The central highlands of the country are home to rolling green fields of tea, a well-known export of the country, and offer relief from the heat with a more mountainous landscape.Ancient cities, such as the former capital of Anuradhapura, sacred to Buddhists and previously one of the longest-inhabited cities in the world, allows visitors to step back in time with ornate palaces, temples and monasteries.The sprawling capital of Colombo offers more in the way of nightlife and, as with many large cities, is said to showcase both the best and the worst of the city, with stunning temples surrounded by dangerous traffic and some street crime.This is perhaps the best place to search for TEFL jobs in Sri Lanka due to the large population.

Sri Lankan cuisine is based around rice, coconut and the spices that the country is famed for, hence it can be a little spicier than some are used to.The food is heavily influenced by foreign traders, previous colonisers such as the English and the cuisine of neighbouring Southern India.One particularly unique dish is hopper, a fermented batter fried in a bowl shape and filled with various items such as curry, sambal or egg.

As English is the main language of communication for business throughout Sri Lanka, there is a strong demand for ESL/EFL teachers and TEFL jobs in Sri Lanka are plentiful.However, as the country is still developing, funds for paying these EFL teachers are not always available, meaning that there are many opportunities for volunteer ESL teaching positions, but paid work can be harder to find.

Public schools in both Colombo and more rural areas usually have plenty of TEFL positions, however they have very limited funding,and so volunteer positions are standard.Teaching English in a Sri Lankan public school can be an excellent way to gain experience and learn more about the country’s culture, as homestays are the usual accommodation.

Private and international schools do offer reasonably well-paid TEFL jobs in Sri Lanka for ESL teachers, however as there are so few of these positions are limited and can be competitive.At least 1–2 years’ experience is likely to be needed to work in these institutes.

The best options for TEFL jobs in Sri Lanka are often through British Council and ESL language centers. This type of work is more common in Colombo and working hours are variable, although six-day weeks and evening work are quite common.The British Council usually offers a more attractive wage of around £1200 to £1750 per month, compared to around £350 to £700 in private language schools.