The 10 Best Teach Abroad Programs for New Graduates in 2024

For recent graduates looking to both gain work experience, make money, and live overseas, teaching abroad is a great option. Future employers will appreciate your adventurous spirit, and you’ll have the exhilarating experience of not only traveling to a new country but living in it.

However, it can be intimidating to leave everything behind to look for a job in a new country. Luckily, there are plenty of teach abroad programs that can take care of those logistics for you—all you have to do is fill out the paperwork, get your visa, and be prepared to step out of your comfort zone.

So, if you’re ready to make the leap to teach in a new country, here are a few exciting post-grad teaching opportunities waiting for you this year.

Even with a degree, ambition, and a whole lot of passion for travel, you'll still need to prepare before you make the transition overseas.

Knowing that you want to teach English abroad is a great start, but narrowing down what type of teaching job strikes your interest can help guide your research even further. From teaching in public schools to volunteering at English camps, there's a wide variety of job types available for recent grads in the ESL world. Below are three examples of teaching types:

• Public school teacher: Teaching in a public school may be a great option if you're starting out in the ESL world. You'll likely work as a teaching assistant, helping the local teachers with their lesson planning and other classroom management.
• Private school teacher: If you're TEFL certified or have prior teaching experience and are looking to make money teaching overseas, you'll likely work at a private school. By going the private school route, you could find work teaching small classroom sizes of adults, or even teach young learners if you work in a pre-school or day care center.
• Volunteer teacher: Looking for a short term placement teaching abroad? While you can also find long-term volunteer placements, working as a volunteer teacher with a program such as a summer camp, can be a great option for you to travel and gain teaching experience. However, if you're teaching as a volunteer, you may have to cover a hefty upfront program fee for housing, meals, support, and more.

Read more: How to Get a Teaching Job Abroad

Like many other competitive jobs, in order to land a high-paying placement teaching English abroad, you'll need to be make your application stand out. If this is your first time teaching abroad, one way to gain experience, prepare yourself to teach, and strengthen your application, is to obtain your TEFL certificate.

For many competitive teaching positions you'll need to have a 120-hour TEFL certificate to be able to teach English. Fortunately, these are quite easy to obtain online, and some programs will even include a TEFL certification course as a part of your orientation and job placement process. Others, particularly volunteer-based programs, do not require a TEFL certificate at all.

Program length: 4-12 weeks
What's included: host family accommodation, paid study grant, TEFL certificate upon completion, insurance, transportation in-country between camps

✅ Pros:

• See different cities and towns in Italy -- travel while you teach!
• The 5-day orientation equips you with all the tools you need to be a successful counselor and teacher.

❌ Cons:

• Positions are only available during summer.
• The program is very competitive so applicants aren't guaranteed to be accepted.

If you're looking for a not-your-typical summer camp experience, EDUCO in Italy may be a great option for 2024.

With EDUCO, you'll teach English to small groups of 10-12 Italian children. This program isn't focused on the usual classroom teaching and learning, though. EDUCO's experience is immersive, with children learning through games, songs, and theater. While this job will be hard work, it will be a lot of fun, too. Let your creativity run wild with EDUCO in 2024.

A great perk that comes with working for EDUCO is the opportunity to earn a TEFL through Performance and Play certificate. This is a unique TEFL certification that is a great feather to add to your teaching cap.

Program length: 4 months -1 year (or more if you choose to renew)
What's included: in-country TESOL/TEFL course, Thai lessons, pre-departure support

✅ Pros:

• Alums of TravelBud in Thailand appreciated the 24/7 support -- great for nervous first time travelers.
• Applicants are guaranteed a paid position.

❌ Cons:

• Even if you choose the placement-only option, there is still an enrollment fee.
• You may be placed in a remote area.

Travelbud is a Capetown-based teach and volunteer abroad organization that was founded in 2012. Throughout your application and placement process, you'll be talking with someone who has taught abroad before and knows all about the excitement and challenges that may entail. Once you’ve selected a program, they’ll help you plan and organize your adventure by providing you with a guaranteed paid job placement, TEFL certification, cultural orientation courses, and 24/7 in-country support.

The TESOL certification provided by Travelbud is one of the most widely-accepted certificates in Thailand. They are very helpful regarding the logistics of moving overseas, including helping with the visa process and getting airport pickup. Teachers with Travelbud will have the opportunity to work with students of all ages, and positions are open to grads from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.

Travelbud has a new cohort each month and accepts applications year-round. Placements can vary from 4 months to a whole year.

Program length: 3-6 weeks
What's included: hotel accommodation in a shared room, 3 meals a day, free tours, TEFL qualification after 3 weeks of participation

✅ Pros:

• As a 1:1 conversation partner, you will not have to prep lessons for classes.
• Activities and tours are included outside of your working hours so you get a chance to enjoy the country.

❌ Cons:

• The workday is long and can be tiring.
• Transportation between program sites is not included if you do multiple sessions in different locations.

Angloville offers unique teach abroad opportunities across Europe in countries like Poland, Hungary, and Malta. Though these positions are not paid, participants are provided 4-star hotel accommodation and meals during their time with Angloville.

You will work as a conversation partner with local adults on a 1-to-1 basis -- this isn't formal classroom teaching! Angloville is as much a cultural exchange as it is a teaching experience so you will surely get a lot out of the experience. If you stay on for three weeks, you will earn a TEFL qualification for free!

Teaching with Angloville does not require a teaching certificate or prior teaching experience. They have multiple start dates weekly throughout the year so you're bound to find a time that fits your schedule.

Program length: 10 months
What's included: online TEFL course, orientation and teacher training, guaranteed job placement, accommodations (excludes Shanghai)

✅ Pros:

• A TEFL course is included in the program fee.
• The Fewer Things provides personalized support for teachers before and after arriving in China.

❌ Cons:

• Accommodation isn't included if you choose Shanghai.
• The only start dates are in September and February.

With The Fewer Things, you'll grow your teaching portfolio, travel and make money, and feel supported every step of the way.

The Fewer Things provide a long list of services to help you get your bearings as you navigate your new life in China, including cultural activities, teacher trainings and 24/7 guidance and support to help you better integrate into your new home overseas. Not TEFL certified yet? Not a problem, they offer online TEFL certification courses to help you prepare for your upcoming teaching adventure.

They also offer group and couple placements if you'd like to teach abroad with your partner or best friend -- the best of both worlds!

Program length: 8 months
What's included: guaranteed job placement, Zoom call support, personalized housing support

✅ Pros:

• RVF provides step-by-step visa support.
• Staff reply to questions quickly, often within 24 hours.

❌ Cons:

• The program fee may be pricey for some.
• Accommodation is not included and must be arranged separately.

If you have an associate's or bachelor's degree, a strong interest in teaching, and an adventurous spirit, a teaching placement with RVF International may be the move this year!

Grads who sign up to teach with RVF International will secure a guaranteed job placement as a language assistant for a public school in Spain. You'll work four days a week and enjoy fun, culturally immersive activities and travel excursions, provided by RVF.

RVF will begin accepting applications for the 2024/2025 school year at the end of 2023, with applicants expected to start teaching in Spain in October 2024.

Program length: varies depending on job placement
What's included: varies depending on job placement

✅ Pros:

• There is no program fee for a guaranteed placement -- it's free!
• Training schools recruit year-round so there are no application deadlines.

❌ Cons:

• If you want to teach in K-12 schools, you'll need at least 2 years of experience.
• Pay, hours, and benefits vary by placement and location so there are no guarantees on checking all your boxes.

Finding a teaching job with Teaching Nomad is a great option for independent recent grads. Teaching Nomad is a free recruitment service, offering personalized consultations to help you land your ideal teaching role in China.

They'll cover everything you'll need to feel successful while abroad, from helping you secure a job placement with competitive pay to finding safe housing. Plus, many of the schools Teaching Nomad works with offer teachers benefits like free housing, health insurance, and even flight reimbursements.

Program length: 4-week course
What's included: TEFL certification, visa support, job guarantee, lifetime job support, Czech lessons

✅ Pros:

• The job guarantee and work visa support are hard to come by in the EU.
• Students get a lot of teaching practice on the course so they're prepared for their first job.

❌ Cons:

• Accommodation isn't included and must be arranged separately.
• The super intensive course will be like a full-time job for the month you're studying.

Looking for an exciting and immersive adventure teaching in the Czech Republic? TEFL Worldwide Prague provides TEFL training and the unique opportunity to get a work visa for teaching in the Czech Republic after completion. As an EU country, this is hard to come by making it an incredible foot in the door for a career in Europe.

During an intensive month, you'll practice teaching methodology on real students as you study for and gain your TEFL certificate. Alum of this program overwhelmingly said the training more than prepared them to be confident and successful in the classroom once they started their new teaching career.

Program length: 12 months
What's included: pre-departure support, housing, travel insurance, visa support, 150-hour TEFL course, flight reimbursement

✅ Pros:

• An online TEFL certificate course is included in your program fee -- learn the ropes before you go!
• You'll be guided through the process every step of the way, even after you arrive in South Korea.

❌ Cons:

• The public school EPIK program is competitive so acceptance is not guaranteed.
• The program fee may be pricey for some applicants.

If you want your first year abroad teaching to be wrapped up with a bow and handed to you with a smile, then consider teaching in South Korea with CIEE. They provide everything you need to go teach overseas -- even housing!

The most popular program for teachers in Korea is EPIK and CIEE can guide you through the application for this public school government teaching program. The application process is long and requires a lot of documentation so having an experienced company advise you on all the details means you're more likely to be successful.

If applications for EPIK are unsuccessful though, recent grads can interview directly to work with kindergarten and elementary school students in private academies (hagwons). Both offer great salaries and benefits so you can't go wrong!

Program length: varies, depends on job placement
What's included: housing, flight arrangement, visa sponsorship and support, medical insurance

✅ Pros:

• You will be matched with a recruiter who will answer all of your questions quickly.
• Travel & Teach helps you get your dream position with absolutely no program fees.

❌ Cons:

• If you want to teach with EPIK, this organization only deals with placements in private academies.
• Most positions are with kindergarten and elementary school students so if you want to teach teens or adults, you'll find more limited options.

For those who wish to work in South Korea, Travel & Teach Recruiting connects aspiring teachers and travelers with teaching positions in academies throughout Korea, from Seoul to Busan.

Travel & Teach takes a personalized approach to job placement and will make sure to find a school in Korea that suits your needs—if you want to live near Seoul, they’ll make an effort, or if you prefer the countryside, they'll help get you there, too. Though a TEFL certificate is not strictly required, it is highly recommended so that you are more confident in the classroom.

In this era of remote working, when thinking about post-graduation options, it's always a good idea to have a backup choice that will keep you close to home. Teaching English online may not be your first choice, but it's a great way to gain experience and make money while deciding if moving abroad to teach is the right move for you.

There are a number of great online teaching platforms that will connect you with students around the world. If you're unsure how to get started as an online teacher, check out these insider tips to help you get off the ground.

Read more: How to Teach English Online & Get Paid in 2024

With so many teaching abroad programs available to you, it can be daunting to make a decision. Which organization? Where to? And for how long?

Whether you decide to sign a 2-year contract to work in China or volunteer to teach English for two months in Greece, the experiences you create abroad after graduation will help shape your future education, career, and outlook on life. You may also decide that it's not the best time for you to go overseas, but that doesn't have to stop you from beginning a career in international education; check out all of the options for online teaching to see how you can get creative with your career goals.

If you do your research and find the best fit for your goals, you can't go wrong!