What To Expect In A TEFL Contract

George: It goes without saying that your TEFL contract is super important because it includes all the important information about your employment. Because of all this, it’s important to read it carefully and make sure you’re happy with everything before you sign!

A TEFL contract typically includes:

• Job responsibilities: What your role includes. Make sure it’s clear and that you’re comfortable doing what’s listed.
• Salary: How much you’ll be paid AND WHEN. Double-check whether the amount is gross (before tax) or net (after tax) and if it’s paid in local currency or USD.

We recommend keeping track of your salary by maintaining good records of your pay. Every time you are paid you should receive some sort of paperwork which breaks down exactly what happens to your overall salary. Read this carefully – employers can easily make mistakes. 

• Working hours: How many days and hours you’re expected to work each week.  It might not list your exact schedule (like “Monday 8:30–3:00”), but it should stipulate the number of hours and the number of days.

Don’t forget to check the payment situation if you’re required to work overtime or after-hours. Make sure it’s in writing!

• Benefits: Extras like insurance or housing allowances. It should be clear how much (if anything) the employer is contributing to insurance or taxes or pension.

Holidays are included in benefits! How many government-mandated holidays are there? Are your leave days paid or unpaid, flexible or set?

For housing allowances and flight allowances, and reimbursement, make sure you know how it works: who pays what when. Do you pay, and the school re-imburses you (when?), or does the school pay directly?

• Contract length: When your contract starts and ends. It sounds obvious, but it matters!
• Visa/Documentation: Who is responsible for covering the visa costs, and what is required from both parties. 

Read more: TEFL Contracts: Your Complete Checklist

George: Most TEFL contracts run for one year. You might also come across short-term options (like 3-month stints for a project, summer camp, or maternity cover), but these are less common.

Short-term contracts can be flexible, which is great if you’re not ready to commit long-term. But keep in mind:

• They’re not as stable.
• You might struggle to secure a visa.
• There’s no guarantee of future work in that location.

I’m not telling you to avoid companies offering short-term contracts. But I suggest that you look for a longer contract if you want stability and more opportunities for development.

Why do some teachers prefer long-term contracts?

Longer contracts (usually 12 months or more):

• offer more security. 
• come with better perks—like insurance, paid holidays, and sometimes even flight reimbursements. 
• are more likely to help with visas and paperwork. 

The downside to these is that you will have to stay at a place for longer, not a bad thing, but it means you have less flexibility.

Ultimately, it depends on whether you want flexibility or stability. If you’re lucky enough, you can find both! 

Read more: How long are TEFL contracts in Japan? 

George: Yes—most TEFL contracts have a probation period, typically around 3 months. 

Think of it as a trial run for both you and your school. It gives both sides a chance to see if it’s a good fit before moving on to a full commitment. 

I can imagine that this would make a new teacher feel anxious, but see it as a good opportunity to show what you can do. A good company will use it as an opportunity to identify training needs and help create a development plan for you. 

During probation, you might not get all your benefits (like paid leave), but you usually have a more flexible notice period if things don’t work out. 

In some places, this period is called a “service contract,” and you’ll move on to a full “labour contract” once you’ve passed probation – these contracts may have different names in other countries. 

George: Benefits vary by school and country. Here’s what’s pretty standard in a TEFL contract:

• Paid leave: Language schools usually offer around 10–15 days a year, plus national holidays. National Holidays vary between countries, and with these, you can even end up with 1-2 weeks off at one time. For example, the Tet holiday in Vietnam. 
• School breaks: International and public schools often give longer breaks, sometimes paid, during winter and summer. Some even offer you to work in a summer camp in order to earn extra money, should you have no holiday plans. 
• Bonuses: You might get a contract completion bonus, a “13th-month salary,” or a re-signing bonus. Some schools even offer bonuses for meeting performance targets (KPIs).
• Insurance: Quite an important one! I’ve needed to use it at times, and it can save you a lot of money – but hopefully it’s something that you’ll never need to use! 

My contract in Vietnam came with a training allowance, which meant that I could get some money from the company towards completing a professional development course, as long as I actually completed it! 

If you’re not sure what options are available to you in terms of your development as a TEFL teacher, check out our blog post: Is TEFL A Career?

I can only speak from my own experiences, but there are differences between countries in terms of the amount of leave, salary, and length of contract:

• China & Vietnam: Contracts are detailed and come with good benefits. Because demand is high, schools often offer attractive packages. But, you might not be allowed to take on side gigs. This is usually mentioned in your contract.
• Indonesia (Jakarta): Simpler contracts but stricter penalties if you leave early. Less salary compared to other parts of Southeast Asia and not as many benefits. 
• Korea: Known for complex visa rules. For example, changing jobs might not be possible until your visa expires—even if your contract says otherwise.

Remember that these are just my experiences, and this may not be the same for everyone, so take this part with a pinch of salt! TEFL contracts in each country are typically for a year, though due to visa conditions, international school contracts can offer two-year contracts. 

George: It’s perfectly acceptable to negotiate, but be polite and professional. Make requests rather than demands.

• Start date: If the proposed date is too soon, you can ask to push it back a bit. You can’t expect them to delay it by too much, otherwise they’ll look for someone who can start sooner. 
• Salary: Feel free to ask for more, but phrase it nicely. For example, “Would it be possible to increase the salary to…” works better than “I want…”
• Hours: You can ask about changing your schedule, but know that the company may say no if it affects class coverage. Ultimately, they don’t want to hire someone who may not be available to actually work for them! 

The key is to be respectful and clear. If something feels wrong, don’t be afraid to walk away. Remember that you can do negotiations again when it comes to renewing your contract, so this isn’t your one and only opportunity! 

George:🚨If the job description is vague, you may find yourself given a load of extra responsibilities that you shouldn’t be having to do in the first place. 

I once got given a contract that said my responsibility was to “work for the company” – sure, but in what capacity? And doing what exactly?

 It’s a red flag for two reasons – first, they may not have a clear idea themselves of what you are going to be doing. Hardly reassuring for a new teacher! 

Secondly, it can take away any power that you have. You may be given a task that is unreasonable, but you can’t refuse it as the company could just point to your contract and say that you’re breaching it. 

🚨If there is no information about salary in your contract, DO NOT sign it. Otherwise, you won’t know how much you’re getting paid, and you may be taken advantage of. 

🚨Harsh penalties for ending your contract early are also a red flag. I don’t blame companies for wanting teachers to honour contracts, but if the penalties are harsh, you may find yourself feeling trapped and desperate to get out. 

George: Firstly, congratulations on being offered a contract! 

Getting your first contract is exciting—but don’t rush! Read every part of it carefully. If anything’s unclear, ask the school or someone you trust.

Be wary if the school pressures you to sign quickly, doesn’t know the answers to your questions, or is unwilling to answer your questions—those are red flags.

Take your time and make sure you fully understand what you’re agreeing to. At the end of the day, if you don’t feel comfortable with the contract, then don’t sign it. Don’t just sign a contract for the sake of it. Sign it because it’s good for you. 

George: This should be outlined in the contract already—if not, ask before signing!

Breaking a contract isn’t ideal, but it can happen. Just stay professional. 

Typically, you need to give 30 days’ notice, and there may be a penalty (usually taken from your final pay-check) to cover visa or recruitment costs.

Some companies may even cancel your visa right away, so make sure you have a backup plan before trying to end anything. 

I’ve heard of horror stories where some teachers have had their passports confiscated by the company, so ensure that you’re in a position to move on before pulling the trigger.

Whether the decision is yours or theirs, it’s always best to leave on good terms. It helps protect your reputation and keeps your future options open. You may even need a reference from them in the future, so do your best not to burn any bridges.

Be mindful that contracts can vary greatly between schools, companies, and countries, and can also be influenced by current qualifications and experience. Whatever the contract is in front of you, make sure you are fully happy with it before signing anything. 

Congratulations on starting your TEFL journey, and have fun!!