunities for travelers who want to teach and volunteer in Asia and beyond. Since 2007, IVHQ has sent nearly 70,000 travelers on adventurous and impactful volunteer trips worldwide, with program fees starting from just $180 for your first week abroad, depending on where you go.

Teach in China

Based in and around the ancient city of Xi’an, International Volunteer HQ offers a wonderful opportunity to teach English to Chinese students. For one week to six months, you will have the chance to work both with students and teachers on developing their conversational English skills, as many of the local teachers only speak limited English.

This volunteer opportunity is open year-round, but if you happen to travel during July and August when the schools are closed for summer break, you’ll have an alternative project to take on: instead of teaching English you will assist on an educational outreach program in nearby villages with IVHQ’s local team.

Upon your arrival in China, you will participate in an orientation where you will learn all you need to know about the teaching program. You can expect to be accommodated in either a homestay with a local family or in an apartment near the school grounds. By staying with a local family, you will be immersed in the culture as you learn about Chinese ways of life, meet people throughout the community, try authentic Chinese food, and participate in local traditions and customs. You’ll also have plenty of free time during the weekend to explore, get to know fellow volunteers, and much more.

While you don’t need prior teaching experience to sign up, you must be fluent in English, and you should be enthusiastic, open-minded, patient, and have a caring nature. Because this volunteer program offers a certain amount of freedom with the types of tasks you’ll take on, this is a great opportunity for travelers who are self-directed and creative. This program starts from $280 for your first week in China – learn more and sign up here!

Teach in India

Another option for teaching in Asia with IVHQ brings you to India, where you will take on a different kind of educational experience from that of a traditional classroom. Like many other impoverished regions of the world, school is not an option for some children in Delhi, meaning they instead must work on the streets by selling goods, foraging, or performing to help make a living for their family. It’s estimated that more than 100 million street children in India are not getting the education they need and deserve – so by taking part in this program, you can provide an education that these children might never receive otherwise.

As a volunteer, you’ll use makeshift classrooms in the slums while teaching basic lessons, playing games after class, providing one-on-one support to your students, leading painting and other art projects, and exposing them to the many ways education can give them a new life. During your stay in India, you will live with a local family, which will allow you to experience Indian culture, learn customs, and immerse yourself in the community. You also will have time on weekends to explore or relax. This program starts from $250 for your first week in India, and you’re invited to stay up to six months – learn more about teaching in India with IVHQ here!

Teach in Asia with Love Volunteers

Love Volunteers is one of the fastest-growing and affordable volunteer organizations you can sign up for right now, with more than 20,000 travelers placed worldwide since 2009. With more than 120 projects in 34 countries around the world, you’re sure to find the perfect volunteer opportunity with this organization. Right now, Love Volunteers’ Asia programs span China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Teach in Nepal

Located in Kathmandu, Nepal, this program gives you the chance to educate local children for one week to several months. As a volunteer, you will work with primary school children in a school specifically designed to administer free education, textbooks, uniforms, and shoes to more than 150 children in the slums who otherwise wouldn’t get the education that they deserve. A few ways you can help include assisting other teachers with English, math, science, history, geography, and other topics; playing games with the children; teaching good health and hygiene practices; and helping them complete projects.

For this placement, you will stay either in a homestay or in a shared volunteer house where you will be provided with two meals a day – you can expect to work four to five hours each day, Sunday through Friday, with lots of time to explore the area on Saturdays. Program fees begin at $195 for one week – learn more and sign up here!

Teach English in Cambodia

Another excellent teaching opportunity through Love Volunteers is their teaching English program in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Even the most basic knowledge of English can open many more doors for children and young adults in Cambodia, allowing them to break the cycle of poverty and pursue greater educational and career opportunities. Currently, having access to English speaking teachers is somewhat of a luxury reserved for those who come from wealthier families – and as government-run schools in Cambodia are often corrupt, the teachers can be wildly underpaid and the children are at risk of giving up or dropping out due to a lack of resources.

Love Volunteers is looking for volunteers like you to give free access to English lessons by assisting in classrooms at NGO-operated schools. Through this program, you and other volunteers will help educate children between the ages of six and 12, enabling them to build a better future for themselves. You’re invited to stay two weeks or longer as a volunteer, with the program fee starting at $610. Learn more and apply here!

Teach in Asia with I-to-I

Since 1994, i-to-i has offered TEFL certification, English teaching trips, paid internships, and jobs for travelers who want to teach English abroad. So far, more than 175,000 people have completed i-to-i’s TEFL courses, which are recognized by thousands of employers around the world. In Asia, i-to-i offers several different teaching opportunities, including paid internships in China, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as TEFL trips to Thailand and Cambodia.

Paid China TEFL Internship

i-to-i’s paid China TEFL internship is a wonderful way to get paid to travel and teach English. If you’ve always wanted to visit China, this is the way to do it: you’ll start with a 120-hour online TEFL training course, after which you’ll travel to Beijing and take on two days of classroom teaching training to get you used to working on your own. Once you’ve completed your training, i-to-i will place you at one of their partner schools in a community in Chengdu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Liaoning, Hunan, Jiangsu, or Beijing, where you’ll work five days per week as an English teacher for the next five months. During your internship, you’ll receive housing, meals, and a living allowance of about $260 per month, plus a bonus of $320 once you’ve completed the program. Learn more and apply here!

Paid Vietnam TEFL Internship

Another paid internship being offered right now from i-to-i is the Vietnam TEFL internship, where you will spend five months teaching in a classroom in Hai Phong, Hue, or Hanoi. As with i-to-i’s China internship, this experience includes 120 hours of online TEFL training, followed by 20 hours of in-classroom work before your placement at the school begins. As an intern, you’ll educate students aged four to 18, and spanning all different language levels. You’ll also earn a monthly living allowance of $700, plus housing with other interns who may be teaching at different schools. After successfully completing your internship in Vietnam, you’ll receive a bonus of $700 – learn more and sign up here!

Ready to Travel?

If any of these fabulous opportunities have caught your eye, click here to sign up for an account on Volunteer Forever and begin fundraising for your teaching adventure in Asia!

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