5 unusual attractions in top TEFL destinations

There are a lot of fantastic places to visit in the world. This is an incredibly obvious thing to say, but really - the world is packed full of absolute wonders, from man-made architectural triumphs to natural, breathtaking sights. 

Think of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The Eiffel Tower. Tiananmen Square. The Sagrada Familia. There is a reason these places attract people; they’re either historically important, culturally important, stunningly beautiful or all of the above.

These alone, however, do not make a stay in a certain location what it is. And they usually aren’t the deciding factors to move to a place and teach English. No, it’s about the little things. The - forgive us - quirky places that leave you with more questions and than answers. The sights that baffle, that fit a need you didn’t realise you had. These are the things that charm people into turning from visitors to residents.

We’re a discerning bunch here at The TEFL Org, so we’re going to mix it up between some good ol’ research, and some personal anecdotes about weird and wonderful - or just a bit different - locations. Let’s get into it.

Mipig Cafe, Tokyo

We must start with something adorable, and though we’re reluctant to point to Japan and say something reductive like “wow! They’re always doing things a bit differently!” (it’s a lazy assessment), they are onto something with the Mipig Cafe.

You’ve doubtless heard of dog or cat cafes. How about teacup pigs, though? One of the top-rated destinations in Tokyo’s fashionable Harajuku district, the Mipig cafe has delighted guests of all ages with its frankly adorable little piggies.

Though it has a range of locations , we’ve gone with the Harajuku location because… look at it . Appropriately, it has three private rooms for the teacup pigs and cafe guests to hang out in; the straw house, the wood house and, of course, the brick house. 

If you have concerns about eating or drinking around tiny pigs, then Mipig assures customers that the pigs “are smart, adorable, and cleanly". "As well as remembering where the toilet is, they can also learn verbal commands.”

Now, to link it to TEFL: if you didn’t know already that Japan is a top TEFL destination , then you probably would’ve assumed it was. With its unquenchable thirst for English education, highly qualified teachers should have no issue finding work there. There’s also the JET Programme , which encourages prospective teachers to sign up. Read Erin Leckie’s fantastic student story on teaching in Japan for more!

Trickeye Museum, Busan

Now from Japan, a hugely popular East Asian TEFL destination, to South Korea, which is also a hugely popular East Asian TEFL destination. Variety is the spice of life, and all that.

South Korea’s major cities are full of weird and wonderful places to spend at least an afternoon, but after looking at several pictures, we’ve plumped for Busan - specifically the Trickeye Museum . 

Busan, the second biggest city in South Korea, is a major TEFL destination. Teaching English in South Korea , as a whole, is a fantastic vocation; not only are salaries high, but there are typically loads of incentives for teachers, including accommodation, signing bonuses and excellent working rights. On your downtime from teaching, though, you can enjoy things like, well, the Trickeye Museum. 

Based around the concept of Trompe L’Oeil (but you knew that), the Trickeye Museum is full of fun optical illusions, eye tricks and tributes to world-renowned art pieces. At the very least, it’s a really fun place to take photos with friends, and at most, it’s a gateway into a lifelong interest in art.

There are always jobs in South Korea , and it’s even easier to find work when programmes like EPIK exist.

Pâtisserie Stohrer, Paris

So you’ve decided you’re going to teach English in France . If you’re “doing” Paris , do it right. There are plenty of amazing attractions. The Eiffel Tower, the Arc De Triomphe, the Louvre, the Musée D’Orsay, the Sacre Cœur, the Seine - you know all these. You’ll see all these. They’re incredible, and they’re popular for a reason. 

But once you’ve done all the tourist stuff, visit the oldest pastry shop in Paris

Well, naturally, it’s time to visit the oldest pastry shop in Paris. The Pâtisserie Stohrer is located at 51 rue Montorgueil, and it has a long and famous history. Nicolas Stohrer, who just happened to be Louis XV’s pastry chef, founded the shop in 1730, having moved from Alsace to learn his trade in the kitchens of the King of Poland. His daughter, Marie, married Louis XV and they resided together in Versailles.

So, if you want to enjoy the same kind of pastries enjoyed by millions of Parisians and European royalty alike, you know where to go. As for making a mark in France’s TEFL scene, we can’t recommend TAPIF enough as a starting point. Salaries are often very good, and the demand for English is considerable nowadays.

Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb

Picture this: you’ve decided to move to Croatia to teach English , and it’s the weekend. What do you fancy doing? Art galleries? National museums? Nah, thanks. The Museum of Broken Relationships ? Absolutely.

Started as a joke (thankfully!) by two artists (of course) who were once lovers (how European), the Museum was started with “artefacts” from their shared time together. Eventually, other artist friends would bring their own items into the collection, and it grew exponentially from there. The Museum has toured around the world, picking up exhibits as it travels, and now features all sorts: old watches, toys, an “ empty bag of fortune cookies attached to a Starbucks cup ” and more.

If, sadly, the Museum is all too relevant to your life at that moment, there’s even an interactive section where you can confess things anonymously. You can even drop off items if you think they’re museum-worthy.

As for teaching English in Croatia? If you didn’t know how great an opportunity is, then now you do: salaries are excellent, contrasted against the cost of living - teachers will typically earn between 7,000 and 11,000 Croatian Kuna (HRK), equivalent to £805-£1,266/$1,015-$1,600. That goes a long way. There are loads of job opportunities, from public schools to private tutoring; Croatia also welcomes digital nomads .

Gramado, Brazil

When you think of Brazil, what do you think of? El Joga Bonito , beautiful people populating never-ending beaches, samba music and colourful streets, right? Or: snow, German beer and lots of little European shops?

Yes; Gramado in Brazil is something entirely different, alright. With Brazil’s rich history of immigration, the country is a melting pot of cultures. One of those cultures happens to be second and third-generation Italians and Germans, who turned Gramado into a little slice of middle Europe.

Yes, imagine Bavaria (via Italy) has come to Brazil. There are imported trees from the Black Forest in Germany, no traffic lights, lots of little artisan shops and even a film festival, Festival do Gramado .

If you’re in Brazil and want a Christmas experience that reminds you of childhood stories and films, the Natal Luz is really worth checking out. It’s a Christmas festival - the biggest in South America - and it is extremely festive. There are Christmas Parades, a ‘Tannenbaum Fest’ (told you it was a bit German), a Symphony Orchestra playing carols, and much more. Oh, and the biggest Christmas trees you’ve ever seen, in case you didn’t know what ‘Tannenbaum’ meant. 

For our money, teaching English in Brazil is an underrated choice. If you’re an adventurer and want to move around the (enormous) country, then great - teachers are typically given 6 month contracts. What’s more, the salaries more than amply cover the cost of living, and you won’t need a degree or teaching experience to work there.

TEFL Org Staff Picks

Dutifully, our extremely well-travelled TEFL Org staff have their own destinations that they want to tell you about.

Hanoi’s very specific Mausoleum

The first was the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. Our social media guru David says: “Ho Chi Minh is preserved in the central hall of the mausoleum, which is protected by a military honour guard. The body lies in a glass case with dim lights.” You can read about Teaching English in Vietnam for more info!

That’s a big stack of books…

If, instead of seeing Ho Chi Minh lie in state, you want to go to the tallest library in the world, our colleague Lizzie has you covered; check out the JW Marriott Hotel in Shanghai’s Tomorrow Square. Recognised as the “highest library from ground level” by the good folks at Guinness World Records , the library’s collection “comprises English and Chinese classics, architecture, philosophy, history, art and art history, as well as classical and contemporary literature”. You’d hope so, given how tall it is. Naturally, we have a guide specific to the TEFL scene in Shanghai .

Haunted Tapas?

If you’re into very, very old bars, then El Rinconcillo in Seville will fit the bill. Open since 1670 - making it comfortably older than the United States of America - the bar is open for tapas, local beers and wines, and the most stunning architecture spanning four centuries. Can you Teach English in Spain ? Of course you can, come on now. Thanks to our colleague Alan for the heads-up on this one.

Monk-y business

Phil wanted to get a little spooky with it, so he alerted us to the Capuchin Monastery in Brno, Moravia. in the Czech Republic. In his inimitable words, Phil tells us it’s a place to see “mummified monks.

“I've been to a few similar places but this is the weirdest, it's straight out of a Hammer House of Horrors film. It also had a weird gift shop I couldn't resist sending some postcards home; some that when translated from Czech said 'As you are now, we once were; as we are now, you shall be.' I think my family saw the funny side.”

Phil’s family weren’t contacted for comment.

Night Market

Finally, Jennifer MacKenzie alerted us to something truly one-of-a-kind, the Muslim Night Market in Xi’an, one of the ancient great capitals of China. “Amazing food and spectacle”, Jennifer says, and it’s hard to argue while looking at pictures . According to Travel China Guide :

“Beiyuanmen Muslim Street has a long history. It is said that in olden days, foreign diplomatic envoys and merchants lived here and then they married and had children, so gradually the population increased. Today, most of the inhabitants here are the descendants of those immigrants. All the Muslims here are the pious and devout followers of Islam so they form a tight-knit community, which maintains its own culture and traditions to this day even in such a modern society.”

The Night Market shows off that idiosyncratic, Arabic culture and community. Truly a delight to the eyes and tastebuds, it looks outstanding!

What have we learned?

Firstly: you always learn something from The TEFL Org’s blog, so jot that down. Secondly: yes! Absolutely we’ve learned something. At the very least, you might’ve found out something new - if so, great - but we’ve also reinforced an important point.

When you go teaching English abroad, don’t just stick to the guide books, or the first page of Google results. If you can, go out and explore. You’ll find the things that really make locals tick, the “authentic” versions of the places you’re visiting, and most likely, the friendliest and most enthusiastic people.

Use your imagination. If it can be dreamt, it probably exists somewhere. 

Start discovering the rest of the world today. Get a TEFL certificate from the most accredited provider on the planet, and see what’s out there.