TEFL, ESL or EFL jobs at public schools are extremely hard to come by, but private primary, middle and high schools (commonly found in Phnom Penh and to a lesser extent in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville) are likely to greet an experienced native-speaking ESL teacher with open arms. Aside from a higher salary, these schools offer the added benefit of “normal” working hours – start at 8:00 am and finish by 4:00 pm.

Contrast this with private academies, where a TEFL teacher might start as early as 7:00 am and finish as late as 10:00 am. However, there is a lot to be said for private academy life. ESL teachers can expect a broad range of students, from kindergarten to adult classes, which typically do not start until after normal working hours and can run quite late. By the way, do not shy away from kindergarten classes – there is nothing like an hour or so with preschoolers to boost your spirits and leave you with a wide smile on your face and a story to tell.

You can certainly find a TEFL job in Cambodia through an online search, but you will find that prospective employers prefer to hire ESL teachers already in the country. A face-to-face interview, tour of the school and the opportunity to meet some of the teachers and students will also give you a first-hand look at the school, enabling you to make an informed decision as to the suitability of the academy.

If you are not mercenary and money is not a concern, you may want to consider one of the many volunteer positions available to an ESL or EFL teacher in Cambodia. You will undoubtedly be aware of Cambodia’s troubled past – in particular, the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge and the human trafficking. This has galvanised many NGOs and other organisations into action, and they are very receptive to having an ESL teacher join them.