TEFL jobs in Myanmar
A complete guide for TEFL teachers on teaching English in Myanmar
Overview
Due to travel restrictions, Myanmar (also known as Burma) was inaccessible to the majority of international tourists until just a few years ago. As a result, there was no TEFL business there. However, since it opened its doors every year, the nation has welcomed millions of tourists eager to discover this Southeast Asian hidden treasure. It’s a developing economy with more job chances for EFL teachers. Although there aren’t many TEFL employment available, and many are volunteer roles, it’s anticipated that the business will continue to expand. This will mean it becomes easier to secure a job teaching English in Myanmar.
Those who are successful in landing a respectable position teaching English in Myanmar in an international school can anticipate high pay and extremely affordable living expenses, including free or inexpensive housing given by their company. A major problem in Myanmar is the lack of infrastructure, which includes terrible potholes on most of the roads, the absence of air conditioning in rental homes, and a lack of internet access. As a result, it’s a nation that provides EFL teachers with a more ‘off the beaten track’ experience. There are many interesting spots to visit in this lovely nation, and beach fans will delight in seeing the 2,250 kilometres of coastline.
Continue reading if you’re interested in learning more about teaching English in Myanmar. We have gathered all the information you will need to understand the types of roles available and the qualification you need to apply for them. In addition, the information below includes details on lifestyle, local culture and how to integrate into a new country when you become an English teacher in Myanmar.
Types of teaching jobs
Volunteer Projects
Do you want to work as a volunteer English teacher in Myanmar for a charity or educational programme? Myanmar’s government is currently pushing for English language instruction to assist the country develop and participate in globalisation.
Volunteering may be the only opportunity these kids have to see the outside world because these institutions lack the funds to pay a foreign teacher. Volunteer teaching is a wonderful way to give back to these communities and directly affect the lives of children. If you want to take a gap year or have six months where you can afford not to be paid, volunteer teaching in Myanmar could be a very rewarding experience for you.
Private International Schools
Private schools have a huge need for foreign ESL teachers; however, public schools in Myanmar lack the resources to hire one. If you do happen to secure work as an English teacher in Myanmar at one of the private international schools, you will discover that they frequently come with good pay and an established curriculum.
Other Teaching Positions
Teachers who are interested in teaching courses other than ESL can find a variety of teaching employment in Myanmar. However, if you are teaching English in Myanmar and also looking at other subjects, it would help to have some knowledge of Burmese as a language, or you could find things tricky.
Internet access tends to be an issue in Myanmar, so there are fewer opportunities to top up your income by teaching English on the internet, but you could offer local classes as a private tutor. Again you will find that most people are pretty poor and cannot prioritise learning English as an expense. If you are looking to learn Burmese, you could team up with someone wanting to learn English, and instead of paying each other, you simply spend the time teaching each other as a mutual benefit.
Salaries, requirements & visas
Popular locations for TEFL jobs
Yangon, Naypyidaw, Mandalay, Ngapali, and Tachileik
The average salary for EFL teachers
The basic monthly salary for full-time positions is likely to be in the region of 1,000,000 to 2,650,000 MMK per month (€500–€1,200) per month.
TEFL qualification requirements
A 120-hour TEFL certification is generally required for most teaching positions in Myanmar.
Prerequisite university degree
A Bachelor’s Degree is not strictly required, it is often preferred by employers, especially for positions in international schools or higher-paying institutions.
Term times
Official term commencement date is June 1st
Teaching programmes
International Schools, Volunteering, Private Language Schools
Age restrictions
Upper age limit of 62, some jobs have limits of ages 21 – 55
Previous teaching experience
While 1+ year of experience is often preferred, especially for higher-paying roles, it’s not always a strict requirement.
Living costs
EFL teachers in Myanmar can live comfortably and even save a portion of their salary each month, especially when working in international schools. Compared to the local average income, teacher salaries are high, making Myanmar an affordable destination for most expats.
Not all employers include housing in contracts, but many do. This is especially important in Yangon, where rent is significantly higher than elsewhere in the country. Affordable rentals can be found, but they are often in poor condition. Demand for housing remains high due to tourism and a steady inflow of foreign workers, while infrastructure has not yet caught up. Teachers should expect occasional power outages, weak internet connections, and limited housing availability. While gradual improvements are being made, Myanmar still faces shortages in modern facilities and reliable utilities.
Eating local food is very affordable, with most dishes costing only a fraction of Western-style meals. Burmese cuisine is a flavourful fusion of Southeast Asian, Indian, and Chinese influences. Popular dishes include: Lephet (fermented tea leaf salad), Mohinga (rice noodle soup, often called the national dish), Curry dishes, samosas, and a wide variety of noodle meals. By contrast, imported goods and Western-style restaurants are considerably more expensive, so teachers who embrace the local food scene can keep their living costs low.
In order to provide the most accurate cost of living figures, we use numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living database, updated regularly.
Accommodation
€895–€1,330
Utilities
€100
Health insurance
Cost of a typical visit to a GP: €37
Monthly transport pass
€13
Basic dinner out for two
€17
Cappuccino in an ex-pat area
€2.39
A beer in a pub
€1.37
1 litre of milk
€1.49
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