Teaching Abroad Hiring Seasons and Application Deadlines Guide

Whether it’s a gap year or your chosen career path, teaching abroad is a fantastic way to gain international experience and earn a salary while immersing yourself in a new place and meeting new people.

However, you’ll need to know the application process and deadlines to make the most out of your experience. Read on for the teaching abroad hiring seasons and application deadlines guide!

While it’s certainly possible to teach abroad with a quick turnaround if you’re proactive and organized, it’s wise to apply around 6 - 9 months ahead of your intended start date depending on your nationality and desired location. Securing documents and completing paperwork alone can take several months.

Applying directly to schools will require more time than applying for a teaching program. This is because individual schools often have stricter deadlines and may have a slower hiring process.

On the flip side, the main function of teaching programs is to get you a position and support you through the entire process (including visas!). They often have rolling deadlines throughout the year, so you can sometimes apply with shorter notice and still secure a position.

Given the high demand for English teachers across Asia, most countries recruit teachers for private schools and language academies throughout the year.

However, government schools follow a more rigid academic calendar. If you want to work at a public school, you should plan your application to start teaching at the beginning of either semester. Many schools will prioritize the applications of those who teach for a full academic year from the first semester.

• China: Applications typically open at the beginning of the calendar year, however, private institutions generally hire all year round. It’s important to note that the academic calendars can vary slightly from year to year due to the lunar calendar.
• Japan: Private institutions have openings throughout the year, but the peak hiring season is from January to April. In Japan, the competitive JET Program has an application deadline of around 9 months before the start date depending on the applicant’s nationality. There are also a number of private recruiting companies that provide placements throughout Japan whose hiring seasons vary.
• South Korea: Private schools - or Hagwons - are the most popular schools for TEFL teachers in South Korea. While some will hire all year round, most have a hiring season in February and August before each semester. The government program EPIK, and private companies that recruit for EPIK will also start accepting applications as early as August for February/March start dates, and in February for August start dates.
• Thailand: In the land of smiles, the school semesters begin in June and November, but private schools will hire all year round.
• Vietnam and Cambodia: Both share similar hiring dates in May and September, but Vietnam has stricter visa and teaching requirements, which will demand more time for the application.

European countries typically start their school year in September or October, with the second semester starting shortly after the new year. Teachers are far more likely to find positions in September if working at a public school because almost half of foreign teachers leave their positions at the end of the academic year. This means preparing your application in January with many deadlines being in March, April, and May.

Being an EU resident can cut down your application time significantly. If you’re from the US or UK, your application will take longer. This is not only because you’ll need to obtain a visa, but fewer employers accept foreign teachers outside the EU because of the amount of required paperwork and availability of qualified local teachers.

• Spain: Most applications for ESL teachers run through the winter up until April with organizations like RVF International and North American Language and Culture Assistants (NALCAP) in Spain. NALCAP adopts a first-come, first-served method of assigning positions, so it’s important to apply as soon as applications open.
• France: Popular programs such as the Teaching Assistant Program in France allow hundreds of teachers to work in public schools as language assistants each year. With semesters commencing in September and January, teachers should apply during the peak hiring seasons in January and September.
• Georgia: An overlooked yet underrated option when teaching English in Europe. Teachers in Georgia can embrace a diverse landscape, ornate monasteries, Soviet architecture, and more while teaching English with the government-sponsored Teach and Learn Program.
• Turkey: Schools in Turkey often have openings all year due to a high demand for English teachers.
• Short-term teaching jobs in Europe: If you don’t want to commit to an academic year, there are plenty of summer camp jobs available in countries such as Spain, Austria, Romania, and Germany.

Read more:The Best Countries in Europe to Teach English

Start dates for teaching in the Middle East are typically around August and September. Some schools in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait may even have three semesters instead of two. Applicants should aim to start in the fall because schools are more inclined to hire teachers who will be there for the entire academic year.

The requirements to teach English in the Middle East are higher compared to other countries, so applicants will need to factor in a longer application and screening process. Many schools will require a teaching license or a CELTA in addition to a bachelor’s degree. It’s important to apply at least 6 - 9 months before your intended start date for teaching abroad in the Middle East.

Read more:

• How to Get a Job Teaching English in Dubai
• What Salary Will You Earn Teaching Abroad in the United Arab Emirates?
• What Salary Will You Earn Teaching Abroad in Saudi Arabia?

New teachers can find a great jumping-off point in Latin America, where the job requirements are generally more welcoming to those without experience or a degree. More laid-back hiring practices typically mean less pre-departure admin work for your position teaching abroad in Latin America.

Applicants can find teaching jobs posted online, but others apply directly to schools in person. Not everyone can afford to do this though, so be sure to consider searching for positions on job forums or with teaching placement programs.

Although dates vary from country to country, most Latin American countries start their academic years in January, February, or March. You should consider starting to search for and apply to positions around 6 months beforehand.

Read more: How to Find a Paid Job Teaching English in Latin America

There are many factors that you need to take into consideration when planning and submitting your teaching abroad application.

• Country: Every country has specific start dates, deadlines, and requirements. Knowing where you want to go and when will help you find the best fit.
• Teaching with a program or independently: You can either teach abroad with a program or apply for jobs independently. A program provider guarantees a job if you meet the requirements and will help you with your application and visa. Alternatively, applying independently may take longer if you aren’t able to find a suitable match. You’ll also usually need to manage the visa and relocation process on your own.
• Type of school: Different schools vary in their hiring seasons and start dates. Language academies and some private schools are more likely to hire all year round, whereas public schools, universities, and international schools will have stricter start dates.
• Visa process: You’ll need to legalize and authenticate your documents to obtain a work permit for most countries, and then apply for the visa. This can take weeks or even months.
• Interview process: If you’re applying independently, the interview process can sometimes be drawn out. To be on the safe side, you should give yourself plenty of time to anticipate any unsuccessful interviews.

Read more: How to Get Started Teaching English Abroad

Many TEFL courses, whether online or in-person, can be completed in a month when done on a full-time basis. Part-time courses are less intensive but can take up to six months or more to complete.

Online certifications tend to be self-paced and are more flexible with completion times. In-person courses have stricter assignment deadlines and may include live teaching practice. Some teaching courses such as the CELTA require weeks of in-person (or live online) study and teaching practice. Those who aren’t yet TEFL or CELTA certified will need to consider how long their studies will take before applying for positions.

Read more: CELTA vs TEFL: Which certificate do you need?

It can take as little as two weeks or as long as a couple of months to legalize and authenticate your documents.

This time frame depends on many factors, such as the type of authentication needed and whether you do it independently or with an agency. Agencies will cost more but they’ll do the heavy lifting for you by bundling your documents and completing each step for you at a quicker pace.

The process of legalizing your documents can be a lengthy one, especially for US applicants. You will need to apply for a criminal background check, legalize your documents with a notary, get a Certificate of Authentication from the secretary of state, and then send it to the desired country’s embassy in your state.

It’s never too early to start preparing your teaching abroad application. Getting a head start allows you to anticipate what needs to be done, giving you plenty of time in the event of unforeseen obstacles. Even if you don’t know the specifics of your teach abroad journey just yet, gathering initial documents and understanding deadlines will give you a major leg up!

Optimize your teach-abroad experience:

• What are the Requirements to Teach English Abroad?
• How to Create an ESL Teacher Resume that Will Get You the Job
• The 10 Best Countries to Teach Abroad
• Highest Paying Countries for Teaching English Abroad