Teaching English in Nepal

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How to Begin Teaching in Nepal

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

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 a 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, 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 centers. 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.
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.

Interestingly the Nepal flag is the only national flag in the world that isn’t in a quadrilateral shape. The flag itself is made of two triangles and is said to represent the Himalayan Mountains and/or alternatively Buddhism and Hinduism, the two main religions in Nepal.

Most of Nepal is powered by hydropower although it’s said to have its faults.

The common greeting across Nepal is ‘namaste’. Found also in yoga, ‘namaste’ can mean ‘hello’, ‘thank you’, and ‘goodbye’.

Known as the Amazon of Asia, Nepal is one of the richest in biodiversity around the world. With so many unique species of flora and fauna, and over 900 species of birds, the landscape is one of the most beautiful and calming places in the world.

Nepal has famously never been colonized and, as a result, doesn’t have an independence day. They have been protected by their traditional warriors known as “gurkhas” who throughout history have always been highlighted as the bravest warriors in the world.

Nepal is the only country with its own calendar. The Gregorian calendar most of us use starts from 1st January and ends 31st December. However, the Bikram Sambhat calendar created in the 9th century is roughly 67 years, 8 and a half months ahead.

 

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 programs 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 qualification 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 visas changed when they find a job. Volunteer programs 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
    BA, BSC degree required unless volunteering
  • Typical Contract Length
    1- 3 months
  • Peak Hiring Seasons
    All year round
  • Visa Info
    Work permit
  • Typical Students
    Children, adults
  • Average Monthly Cost of Living in Local Currency
    20,000 - 25,000 NPR
  • Average Monthly Salary in Local Currency
    7,500-15,000 NPR (volunteer)
    50,000-75,000 NPR

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