Teach English in
Sri Lanka

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Teach English in Sri Lanka

The end of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009 marked the start of a noticeable rise in demand for English language education in the country. While Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka, around a quarter of the population speak English (mainly in urban areas) and English is used for both official and commercial purposes. For those hoping to send their children to the elite private schools or the top universities in the country, TEFL lessons are a must from an early age. Children learn English in school, but not from kindergarten age unless they’re at a bilingual school. Many of the paid positions in Sri Lanka can be found in Colombo, the capital.

While paid positions in International Schools are available to experienced teachers, there are always voluntary opportunities for first-time teachers who want to teach English abroad and get some experience under their belts, or those who want to see Sri Lanka without committing to a longer contract. This beautiful nation is one place where you can really immerse yourself in the country – many volunteers live with host families and live like the locals, becoming cherished members of their small communities and forming great relationships with their students. If you’re looking for an authentic experience and a welcoming place to do volunteering work, Sri Lanka is a great choice .

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Key Facts

Popular locations for TEFL jobs : Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Ratnapura, Matara, Nugegoda, and Panadura
Average salary for EFL teachers : The basic monthly salary for full-time positions (in elite international schools) is likely to be in the region of 95,000 – 440,000 LKR (£350 - £1,630 / $485 - $2,250) per month. Most positions are voluntary
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most paid positions, but not necessarily for voluntary positions
Prerequisite university degree: Most positions prefer applicants to have a degree
Term times : The school year starts in January
Currency : Rupee (LKR)
Language : Sinhala and Tamil
Teaching programmes : International Schools, Private Schools, One to One Tutoring, Volunteering, Universities, Government Schools
Age restrictions: None
Previous teaching experience: Experience is often required for paid positions

It’s possible to find work teaching English in government schools (where children learn English from grade 3 upwards) but a lack of funding for these projects means that teachers are usually sourced through volunteering companies, rather than paid positions. Whether you want to work with children or adults, there are voluntary positions available in Sri Lanka. It’s even possible to volunteer at one of the unique piriven schools, which instruct Buddhist monks.

Volunteering as a TEFL teacher in Sri Lanka is a hugely rewarding endeavour. Students are cheerful and well-motivated, with volunteer teachers being invited to take part in extracurricular activities such as sports during their free periods. In some rural locations, you’re likely to be the only English teacher working at the school, and might be the only foreigner in the area, making you a popular and recognisable face in the community! The Sri Lankan culture is also quite formal, so expect to be greeted as Sir or Madam and be met with handshakes – though if you’re a male teacher, be wary that some women won’t shake hands with a man who isn’t a family member. In a full-time role, you’re likely to be working for around 6 hours a day, 5 days per week. Expect students to be in uniform whether you’re in a government or international school. The conservative culture means that teachers are required to dress modestly as well as appropriately for the temperature .

Requirements for teaching English in Sri Lanka

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Sri Lanka	37,667 LKR £96 GBP $124 USD		January		Not usually		None

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Living Costs

The civil war left its mark on the country, and there are still signs of recovery ongoing today. But Sri Lanka has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and there is much to enjoy in this vibrant country. The low cost of living makes it a perfect place for backpacking TEFL teachers or those on voluntary contracts, and while those in paid positions aren’t likely to earn a huge wage, if you live like the locals it’s easy to get by. Sri Lankan cuisine is often on the spicy side, with Middle Eastern, Dutch, and Portuguese influences making it varied with so many wonderful dishes to try. You’ll likely be familiar with dahl curry already, but look forward to sampling kottu roti bread, hoppers (thin, crispy pancakes), gotu kola mallung aromatic salad, and many aubergine dishes. Sri Lanka was called Ceylon until 1972, so it’ll be no surprise to find out that the country is one of the biggest tea exporters in the world. Sharing a homecooked meal or a cup of tea with the locals will become one of your favourite and most authentic experiences while in Sri Lanka.

Restaurants	LKR	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	LKR	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	LKR	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	LKR	USD	GBP
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	LKR	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes