5 Olympic Host Cities You’d Love To Teach In

Since the first modern Olympics in 1896, 47 cities split across 27 countries and 5 continents have been awarded the rights to host the games. Hosting the most iconic sporting event in the world is no mean feat, with events ranging from sailing and horseback riding to the modern Pentathlon all firmly putting the host nation in the spotlight of the world’s attention. 

206 Nations, 10,714 athletes and over 15.3 million visitors are set to flock to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, with the City of Love becoming one of only three cities to have hosted the Olympics three times. As Paris continues to dazzle us during the Olympics in 2024, we thought we would take a look back at some of the other best Olympic host cities from across history that are available for teaching English abroad today! 

Tokyo 

Tokyo has hosted the Summer Olympics twice.

In 1964, it became the first Asian nation to host the games and, following a small disruption by the pandemic, the Olympics returned in 2021. It’s safe to say that plenty changed across Japan between its two stints as an Olympic host city; between 1945 and 1991 the ‘Japanese economic miracle’ transformed the country into one of the most advanced and exciting countries for businesses and professionals, including those looking to teach English abroad. 

If we were the ones dealing out the medals, Tokyo would undoubtedly be the receiver of gold for the most plentiful job positions. From the JET Program to Westgate Corporation, the demand for TEFL teachers is abundant across Japan’s capital, and finding job postings online is easier than ever before! 

Read more: Teach English in Tokyo

Rio 

Like Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro marked a pivotal point in the history of the Olympics when it was selected as the host for the 2016 games. It was the first country in South America to host the Olympics, the first Portuguese-speaking nation, the first Latin American country since 1968 and the first in the Southern Hemisphere since 2000. And if the sounds of the samba, the colours of carnival, and the beautiful beaches of Brazil’s largest city still tug at your wanderlust, we have good news for you: Rio is still one of the best places to teach English abroad! 

Rio de Janeiro earns the gold medal in our TEFL Olympics awards ceremony for offering the most fulfilling opportunities for English teachers abroad.

As well as giving students the opportunity to improve their communication skills and further their professional lives with a knowledge of English, there are a wealth of other volunteer positions in Rio ranging from environment conservation to community development. Giving something back to this incredibly vibrant city has never felt better!    

Read more: Teach English in Brazil 

London 

Prior to Paris in the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles in the scheduled 2028 Olympics, London was the first city to host the modern Olympics three times when the torch was taken to the Olympic Park back in 2012. Largely considered one of the best games to date, the 2012 Olympics saw legendary athletes like Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Michael Phelps, Chris Hoy and Yohan Blake all helping set a then-record 32 new world and Olympic records during the games.

The 2012 Olympics were also praised for capturing the feel-good spirit and togetherness of the games, bringing together some of the most celebrated aspects of Great Britain’s history and culture. 

And if a slice of that history and culture is what you’re after from your TEFL career, there are still ample opportunities for teaching English in London! With one of our accredited TEFL courses, you’ll be able to begin teaching in the home of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens! And this celebration of diversity, arts and language is the gold medal London is picking up in our 2024 Olympics medal chart. 

Read more: Teach English in the UK

Barcelona 

Spain’s only time hosting the Olympics came in 1992 when Barcelona were given the opportunity to host the games.

And the 1992 Olympics were an important point of unity for the world. The first games following the end of the Cold War, the first to see South Africa re-invited after a thirty-year ban and the first to be unaffected by boycotts since 1972, the whole world’s attention was on the stunning historic architecture, myriad of gastronomical delights and colourful cultures Barcelona has become so renowned for. 

As an Olympic host city, Barcelona wins our gold medal for the best work-life balance for TEFL teachers.

TEFL jobs in Spain are plentiful, and Barcelona remains one of the most popular destinations for an authentic, laid-back Mediterranean experience. Catalans put a firm emphasis on socialising through eating out and spending time outside, making it one of the most enjoyable places to work and live abroad. 

Read more: Teach English in Barcelona 

Seoul 

Seoul became Korea’s first Olympic host city in 1988 – only the second-ever Asian host following Tokyo in 1964.

After high-profile boycotts had dominated the previous three editions of the games, the 1988 Summer Olympics saw considerably fewer issues. For South Korea, the Olympics became one of the proudest moments in the country’s history, becoming the symbolic culmination of the nation’s growth from the embers of the Korean War to the innovative and advanced destination many of us know it as today.

For us, Seoul wins the gold medal for the best salaries and business opportunities.

From teaching kindergarteners to high-profile entrepreneurs, the demand for English teachers in Seoul has never been higher. With a serious TEFL degree such as our Level 5 certificate behind you, it’s more than possible to land a position with a salary anywhere from £2,000-$4,000 per month living and working in South Korea. 

Read more: Teach English in Seoul