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Summer Teaching Jobs Abroad
Discover how to teach English abroad over the summer with tips on where to find jobs, expected salaries, potential requirements, and more.
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Looking to try out teaching English without a long-term commitment? A summer teaching job abroad might be the best choice. From summer camps and volunteering opportunities to teaching online, there are endless options worldwide for short-term teaching roles in the summer.
Summer teaching jobs are a great way to build your confidence as a new TEFL teacher or to experiment with new activities and lesson plans as an experienced one. You can keep building experience, earn extra money during school break, or discover a new teaching niche.
Here’s everything to know about finding summer teaching jobs as an English teacher, where you can teach abroad, and some of the main requirements!
What types of summer teaching jobs are available?
A wide variety of summer teaching jobs are available to TEFL teachers. Whether you’re looking to start instructing online over summer break or volunteer abroad, here are some of the most popular options.Summer Camps
Teaching at summer camps is a great way for new English teachers to build their portfolios and gain experience. Most of these opportunities focus on immersion, and you’ll spend plenty of time with students, designing lessons, and practising teaching techniques. Room and board are often included in these roles, which helps offset costs and makes the low pay a bit easier to digest.Summer language camps like XUK, Italy’s ACLE camp, and Skouras in Greece are ideal options for teaching English abroad for the summer.
When and How to Apply for Summer Teaching Jobs
You’ll want to start early when applying for summer teaching jobs. Most schools and programmes open their applications sometime between January and March, although some start even earlier. Begin looking for summer opportunities as early as September and October, especially if you’re interested in popular destinations like Spain, Germany, or France.
Because you’ll likely need a visa, getting a head start gives you plenty of lead time to get all of your documents in order and begin the application process without stress. Depending on where you’re looking to teach English for the summer, you might want to get this process started up to six months in advance.
You can apply for and look for summer teaching jobs on job boards and listing resources like TEFL.org’s Job Centre, Dave’s ESL Cafe, and GoAbroad.com. Another great place to start is directly on school websites and with specific summer camp programmes like Camp Suisse and Alpadia. Online English teachers will find dozens of programmes that are perfect for filling in the summer gap or gaining experience.
Where Can You Teach Abroad in the Summer?
There are opportunities around the world for summer teaching jobs. Here are a few places you can teach English abroad in the summer.
Europe
Teaching English in Europe is all about choice, with summer camps, short-term teaching roles, and volunteer positions.
English-teaching summer camps are available across the continent, particularly in countries like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Germany, Romania, and Croatia, through organisations such as Euroclub and World Camps.
Asia
Securing temporary work as an English teacher in Asia can be challenging, but it’s possible. Usually, for a work visa, you’ll need to meet academic requirements, like having a TEFL certificate and a degree.
Summer camps are available across Asia in locations like Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Immersive teaching camps occur year-round across the continent and are a great way to get your start as a TEFL teacher, no matter the time of year.
Latin America
Latin America is a fast-growing TEFL market and a diverse place to teach English abroad. Temporary contracts are commonplace, and though summer programmes are in shorter supply than in Europe or Asia, there are still opportunities. English teachers without a degree will have the best chance of finding work here.
Keep in mind that in the northern half of Latin America, above the equator, June, July, and August are the summer months, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the school summer is in December/January.
Africa
Volunteering is usually the best route to teaching English in Africa for the summer. Residential volunteer projects are common, and organisations like Projects Abroad, Go Volunteer, and The Mighty Roar are often in need of English teachers.
Short-term teaching contracts in Africa are less widely available than in Europe or Latin America, and, like Asia, it can be hard to get a visa for temporary work. Again, like Latin America, Africa is a large continent that spans two hemispheres and has varying summer months.
TEFL at home
You don’t need to travel far to find work as a TEFL teacher. If you’re in an English-speaking country, look for positions at colleges, language schools, in government programmes, or as a private tutor.
For example, London’s UCL offers a summer English course in the UK, and Edinburgh College has summer schools for international students. The University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia hire teachers for summer English courses in Canada. Organisations like Kaplan International offer English summer courses in LA, New York, and Boston in the USA.
Download our guide to teaching English around the world
Requirements for Summer Teaching Jobs Abroad
From TEFL certification to experience, these are the common requirements for English-teaching summer jobs.
TEFL Certification
The #1 requirement you’ll need for teaching English abroad is a 120-hour TEFL certification from an accredited provider.
There are several different options for getting TEFL certified, including in-person classroom sessions, online courses, or a combination of both. Be sure that you’re taking accredited courses, as future employers will check to make sure that you earned your certification from a reputable institution.
Tip: For short-term corporate work or jobs with international students, advanced TEFL certificates in Business English and English for Academic Purposes are another great way to stand out from the crowd.
Degree
Some countries require English teachers to have a degree, whether it’s a temporary summer position or a long-term TEFL job in a local school. In Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, having a bachelor’s degree is usually essential, while Latin America is a good destination for teaching without a degree. Volunteer roles worldwide are generally less strict about requiring a college education.
Experience
Some summer teaching jobs, like at universities, in private schools, and as an au pair, will likely require you to have teaching experience. Other positions, including volunteering and at summer camps, are great ways to start out as a newbie.
Visa Requirements
Visa requirements can be one of the most difficult parts of teaching English abroad, and short-term summer roles are no exception. It’s important to keep in mind that teaching on a tourist visa is illegal in many countries.
Always read job descriptions carefully, whether it’s a paid teaching job or a volunteering role. Some employers will endorse your visa or provide end-to-end guidance, while others will leave you to sort it out yourself.Tip: For the most up-to-date information on visa rules worldwide, read about the best visa resources for TEFL teachers.
How much can you earn teaching English for a summer?
There’s no one answer to this question - it depends on where you are, who you’re teaching, what kind of summer job you have, and the cost of living. Certain countries pay higher wages than others, including in the summer months. Likewise, different programmes will also pay more or less. For example, an intensive language school typically pays more than summer camps.
| TEFL job | Average salary (approximate) | Requirements |
| Summer camp | £150 - £300 / $200 - $405 per week | TEFL certificate |
| Universities/colleges | £400 - £500 / $540 - $675 per week (UK, USA, Ireland) £1,500 / $2,026 per month (South Korea, Japan) | TEFL certificateBachelor’s degree (preferred)Teaching experience |
| Online teaching | £8 - £16 / $11 - $22 (basic lessons) | TEFL certificate |
| Homestay/au pair | Variable - may be offered a stipend or salary | TEFL certificateBachelor’s degree (usually preferred)Teaching experience or experience working with children |
Just like full-time, permanent jobs, summer salaries can vary widely. For example, first-time teachers at a summer camp will typically learn less than returning teachers. Experienced teachers earn more than new teachers working online or at universities or colleges, and au pair experiences will depend entirely on the agreed-upon rate of your host family.
Is Teaching Abroad in the Summer Worth It?
If you find the right opportunity, summer teaching jobs are absolutely worth it. Here are a few reasons why you should consider teaching English abroad this summer.
- Explore a new country: Use your summer to teach abroad and discover a destination you've never been to. You’ll likely have plenty of downtime between lessons to take day trips and explore local landmarks.
- Earn a good salary: Depending on where you’re hired, teaching English over the summer is a great opportunity to earn extra income.
- Boost your resume: Strengthen your TEFL resume by getting a few months of teaching under your belt or adding to your growing portfolio.
- Build contacts overseas: There’s no better way to network than with boots on the ground. Teaching English overseas for the summer is a great gateway to full-time positions.
- Give back: If you’ve always dreamed of volunteering abroad (or even in your hometown), summer is the perfect time to do so through teaching English.
Get started on your journey to teaching English over the summer by taking a 120-hour TEFL course from a recognised, reputable provider.
More on teaching English abroad
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are good jobs for teachers over the summer?
Depending on your qualifications or experience, you can find great jobs at summer camps, universities, colleges, language schools, or work as an au pair or tutor. You can also opt to teach English online.
Q. What countries accept a US teaching licence for short-term teaching?
While most teaching positions, even during the summer, require a TEFL certification, many countries worldwide recognise a US teaching licence. A US teaching licence is beneficial for most short-term teaching opportunities in countries throughout Europe and Asia.
Q. What country pays the most to teach abroad in the summer?
The United Arab Emirates consistently pays the highest salaries for English teachers, including for summer jobs. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have some of the highest earning potential, though the overall salary range is broader than in the UAE.
Q. Which countries have the highest demand for summer English teachers?
Many countries worldwide have a year-round demand for English teachers. Summer teaching jobs are available in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, though most English language camps are in mainland Europe.
Q. Can I teach abroad for the summer without a degree?
Yes, it’s possible to teach abroad in the summer without a degree. You’ll find plenty of volunteer opportunities around the world. If you’re looking for a paid position, Latin America is a great place to teach English without a degree.