What are the Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad?

Preparing for the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) hiring season can help increase your chances of securing a job teaching English abroad. Depending on where you are looking to teach, you will find that hiring seasons vary from one country to the next.

In many regions, ESL job markets are cyclical and hiring is seasonal. Understanding language school hiring seasons and how ESL job markets work is critical to getting hired as an English teacher in many of the largest ESL job markets around the world.

How to Prepare for the TEFL Hiring Season

To prepare for the TEFL hiring season, you can do the following: research potential destinations, obtain a TEFL certification, prepare application materials, network with other TEFL teachers, consider additional qualifications, and be flexible with your expectations.

Read more: The requirements to teach English abroad

Knowing when and where to apply will also boost your chances of landing the perfect ESL job you've been eyeing. Let's explore this below.

When to Apply to Teach English Abroad?

It is best to apply to teach English abroad at least three to six months before your intended start date, typically starting the job search in the spring or early summer for fall hiring season and in the fall or early winter for spring hiring season. However, some institutions may hire on a rolling basis throughout the year, so it's worth keeping an eye out for job postings year-round.

What are the Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad?

Hiring seasons are the peak time for applying for a teaching English abroad position. The hiring seasons for teaching English abroad typically are in the fall (late August to early October) and the spring (January to March), but they can vary depending on the country and institution. Some countries, especially in Asia, may have their own unique hiring seasons, while some institutions may hire teachers throughout the year.

In Europe and Latin America, there are two major language school hiring seasons when many teachers complete their contracts and depart, creating thousands of job vacancies for new teachers to fill. Those looking to teach in these regions should typically count on being on the ground with their TEFL Certification during these hiring seasons to interview in person.

In Asia, the enormous population and emphasis on English language education has created ESL job markets exponentially larger than those in Europe and Latin America.  This means that the language school hiring season runs year-round.

Let's look at hiring seasons in these regions more in detail:

Peak Hiring Season in Europe

The primary language School hiring season for English teaching jobs in Europe is September through October. The secondary hiring season is in January.  

Read more: Europe TEFL Job Index

As many as 50% of English teachers leave their positions over the summer, creating a huge demand for new English teaching jobs in Europe as schools begin new sessions in September and early October.

Those looking to teach in Europe should typically count on being on the ground with their TEFL Certification during these hiring seasons to interview in person. Government assistantship programs in Spain and France require that applications be filed by March for positions beginning in September.

Exceptions: Turkey, Russia and Georgia which hire year-round. Summer camps hire English teachers locally and in some cases hire in advance from the U.S. and elsewhere during the winter and spring for the following summer. 

Hiring Season in Europe Recap

Peak Hiring Season in Latin America

Read more: Latin America TEFL Job Index

Hiring Season in Central America

The primary language School hiring season for English teaching jobs in Central America is June through July. The secondary hiring season is January through February.  

Many schools in Costa Rica will interview in December for positions beginning in January. Demand for English teachers in Mexico is high enough that language schools are hiring year-round.

Those looking to teach English in Central America should typically count on being on the ground with their TEFL Certification during these hiring seasons to interview in person.

Hiring Season in South America

The primary language School hiring season for English teaching jobs in South America is February through March. The secondary hiring season is July through August.  

Those looking to teach English in South America should typically count on being on the ground with their TEFL Certification during these hiring seasons to interview in person.

Hiring Season in Latin America Recap

Peak Hiring Season in Asia

The primary language School hiring season for English teaching jobs in Asia is year-round. There are exceptions, such as for Taiwan and Thailand. Read below for details.

Read more: Asia TEFL Job Index

English Teaching Jobs in Private Schools

Demand for foreign English teachers in Asia is so high that private language schools are hiring and recruiting all year-round. English teaching jobs for private language schools are popular in China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian nations.

English Teaching Jobs in Public Schools

In countries like South Korea, public schools typically interview and recruit English teachers during the spring and early summer for August and September start dates. Some public schools will also recruit English teachers in the fall for positions that begin in January, February or March.

In Japan, the Jet Program, which recruits approximately 4,000 English teachers from native English-speaking countries annually requires that applications be submitted on the first of December for positions beginning the following autumn (interviews will follow). 

TEFL Jobs in Taiwan & Thailand

The hiring season in Taiwan is after the Chinese New Year, and then again in July & August. The hiring season for teaching English in Thailand is in February through April and then again in August through October.

Hiring Season in Asia Recap

Peak Hiring Season in the Middle East

The primary language School hiring season for English teaching jobs in the Middle East is throughout the year.  

In Gulf countries such as the U.A.E. , Qatar and Saudi Arabia and throughout the Arab World, public and private schools for children, as well as vocational schools, colleges and universities typically interview and recruit English teachers during the spring and early summer for August and September start dates.

Some public schools will also recruit English teachers in the fall for positions that begin in January, February or March.

In developing Arab countries like Morocco, Egypt and Jordan, some language schools hire in advance, but most jobs will be found local in-country.

Hiring Season in the Middle East Recap

Additional Information

Where do Schools Interview and Hire English Teachers in Advance?

Schools in many countries around the world interview and hire English teachers in advance. Some of these countries include China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Oman or the U.A.E.- just to name a few.

Read more: Where Will Schools Hire Me In Advance To Teach English Abroad?

TEFL Certification Courses & Timelines 

Most students will take a four-week onsite TEFL course immediately prior to the language school hiring season in the country where they take the class if they wish to begin working immediately afterward.

For those taking an Online TEFL Course, the goal is to complete their class 2-3 months prior to the start of the season to provide enough time to prepare for their job search and for making their travel arrangements.

Timing of Class Registration

Onsite TEFL courses typically have a maximum of 12 students per month so classes immediately prior to the hiring season may fill up 6 months in advance.

World English Teaching Markets at a Glance

For your reference, this link to our Country Chart provides basic information about working and getting hired in approximately 50 countries around the world, including information on ESL hiring seasons, salaries and the interview process.