Teaching Jobs in India

Situated in southwest Asia, the landmass properly known as the Republic of India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. With a population of well over one billion, India is second only to China as the most populated country in world. With stats like those, you don’t have to worry about finding some stellar locations for teaching English in India.

Goa. This little state in western India on the Arabian sea packs a lot of flavor with its golden-sand beaches, coconut groves, dense forests, Portuguese touches, and tasty treats. Being one of the top tourist destinations in India, and the 6th in top ten nightlife cities in the world, you can bet that your time teaching here will be an unforgettable experience. Ogle at the Portuguese colonial architecture, meditate your heart out, and savor a bhali-pau (bread roll dipped in curry)!

Mumbai. Formerly Bombay, this financial, commercial, and entertainment hub lies in western India. This energetic metropolis is the most populous in India and offers the majority of programs for teaching English in India, ranging from test prep trainers, to volunteers, to fashion lecturers. You’ll find a juxtaposition here of slums and expensive homes, hard-working laborers and millionaires, skyscrapers and tropical forests. As the birthplace of Indian cinema, film lovers will rejoice with the numerous cinema halls and film festivals.

New Delhi. The capital of India is situated in the northern area and pulses with colonial-era parliament buildings, skyscraping offices, and glitzy malls woven into its scenery. Be sure to visit one of its numerous art, history, or science museums, Jantar Mantar observatory, landscaped Buddha Jayanti Park, and the India Gate. While you can find opportunities to teach English abroad in India here, you can also find positions to teach math, science, arts, humanities, and foreign languages.

India is becoming a popular teach abroad destination. Whether looking for rural or urban placements, India offers it all. Here are the most popular types of teaching jobs in India.

Public schools. If you don’t have a TEFL or CELTA certificate (most programs require it plus a college degree), you’ll easily be able to find a program where you can earn it, teach English, and, as a bonus, travel on the side. If you already have the necessary qualifications and can plan lessons like a pro, many programs are looking for people like you to teach English abroad in India to children and adolescents in both urban and rural areas.

Private institutions. With ages ranging from adolescent to middle-aged, you could be making good money by training students verbal and quantitative components of standardized tests long-term. Programs such as these recommend previous teaching experience in universities and require trainers to have a bachelor’s degree. 

Go where you’re needed! If you’re looking to do something rewarding and meaningful, look into teaching in India wherever you might be needed the most. You could be assisting an orphanage or a shelter for impoverished youth and women, where you’ll provide a compassionate environment filled with education such as musical lessons, sports lessons, English lessons, and art lessons.

Salaries. As English is the second-most spoken language here, you won’t find many ESL jobs in India paying cold hard cash. However, paid positions do exist, and you can expect to earn somewhere between $150 to $1000 a month. Fortunately, the cost of living in India is relatively low, and you should be able to cover basic living expenses with salaries for teaching in India. With some programs, they’ll offer a small stipend or even offer Hindi lessons as well!

Accommodations. For most volunteer programs to teach English in India, they’ll provide accommodation as part of the “payment.” A homestay placement is one of the best opportunities for immersing yourself in the Indian culture. For paid placements in more urban areas, you can expect to live in an apartment or flat, either alone or with other participants to share the rent.

Visas. Most programs will help you with the process for obtaining a visa to teach in India. If you’re staying for less than 30 days, you’ll need an e-travel authorization four days before arriving in India. For those staying longer, you’ll need a tourist visa that is valid for six months. Check out GoAbroad’s Embassy Directory for more deets!

Lucky for you, Indian cuisine is known around the world for its diverse and exquisite taste. In fact, chicken tikka masala, a popular and commonly served dish, has been said to be the national dish of Great Britain. 

With some placements to teach for India lasting up to two years, teachers will inevitably experience the changes in weather. Teachers should be informed of the climate where they will be prospectively placed in order to aid in packing the appropriate clothing. When you think India you might think hot and toasty—but such is not the case up in the Himalayas!

The monkeys are ruthless. Truly. Hold on to your iPhones and cameras!

What teaching jobs in India lack in monetary gain, they make up for in good old-fashioned life experience. While teaching in India, you’ll face challenges along the way, but discover that your time there will make a long-lasting difference. Namaste!