Teach English in Guinea

Is Guinea a realistic option for TEFL teachers who are eager to explore the natural beauty of West Africa? Here’s our perspective.

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A nation undergoing significant development, Guinea might not be the obvious choice for teaching English as a foreign language. However, Guinea represents an exciting opportunity for adventurous, ambitious TEFL teachers who want to contribute to a developing educational system and enjoy astonishing natural beauty.

With a young population enthusiastic about learning English, Guinea’s demand for the language is growing. French is the official language, but regional languages dominate, with Pular, Maninka and Susu being most commonly spoken. As the language for business, the appeal of learning English is obvious to aspirational Guineans, with plenty of language schools in major cities offering lessons.

This article will help you understand the teaching opportunities for teachers in this part of West Africa, what teaching qualifications you’ll need to find teaching positions in Guinea, how much you can earn, how you can get a visa, and lots more.

Quick facts about Guinea

Country Name: Republic of Guinea
Capital: Conakry
Official Language: French
Population: 15m (Worldometer)
Currency: Guinean Franc (GNF)

Requirements for teaching English in Guinea

What do you need on your CV to start teaching in Guinea? Whether you imagine yourself teaching abroad in an international school, language schools in Guinea, or any number of English teaching positions in Guinea, here's what you'll need.

TEFL certification

You'll need to have TEFL certification on your CV; 120 hours of TEFL training is the industry standard and essential for finding teaching jobs in Guinea. While 120 hours will prepare you for teaching English anywhere in the world, advanced TEFL certification in Business English should help you to find teaching opportunities in Guinea, with many Guinean adults focused on international economic opportunities.

Degree/No degree

You don’t need a degree to teach English abroad in Guinea. A degree is not a requirement for a Guinean work visa. However, some employers - especially those in elite institutions - require candidates with a degree.

Teaching experience

Like a degree, you don’t need experience teaching English in Guinea. However, the more teaching experience you have, the easier it is to find higher-salaried, permanent teaching positions.

Visa and work permits

To get a long-term visa and work permit in Guinea, you’ll need an offer of employment. This means there aren’t specific academic or experience-related requirements for teaching English in Guinea.

Initially, you can get a single-entry visa to stay in Guinea for up to 90 days. During this period, you can find Guinean English teaching jobs in person, but the vast majority of job opportunities will be online.

To stay long-term, you’ll need:

One passport-sized photo
A scan of your passport’s data page
A scanned copy of your previous visa (usually a single-entry visa)
Flight tickets
Yellow fever certificate
An employment contract

Copies of your qualifications, including your TEFL certificate, are also required.

Download our teaching English in Africa & the Middle East guide

Salary and benefits for English teachers in Guinea

What can ESL teachers earn working in this part of West Africa? Let’s examine English teaching wages in Guinea, how they contrast with the cost of living, and whether teachers can expect additional benefits.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Guinea	7,000,000 - 31,000,000 GNF £630 - £2,700 GBP $810 - $3,500 USD		September	Preferred	Sometimes		None

Salary

On average, full-time TEFL teachers in Guinea will earn a salary of 5,380,000 GNF to about 7,850,158 GNF per month (£480 - £700 / $621 - $906).

English teachers working in Guinea can earn more based on a few important factors, including qualifications, experience and location. Cities like Conakry and Gueckedou have a slightly higher cost of living, meaning wages will likely be weighted higher.

Other benefits

English teaching jobs in Guinea don’t usually offer many incentives beyond a salary. However, in some instances, teachers may be given help with accommodation and travel expenses. This could take the form of administrative help or coverage of costs.

Cost of living

How comfortably can teachers live and work in Guinea? To get the best idea of how much it costs to live in Guinea, it’s useful to look at day-to-day expenses in the capital city, Conakry.

City centre rents, specifically in one-bedroom apartments, cost about £490 / $680, but if you’re willing to live further out, those costs lower to about £275 / $318, which is far more affordable on a teaching salary.

Utilities and internet access can get expensive. This is important for anyone looking to teach online to supplement their income: some packages cost over £140 / $180 per month.

Restaurants	USD	GBP	EUR
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	USD	GBP	EUR
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	USD	GBP	EUR
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	USD	GBP	EUR
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	USD	GBP	EUR
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

English teaching opportunities in Guinea

Where can eager candidates with a TEFL certificate start teaching in Guinea? Here's where you can find the best teaching jobs in this fantastic part of West Africa.

Public schools
Language schools
Private tutoring

Public schools

With continued efforts to improve English proficiency in the state education system, public schools in Guinea represent something of an opportunity. Teaching jobs in Guinean public schools, however, aren’t well-paid. With high levels of poverty throughout the country, attendance at schools is comparatively low, and there isn’t a significant amount of investment in public education. Fewer than 40% of eligible male students and only around 30% of girls finish secondary school.

Volunteering is the best way to teach in Guinea’s state education system. The environment is challenging, but teaching English will make a substantial difference, given the economic opportunities associated with it.

Language schools

With very few international schools and private schools, and little demand for English teaching in universities, the other significant option for teachers in Guinea is language school jobs. As demand for English proficiency rises, language schools have sprung up, especially in bigger cities.

Language school pupils usually have a specific learning outcome in mind. Business professionals will be very keen to learn Business English from an experienced tutor. Younger students who can afford outside tuition will be enthusiastic about the potential of English for academic purposes.

Tip: Language schools can be an accessible entry point for newly certified TEFL teachers, as they tend not to require a degree or significant teaching experience.

Private tutoring

The clientele at language schools and the audience for private English tutoring in Guinea are about the same. Much of your client base as a private tutor will be with students who have a specific learning outcome in mind, usually concerning employment opportunities or academia.

That said, there is a more general audience that might be available to teachers, especially in bigger cities. If you’re good at self-promotion, putting up adverts for your TEFL services will likely yield results. Bear in mind, though: you’ll need a permanent offer of employment to enter Guinea and receive a visa, so tutoring works best as an additional way to earn.

Best cities to teach English in Guinea

Where are the best places to live and work as an English teacher in Guinea? Here are three of our favourite cities, including the kinetic, fast-paced capital of Conakry:

Conakry

If you’re looking for a busy pace of life and natural beauty, Guinea’s capital, Conakry, has plenty of both. While the historic sites, like the Sante Marie Cathedral and Conakry Grand Mosque, are undoubtedly worth a visit, the action is on the streets.

The first port of call for many first-timers in Conakry is the Jardin Botanique, where exotic birds and everyday revellers join, and the Marche Madina, with its excellent street food (grilled fish is especially popular), flea markets and music. If you’d rather get away from the noise of the city, there are a range of hidden beaches, with Iles de Los just off the coast.

In Conakry, you’ll find the majority of Guinea’s English teaching opportunities. There are more language schools and state schools here than anywhere else in the country, and the interest in English is more widespread.

Kindia

Kindia’s locals will almost certainly point you in the direction of the beautiful waterfalls, and once you see them, you’ll understand why. They’re an example of the natural beauty that can be found around Kindia, a more serene locale than Conakry.

Many TEFL teachers abroad are outdoors enthusiasts, and if you're thinking about West Africa, we’d highly recommend Kindia. With its gorgeous hiking trails, fantastic paths for cycling or driving around, and nature reserves like Mount Nimba, a UNESCO heritage site, no less, there’s little reason to be indoors during your time off.

Gueckedou

In southeast Guinea, Gueckedou perhaps represents the best opportunities to teach English outside Conakry. An agricultural hub with fantastic markets filled with local produce, Gueckedou’s economy is based around farming, and while it’s a far less international city than Conakry, there are still opportunities.

For teachers, it’s a challenging but rewarding environment. Even state schools are limited in number, but charities have stepped up to provide educational opportunities for youngsters in Gueckedou. If you’re excited to volunteer as a TEFL teacher, Gueckedou is an interesting choice.

Key takeaways

What have we learned about English teaching in Guinea?

Guinea’s desire for English proficiency is growing: there’s an increased need and demand for English teaching in Guinea. While it’s far from a priority, with high levels of poverty and low rates of secondary school completion, the economic opportunities attached to English are compelling.
You need a TEFL certificate with at least 120 hours of training. Advanced TEFL certification in Business English is beneficial. Other qualifications, including a degree and even some knowledge of French, can also help you find jobs.
To gain a visa, you’ll need a job offer.
Full-time TEFL teachers in Guinea can expect to earn between 5,380,000 GNF and 7,850,158 GNF per month (£480 - £700 / $621 - $906).
Most teaching jobs are found in language schools, especially in major cities like Conakry. Private tutoring is possible, but opportunities are relatively limited.
International schools and private schools aren't prevalent in Guinea.

Conclusion

If you have a TEFL certificate, the desire to help improve an area's English proficiency, and you love the great outdoors, Guinea is a fantastic location to teach. Most teaching jobs are in language schools, which are relatively prevalent in big cities like Conakry, but international schools, private schools and universities in Guinea are scarce, and there aren't really opportunities to TEFL.

While salaries are on the lower side, the cost of living is also minimal. The main costs are rent, internet access and monthly bills. Utilities aren't always reliable in Guinea, even in the bigger cities, which is something to bear in mind if you plan to take up any remote work.

With increasing demand for English, and a growing economy, Guinea is definitely a country to watch for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are a lot of questions about English teaching in Guinea: here are our answers!

Q. What are the biggest challenges of teaching English in Guinea?

For TEFL teachers, the scarcity of teaching opportunities can be an obstacle. While other popular TEFL destinations have plenty of private and international schools that teach English, there are far more limited options in Guinea. Language schools and some state schools are your best option.

Q. What is the salary for an English teacher in Guinea?

Full-time TEFL teachers in Guinea typically earn 5,380,000 GNF and 7,850,158 GNF monthly (£480 - £700 / $621 - $906).

Q. Can I teach English online while living in Guinea?

You can work as an English teacher online in Guinea. However, you need an offer of employment to get a visa for Guinea, and internet access can be expensive.

Q. What is the local language in Guinea?

There is no one "local language" in Guinea. Instead, French is the official language, but regional languages dominate, with Pular, Maninka and Susu being the most prevalent.