TEFL Courses & Certification in Jamaica

Montego Bay. This is the largest “Western influenced,” city in Jamaica. As a coastal city, Montego Bay was historically a port city, drawing in colonization from Europe, North America, and the surrounding Caribbean islands. Though Montego Bay is a popular resort town, it’s important to keep in mind that it is not strictly a resort. You don’t have to travel far from the resorts to notice the influence of the native culture. Jamaica is a country of extremes, consisting of both very rich and very poor areas, and Montego Bay is home to a very large wealthy community. But, with any highly sought tourist destination, there is going to be an impoverished population – this is an unavoidable aspect of Jamaica. But if you’re not looking for as much of a cultural shock, Montego Bay is going to offer more common customs than other Jamaican cities. 

Ocho Rios is another resort town in Jamaica that is just about 60 miles east of Montego Bay. Ocho Rios is also a coastal town and was formerly known for its fishing. A benefit to teaching in resort towns, such as Ocho Rios, is there is more of a foreign influence, therefore expanding opportunities to teach English to people from around the world and not just locals. 

Kingston. If you want to truly experience and immerse yourself into Jamaican culture then Kingston is the place. The largest city and capital of Jamaica, Kingston is the center of the nation’s economy. Within Kingston lies the historic neighborhood, Trenchtown, where most of the notable reggae culture was born. Both reggae and Rastafari culture are very prevalent in Kingston, contributing to the unique culture you will find there. As a result, the local creole language, Patois, is much stronger and much more prevalent. Since Kingston is less influenced by English speaking tourists, there is a much higher demand for English teachers. Not only does Kingston offer TEFL certification programs, but it is also an excellent location to continue your teaching career.

It is important for TEFL students to keep in mind that the largest job market for teaching jobs in Jamaica is found within the cities, as this is where most of the public and private schools are located.

TEFL certification programs in Jamaica rely heavily on online training. However, training is typically conducted by accredited teachers who are experienced in international education and English teaching. You will stay in contact with teachers and classmates on a daily basis through email and online discussion boards, when face to face interaction is not required. Weekly writing assignments and exams are given to track your progress along the way when completing your TEFL certification online. TEFL courses in Jamaica typically take one month to complete, if participating as a full-time student. For most TEFL programs in Jamaica, no experience or qualifications are required, other than complete fluency in the English language. It is recommended to have a bachelor's degree before beginning most TEFL courses, but it is not always required.

The cost of TEFL certification courses in Jamaica ranges from around $1,300 to $2,000. Once certified, you will receive assistance in finding teaching jobs and building a professional network.

As an ESL teacher in Jamaica, you can expect to make about $400 to $600 per month, which will be enough to cover living expenses and live comfortably in most areas of the country.

The cost of everyday items, such as food and clothing, are generally less expensive in Kingston than the northern coastal towns, but overall most things are less expensive than in the U.S. Rent is relatively affordable in the cities, averaging about $400 per month for a one bedroom apartment. Rent is going to be even more affordable outside of the cities and when shared with a roommate.

TEFL certification programs in Jamaica often offer assistance with housing, making it easy to find a roommate within your current course. On top of assistance with housing, TEFL certification programs typically offer lifetime job placement services, which is sometimes seen as more valuable than monetary compensation. 

Housing options will vary greatly, and TEFL students should be aware that Jamaica has experienced a housing crisis in recent years, with many poor living in urban slums. There are good housing options available, however, but it is good to research the area and speak with a local contact or program provider before securing housing independently.

American citizens do not need a visa to take TEFL courses in Jamaica for less than six months. If you plan on staying longer than six months or teaching in Jamaica long term, than you must apply for a work visa prior to entering the country. Applications can be submitted online through your prospective employer who must include a cover letter explaining the purpose of your work in addition to a fee of about $130.

English & More. Though there is a growing demand for English teachers in Jamaica, the unofficial Jamaican language, Patois, provides an interesting cultural challenge when it comes to teaching English in Jamaica. English is the official national language of Jamaica, but the English derived Creole can pose a difficult language barrier. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with Jamaican Patois before teaching in Jamaica. It’s not necessary to know how to speak Patois though, since TEFL programs clearly focus on speaking English. However, more language understanding will help you outside the classroom.

Helping Children. By teaching English in Jamaica, you will be serving justice to Jamaican children, as English is used in almost all writing and literature and is therefore a very valuable piece of knowledge. English language fluency will also provide students with the opportunity to advance into secondary education. 

One Love. When taking TEFL courses in Jamaica you will experience a culture like none other, and eventually serve a population of children in great need of proper education. “One love” or “Bless up” are two popular phrases you’ll hear a lot of that mean don’t worry, and you may just find yourself worrying less while studying and living in Jamaica.