Asia is the largest continent on earth, both by land mass and population size. There is a tremendous amount of cultural and economic diversity within Asia, so it can be hard for some to hone in on just one location to earn TEFL certification and teach English abroad.

In the northeast, South Korea and Japan are both popular destinations for TEFL programs in Asia, because they offer a very unique cultural experience as well as a good degree of economic development. Compared to the rest of the continent, both Japan and South Korea are quite wealthy and can offer a high standard of living for TEFL students.

China is its own beast. The second largest country in the world by land area and most populous with a citizenship of over 1.3 billion, China is somewhat in a league of its own on the global stage. The country is rapidly emerging to become the most dominant superpower and eagerly seeks to attract Western teachers to its education system in order to expand the population’s English language skills.

Southeast Asia is another region of the continent with a tremendous amount of diversity. You can find ample TEFL programs and teaching jobs in almost every country, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In this region, costs of living are low, the land is beautiful, and locals are overwhelmingly friendly and hospitable.

Lastly there is the Indian subcontinent, which includes popular TEFL certification destinations such as Nepal, India, and Pakistan. These countries are more religiously conservative than the other Asian nations and offer an extremely fascinating foreign environment to teach English abroad.

Do not fret too much over the decision of where to take TEFL courses in Asia, since anywhere you go will be a fantastic experience!