Having travelled Asia over five years this page is dedicated to tips and advice in the Orient. For Europeans and Americans who have English as a native language there is the option to travel and live in Asia while earning teaching English at a private or government school. Having done this myself for over five years I’m in a position to give tips about individual destinations for teaching English. Most countries in Asia require the teacher to be a native speaker but non-native speakers might see openings in China, Cambodia,Vietnam and Thailand amongst others. The coat of living in most of these countries is very favourable when compared to Europe or America.
South Korea
South Korea is a good choice for new English teachers with a bachelor’s degree or for foreign travellers who wish to experience one of the most advanced Asian economies has to offer and perhaps the Asian and K-pop fad.
While the language itself is categorized as one of the hardest languages in the world for non residents to learn, don’t be put off from learning and speaking Korean. The difficulty is largely the surprise that Koreans have when a foreigner tries to speak Korean and the Korean’s preference to showcase their English.
Having lived in South Korea for over two years, I can tell you that South Korea is a very safe destination for newbees on a global trott. Many foreigners also have the opportunity of meeting a partner in South Korea and perhaps settling down there or moving back to America or Europe to settle down.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Japan ( The land of the Rising Sun) 🌞
Having been to Japan a number of times , I also had a pleasant time. I’m more familiar with Kansai and not the other prefectures in Japan. A trip.to Japan for many is high on the bucket list. Many have dreamt about visiting the temples in Kyoto, sampling sushi and other Japanese cuisine in Japan itself and cosplay, the home is that’s right Japan, cosplay lovers won’t be disappointed in Japan.
I found the Japanese to be amongst the most courteous in Asia and most receptive to foreigners learning their language Japanese, so by all means pack your phrase book. In fact many Japanese have limited English and there is rarely English television available in budget accommodations.
I also rank Japan very highly based upon its safety for travelers ,cleanliness, and clean air and water; one of the best in Asia.
If you do fly into Osaka, you are a short train ride from both Kyoto and Nara the deer village. One could certainly spend a couple of days in both Nara and Kyoto.
Personally I spent quite a bit of time temple walking and hiking.
kyoto Temple
Thailand
Thailand is the dream destination for many, living in a tropical paradise where the temperature is rarely if ever below 20 Celsius and mostly hovers are 30 Celsius or near 40.celsius in April and May, the warmest months in Thailand.
In my experience the Thais speak excellent English and are very keen to meet foreign travellers. For this reason Thailand is really an excellent choice for those that don’t want to have the difficulty of learning another English or to go through the motions of ordering a meal.
Thailand is also extremely budget friendly for the budget, nomad, or backpacker. The price of hotels is many case cheaper than a dormitory I’m America or Europe. All Thai hotels are equipped with excellent air-conditioning so the heat is generally not a problem in Thailand.
If one stays in the Sathorn area of Bangkok, there are great amenities nightlife and a park nearby, Lumpini Park to workout in.
Mahanakhon Tower Sathorn
Most western travellers are entitled to a visa free entry of up to 30.days in the kingdom which can usually be easily extended at the visa extension office for most visitors.
Thailand is also a place where Westerners can party to th later hours in Bangkok,Phuket and Pattaya. Many westerners find their dream wife or husband in Thailand.
Bangkok itself is where most expats based themselves and there is a great facility in the Lumpini park for both jogging and lifting weights. There is a gym with basic weights that costs just 20 Thai baht.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a great choice for budget travellers ,students, English teachers and higher end travellers.
The Vietnamese speak mostly excellent English, are very keen to meet foreigners and practice thier English. The visa policy differs from country to country so check your Department of foreign affairs or the Vietnam embassy before booking your tickets.
Once again Vietnam is a tropical paradise where in Southern Vietnam the temperature hovers above 30 Celsius most of the year.
Due to the low cost of living foreign expats can live and save usually at the same time. Teachers salaries are quite high relative to basic services salaries in Vietnam.
Taiwan
I had the great pleasure of visiting Taiwan in 2023 for the first time. I can say that Taiwan didn’t fail to impress and I would describe Taiwan and excellent choice for visitors that want to experience the Chinese culture without all the red tape of China. Then also I found Taiwan to be pleasantly clean, little pollution and the train system to be very efficient.
To be safe always check with your country’s department of foreign affairs , Secretary of State before booking a trip to Taiwan as the geopolitical state remains uncertain. While I was in Southern Taiwan , I could regulate hear Taiwan jets scrambling over the city near Tainan, either training or scrambling.
If you do visit Taiwan, be sure to make a visit to Taipei 101 in downtown Taipei.
Malayasia
I had the pleasure of visiting Kuala lumpur in 2023. On landing into KL airport the first thing that took to my attention was the endless line of tropical rainforest near the airport,something not as apparent in Bangkok.
I found KL to be very budget friendly,to have some fabulous tourist sites and a very diversified culture with different ethnicities blended into the city. A great country for those who fret at learning a foreign language as all the locals are generally fluent in English.
Most people can be seen taking snaps at the twin towers in central Kuala lumpur, knows as Petronas twin towers. There is an excellent park for jogging beside the towers known as KLCC Park with a jogging trial that is about 1 km loop.
The weather is indeed tropical, when I was there in February it tended to rain a couple of times a day and sometimes the roads would be overflowing in a downpour.
China
My visit to Beijing didn’t disappoint. China was and remains an excellent place for an English teacher to earn a decent salary and save at the same time. While getting a visa to China can require sometime, the effort is usually worth it, especially if you stay for a number of years. There are also openings for teachers who are non-native English speakers to teach other subjects or work in other commercial sectors in China.
Personally I was placed in a suburb in Beijing which gave me a unique experience in China . While the subway ride often took over two hours into center and was always congested, it was a unique experience. I found that the locals did however know little or sometimes no English,so one might need to consider this if they aren’t staying at hotels or dinning at top restaurants etc.