Teaching English in Sri Lanka

a world of opportunities

Download Now! >

Join a global community of over 200,000 TEFL teachers working throughout the world! Enrol me!

How to Begin Teaching in Sri Lanka

Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants

Sri Lanka is perhaps most famous for its tea plantations (it was previously known as Ceylon) or its turbulent history, but it has so much more. This country has beautiful, unspoilt scenery, amazing wildlife and intriguing historical sites. Lose yourself trekking through spice gardens, tropical forests and mountains, or lazing on pristine white beaches. Take a trip back in time by wandering through ancient temples, castles and ruined cities. Walk on the wild side and visit game reserves to catch sight of elephants, leopards and sloth bears.

This natural beauty hides the fact that this country has one of the fastest-growing economies. It is a development hub, but based on the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism and maintaining a religious and spiritual foundation. The capital of Colombo manages to maintain its colonial roots in its architecture alongside new hotel complexes and stylish seafront restaurants, galleries and museums. Cultural festivals are still common and usually include dancing and drumming, while those looking for a more peaceful experience should visit one of the many meditation and yoga retreats.

The Kandy Esala Perahera festival also known as the Festival of the Tooth is the oldest and largest Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka.  It’s a historical procession held to honour the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha and seek blessings for fertile lands. The festival is held over ten days and features rituals, parades of performers, and a large number of elephants.

The ancient fortress in Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock) is one of the most visited landmarks in Sri Lanka. The fortress is 200m in height and was built to resemble a huge lion. Visitors can walk up the 1,200 steps to the top and explore the fortress.  Be sure to take the spiral staircase to “Mirror Wall” to find ancient paintings.

Trains are a great way for getting around Sri Lanka. Not only are they affordable, frequent and comfortable, but the scenery is some of the best in the world. There are many train routes, but the most famous route is the Kandy to Ella train journey, which takes about 6-7 hours in total. Be sure to grab a seat on the right side of the train and enjoy viewing the lush countryside and green tea fields.

 

Teaching Opportunities

Sinhala and Tamil are the languages most widely spoken but Sri Lanka is realising the benefits of learning English. The growing tourism industry means that there are an increasing number of teaching opportunities. The government is using English as a means of promoting communication between the different ethnic groups, so it has placed great importance on the learning of English.

You are most likely to find a position in the capital city of Colombo, though even here there are not many language schools. It would be best to try find a job in a private international school – unless you would like to volunteer. While schools may help you with accommodation, teaching in Sri Lanka is not for financial gain, but more for the opportunity to gain teaching experience in such a vibrant, exotic destination.

Teaching Requirements

  • Degree Requirement
    Not required
  • Typical Contract Length
    12 months
  • Peak Hiring Seasons
    Year-round
  • Visa Info
    Work permit
  • Typical Students
    Children,adults
  • Average Monthly Cost of Living in Local Currency
    50,000 – 80,000 LKR
  • Average Monthly Salary in Local Currency
    25,000 – 50,000 LKR

Your TEFL journey starts here!

Would you like to teach English as a foreign language around the world?

Great! You’re in the right place. The TEFL Academy provides the very best in accredited TEFL courses, meaning your qualification is recognised throughout the world. The TEFL Academy is the world's leading TEFL course provider. We can help you acquire the skills needed to teach English as a foreign language. Check out our TEFL internships, volunteer placements and the thousands of jobs on our exclusive TEFL jobs board...

Get Social

Follow us on social networks, join our newsletter - get the latest news and early discounts

Sign up to our newsletter

Follow us on social networks, sign up to our e-newsletters – get the latest news and early discounts

Accreditation Partners

The TEFL Academy was the world’s first TEFL course provider to receive official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies in both the USA and UK. This means when you graduate you’ll hold a globally recognised Level 3 (120hr) Certificate or Level 5 (168hr) Diploma, meaning you can find work anywhere and apply for jobs immediately.

Product added to your cart

You have added to your cart:

Request call back

    Please leave your details below and one of our TEFL experts will get back to you ASAP:

    captchaType characters on the left:

    Would you like us to update you on TEFL opportunities, jobs and related products & services?

    Yes, keep me updatedNo, but thanks anyway!

    Thank you! Your message has been sent!

    Download the TEFL World Factbook

      Please enter your details in order to download the latest TEFL World Factbook.

      Would you like us to update you on TEFL opportunities, jobs and related products & services?

      Yes, keep me updatedNo, but thanks anyway!

      Thank you for downloading the TEFL World Factbook!

      If the TEFL World Factbook did not download
      > Click Here To Download <

      Download the Online Teaching Guide

        Please enter your details in order to download our Online Teaching Guide.

        Would you like us to update you on TEFL opportunities, jobs and related products & services?

        Yes, keep me updatedNo, but thanks anyway!

        Thank you for downloading our Online Teaching Guide!

        If the Online Teaching Guide did not download
        > Click Here To Download <

        Download Prospectus

          Please enter your details in order to download our latest prospectus.

          Would you like us to update you on TEFL opportunities, jobs and related products & services?

          Yes, keep me updatedNo, but thanks anyway!

          Thank you for downloading our prospectus!

          We hope you enjoy reading our prospectus, we have tried to make it as useful as possible! Please get in touch if you have any questions.

          If the prospectus did not download automatically
          > Click Here To Download <

          $
          $