How to Begin Teaching in Philippines

The Philippines is defined by its emerald rice fields.

With more than 7000 islands, the Philippines is a beach bum's delight.

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7 000 islands, sometimes called the ‘Pearl of the Orient’. To say this is a beach lover’s paradise would be a serious understatement. So if you are looking for a variety of beaches – big, small, deserted, busy – then look no further than the Philippines.
But of course beaches aren’t the only thing the Philippines has to offer. The capital city of Manila offers amazing shopping opportunities and Cebu has a number of UNESCO Heritage Sites. You can visit the 2000-year old rice terraces of Banuae or explore mountains and volcanoes. Adventure sports such as diving and kayaking are also on the itinerary. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a party, look no further than the island of Boracay.
Aside from its natural beauty, the Philippines has an interesting cultural history. Filipino culture is a combination of East meets West, with particular Malay, Spanish and North American influences. There are many festivals and cultural days which celebrate the Filipino cultural heritage and on these days you will be able to experience traditional singing and dancing.

Teaching Opportunities

There are not as many teaching opportunities here as in other Asian or South-East Asian countries, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. While the level of English is quite high as a result of its colonisation by the United States in the early twentieth century, recent years have seen a decline in the general level of English. However, there are many well-qualified Filipino TEFL teachers which means the TEFL job market is competitive, but your native-speaker status will come in handy here.
You can expect to teach in government or private schools, universities or language centres – mostly in the big cities of Manila and Cebu. If you are that way inclined, there are usually various opportunities in the more rural areas.

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

Bachelor’s degree, preferably Master’s

Monthly, 12 months

Year-round, March

Alien Employment Permit, work permit

Students, professionals

PHP 11 000 – PHP 13 000 (£160 – £200)

PHP 30 000 – PHP 35 000 (£450 – £520)

Degree Requirement

Bachelor’s degree, preferably Master’s

Typical Contract Length

Monthly, 12 months

Peak Hiring Seasons

Year-round, March

Visa Info

Alien Employment Permit, work permit

Typical Students

Students, professionals

Average Monthly Cost of Living in £ GBP & Local Currency

PHP 11 000 – PHP 13 000 (£160 – £200)

Average Monthly Salary in £ GBP & Local Currency

PHP 30 000 – PHP 35 000 (£450 – £520)

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