Teaching Jobs in the Philippines

Placements are offered all over the Philippines, in big cities like Manila (the nation’s capital) and Cebu, and in extremely rural villages throughout the provinces, such as on the island of Leyte. Selecting a location is all about for the experience you are looking for. If you willing to make due with limited supplies and sometimes flexible school days, than rural areas will suit you well. However, if you would rather have access to Starbucks and more “western” amenities definitely apply for positions in the larger cities.

No matter where you choose to teach in the Philippines, you're sure to be welcomed with open arms and smiles from ear to ear. Filipinos appreciate anyone who's willing to step out of their comfort zone and support the local education system.

Most teaching positions in the Philippines are available at public elementary schools, which lack funding and staff to adequately cover the student populations. Elementary school children range from four years old up to 12 years old. Additionally, some high school teaching positions may be available, in which case students graduate when they are 17 or 18 years of age.

Non-school based teaching positions are typically still centered around children, but occasionally some adult education classes may be open for instruction by international teachers.

Teachers should expect to teach a range of subjects, though rest assured students learn English from a young age so communication should be “smooth sailing”. Schools will try their best to assign you coursework that fits with your educational background whenever possible, but teachers should remain open-minded as most times there is a specific subject in need of an instructor.

Those in non-school based teaching positions can expect to teach a range of subjects, the most commonly Filipino placements center around practice and development of the English language. It is possible that teachers will have the chance to teach special activities related to their talents or areas of expertise, such as dance or music lessons, sewing classes, or even financial planning classes for adults.

The school year in the Philippines lasts from July until April, so if you’d like to teach at a school it's important to plan on going to the Philippines between June and April. Also keep in mind that almost the whole month of December is taken off for the holidays. 

Most positions in the Philippines are more about the professional and personal rewards rather than the monetary gains, therefore almost all teaching positions are carried out on a voluntary basis. Some positions may offer room and board in return for educational services.

Day-to-day costs, such as food and transportation, will be extremely minimal. Teachers can pop in to a basic canteen and get dinner for 50 pesos, stop by a market and collect vegetables and meat for under 70 pesos, or even splurge on a nice restaurant for around 500 pesos. Short distance transport, the typical commuter journey, usually costs no more than 50 pesos. Long distance transport, for teachers who want to getaway for a weekend or travel to the other end of the island for a day of exploring, is quite cheap by flight if you book in advance (sometimes as low as 1,000 pesos!) and also affordable by land, at a typical rate of around 70 pesos per hour of travel in a air conditioned van.

Accommodation is often available in homestays where local families host teachers in their own homes, providing them with room and meals for a minor fee, especially if the teaching placement is offered by a volunteer organization.

Teachers may also choose to live in boarding houses, which are quite common in the Philippines, where tenant are given a furnished room within a house, with a shared bathroom, and sometimes access to a kitchen. Apartments and houses are widely available for rent for a large range of costs depending on location and amenities.

Almost all nationalities can enter the Philippines on a basic tourist visa for 30 days and easily extend their visa periodically at the local immigration office, as long as they are willing to pay the regular extension fees. If receiving payment for a teaching position a workers visa will be needed which will require a great deal of paperwork, however the school or organization hiring paid international teachers can always assist newcomers with visa requirements.