Teach English in Nepal

How to Begin Teaching in Nepal

A trekker's paradise, Himalayan views, golden temples, charming hill villages

A country with such astounding natural beauty, Nepal is paradise for those who enjoy the outdoors

Nepal is, by any definition, a magical destination. It’s a country of simplicity and tradition, full of mystery and charm. Though it is a landlocked country, it has spectacularly diverse terrain thanks to the dramatic changes in elevation which result in lowland plains, hill regions, mountains, tropical savanna and ice and snow.

As befitting a country with such astounding natural beauty, Nepal is paradise for those who enjoy the outdoorsy lifestyle. It is home to 8 of the 10 tallest mountains in the world – most notably Mount Everest – and this is the most popular reason to visit this beautiful country. Besides mountain climbing, though, it is also possible to engage in hikes or mountain walks or any number of extreme sports.
Away from nature, Nepal has a few bustling city centres. The backpacker area of Thamel is especially well-known for its restaurants and bars where travellers gather to exchange stories about their day’s adventures.

These cities show another side of the country when you walk the winding unpaved roads and admire the terracotta-roofed houses.
To be sure, Nepal offers a very simple way of life so you will have to do without your creature comforts while you are here – wifi, air conditioning and even electricity are not always guaranteed. But considering that Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha and the top pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, slowing down and simplifying your lifestyle should be expected and is what Nepal is all about.

Teaching Opportunities:
There are a small number of international schools and language institutes in Kathmandu where you could find a teaching position. However, TEFL opportunities in Nepal are usually volunteer positions. These can be paid or unpaid and usually involve living with a Nepali family – a great way to fully immerse yourself in the culture. Volunteer programmes are quite diverse, allowing you to teach English to children in a school or monks in a monastery, train English teachers or even build houses or get involved in sanitation or conservation projects.

No TEFL is needed for volunteer positions but it is recommended as resources are severely limited and you will need your wits about you to teach in these circumstances. Bring what materials you can with you and a big dose of creativity too.

Visa rules used to be quite relaxed but now it is quite difficult to get a work permit without an employer. However, the majority of teachers come to Nepal on a tourist visa and have their visa changed when they find a job. Volunteer programmes can easily be found online but other teaching positions are more easily found in the country because they are not usually advertised online.

Teaching Requirements

Degree Requirement	Typical Contract Length	Peak Hiring Seasons	Visa Info	Typical Students	Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency	Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

BA, BSC degree required unless volunteering

1 – 3 months

year-round

work permit

children, adults

20 000 – 25 000 NPR (150 – 190 GBP)

approx. 7 500 – 15 000 NPR (volunteer), 50 000 – 75 000 NPR (50 – 110 GBP, 370 – 560 GBP)

Degree Requirement

BA, BSC degree required unless volunteering

Typical Contract Length

1 – 3 months

Peak Hiring Seasons

year-round

Visa Info

work permit

Typical Students

children, adults

Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency

20 000 – 25 000 NPR (150 – 190 GBP)

Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

approx. 7 500 – 15 000 NPR (volunteer), 50 000 – 75 000 NPR (50 – 110 GBP, 370 – 560 GBP)

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