Do I need a degree to teach English in Asia?

For a teaching work visa in Korea, Japan, and China, yes, you almost always need a bachelor's degree in any subject, plus a TEFL certificate and a clean background check. Some countries and private roles are more flexible, but a degree opens the most doors, and a TEFL certificate is expected everywhere.

What is the difference between a 120-hour and a 250-hour TEFL course?

The 120-hour certificate is the global standard and the minimum most employers and visas require, and it is the fastest route in. The 250-hour Level 5 Diploma is an advanced, Ofqual-regulated qualification that opens more roles, higher pay, and competitive programs like Japan's JET, so it is worth it if you want the strongest options.

Can you really get paid to travel with TEFL?

Yes. Teaching jobs in Asia pay a local salary, often with free or subsidised housing and sometimes flights, so you can cover your costs, save, and travel on weekends and holidays. It is one of the most realistic ways to live abroad long-term rather than just visit.

Which Asian country is best for teaching English?

It depends on your goals. Korea and China offer strong pay and benefits like housing, Japan offers structured programs like JET and a famous culture, and Thailand and Vietnam offer a lower-cost, lifestyle-rich experience. A TEFL certificate qualifies you for all of them, so choose the place you most want to live.

The Complete Guide to TEFL: Teach English & Travel Asia

Imagine getting paid to live in Seoul, Tokyo, or Bangkok, spending your evenings exploring and your holidays island-hopping across Asia. For thousands of young people from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and beyond, that is not a daydream. It is a TEFL job.

Teaching English abroad is one of the most accessible ways to live overseas, earn a real salary, and travel, and Asia is the beating heart of it. Here is everything you need to know: what TEFL is, why so many students do it, the jobs you can find across Asia, and the courses that get you hired.

What is TEFL?

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. A TEFL certificate is the qualification that lets fluent English speakers teach English to students abroad, even without a background in teaching. It is the key that unlocks paid teaching jobs around the world.

Two levels are worth knowing:

120-hour certificate: the global standard and the minimum most employers and visas ask for. It is the fastest, most affordable way in.
250-hour Level 5 Diploma: a more advanced, Ofqual-regulated qualification that opens more roles, better pay, and competitive programs like Japan's ALT and JET routes.

Why so many students do TEFL

TEFL has quietly become one of the most popular things to do after university, or as a break from it. The appeal is simple:

Get paid to travel. You earn a local salary, often with free or subsidised housing and sometimes flights, so you can save and explore at the same time.
Live abroad, not just visit. A year teaching in Korea or Japan gives you a real life overseas.
No teaching degree required. For most entry roles you need fluent English, a bachelor's degree (for the work visa in many countries), and a TEFL certificate. That is it.
A reset or a career start. TEFL suits gap-year travelers, new graduates, and career-changers alike, and it looks great on any resume.
Meet people from everywhere. You join a global community of teachers and travelers.

With Western study and work routes tightening, more students are looking to Asia, where demand for English teachers is high and the lifestyle is hard to beat.

Where to teach in Asia, and what work you can find

Each destination has its own flavour, pay, and teaching scene. The figures below are rough monthly guides; confirm current pay and rules before you commit.

South Korea

The classic choice. You can teach in public schools through the EPIK program or in private academies called hagwons. Pay is around 2.1 to 2.7 million won a month (roughly $1,500 to $2,000), very often with free housing and airfare. Seoul and Busan are favourites. See our cost of living in Seoul guide and Korean culture guide.

Japan

Most teachers start as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), through the government's JET Programme or a dispatch company, or at an eikaiwa (conversation school). Pay is around 230,000 to 280,000 yen a month (roughly $1,500 to $1,800). Explore our cost of living in Tokyo guide and Japanese culture guide.

China

China pays some of the best salaries in Asia, roughly 12,000 to 20,000 yuan a month (about $1,700 to $2,800), often with housing included. Since 2021, teaching has shifted toward public schools, kindergartens, universities, and adult and older-student programs rather than private after-school tutoring. See our cost of living in China guide.

Thailand

Thailand is the lifestyle pick. Pay is lower, around 30,000 to 45,000 baht a month (roughly $850 to $1,300), but the cost of living is low and the beaches, food, and culture are legendary. Teachers work in government and private schools and language centres.

Vietnam

One of Asia's fastest-growing markets, with strong demand and good pay relative to costs, commonly $1,200 to $2,000 a month at language centres and schools. Cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are popular and affordable.

What you need to teach English in Asia

Requirements vary by country, but most teaching work visas ask for:

Fluent or native English.
A bachelor's degree in any subject (required for the work visa in Korea, Japan, and China).
A TEFL certificate, required or strongly preferred everywhere, and essential for the better jobs.
A clean background check and a valid passport.

A recognised TEFL certificate is the one thing fully within your control, and the qualification employers look for first.

The TEFL courses we offer

Asia Pathway offers internationally recognised TEFL courses, online and in person, so you can get certified and start applying.

Online, study from anywhere:

120-Hour Premier TEFL Course (from about $549): the standard, fastest route to your certificate. Available tailored for South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan.
250-Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma (from about $849): an Ofqual-regulated, advanced qualification that opens more and better-paid roles, including ALT and JET routes in Japan. Available for South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan.

Because a TEFL certificate is internationally recognised, these courses also qualify you to teach in Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond.

Browse the full range on our TEFL programs page.

120 or 250 hours, online or in person?

Choose the 120-hour online course if you want the quickest, most affordable route and plan to teach at a language centre or hagwon.
Choose the 250-hour Level 5 Diploma if you want the strongest resume, higher pay, or competitive programs like JET.
Choose an in-country intensive if you want hands-on classroom practice and to land in your destination ready to work.

How Asia Pathway helps

We do more than sell a certificate. We help you choose the right TEFL course and destination for your goals, understand each country's visa and job market, and plan the move, from certification to your first classroom. If you would like to combine teaching with studying a language or a degree, we can build that pathway too. For inspiration, see our guides to a gap year in Asia, internships in Asia, and budget travel in Asia.

Get certified, get hired, get going

Teaching English in Asia is one of the best ways to see the world while getting paid to do it, and it starts with a TEFL certificate. Book a free consultation and we will help you pick the right course, choose your destination, and plan your first year abroad.

Sources: salary and requirement ranges are approximate 2026 guides and vary by employer, city, and visa; confirm current pay and work-visa rules for your destination before you commit. TEFL course details and prices are on each program page.

The Complete Guide to TEFL: Get Hired, Get Paid to Travel