Teach English in Myanmar the Complete Guide for TEFL Teachers

Tefl Jobs In Myanmar

Living costs Key facts FAQ’s Student Story Tefl Jobs In Myanmar

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 in Myanmar

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.

Where to Find Jobs

Applying through a teaching programme that will place you in a local school is the simplest method to locate an English teaching job in Myanmar. These programmes will assist you in locating employment before you arrive and may even give you orientation or additional teaching resources. Additionally, Myanmar offers a number of intense TEFL training courses that will enable you to both obtain your TEFL certification and gain teaching experience simultaneously. You will then be able to transfer these skills to a better-paid position teaching English in Myanmar.

Classroom and Work Culture in Myanmar:

Student/teacher relations: Teachers are highly respected in Myanmar. Since the majority of the Burmese people are Buddhist, teachers are seen as one of the ‘five gems and are often considered substitute parents. There is a clear hierarchy in the classroom, and students are often expected to be highly respectful. This applies to native teachers and English teachers in Myanmar equally.
Dress Code: Teachers should dress conservatively and relatively formally in the workplace. While business attire is not required, it is best to dress smart-casual. You certainly should not be turning up at work in shorts and flip-flops or other clothing more suited to the beach.
Greetings: When greeting others, it is appropriate to utilise full titles and names to show respect. Even though many Myanmar names are long, it is impolite to abbreviate them or use them without an honorific title.

Things to remember as an English teacher in Myanmar

As a developing nation, Myanmar has very little access to modern conveniences like dependable internet and air conditioning. Although there are cell phone networks, the bulk of the population does not use them, and a used SIM card can cost up to €100. As a result, modern conveniences like ATMs and cell phones are primarily confined to urban areas. You will also find that most of the job opportunities to teach English in Myanmar are located in the more significant populous areas.

While the majority of Myanmar is peaceful and secure for foreign educators, there are several regions that are regarded as unsettled and unsafe to travel there. As a result, foreigners are not permitted to travel to these areas, so be sure you understand the travel rules and restrictions as this would be dangerous. As a result, provided you apply good sense and caution as an English teacher in Myanmar, you will be far from any kind of confrontation.

LIVING COSTS

EFL teachers in Myanmar can live well and save money each month on the average teaching income. In comparison to the average local salary, international schools pay their English teachers in Myanmar exceptionally well. Not all employers will include accommodation in your contract, but the majority will. It is advisable to get a job with housing included if you are applying to teach English in Yangon because it is the most expensive city to reside in, and rent there might be expensive compared to other areas of the country. If you locate a reasonably priced rental unit, the condition is probably in poor shape. It should be mentioned that although Myanmar is constantly making improvements, there is currently a shortage of suitable infrastructure. It does imply that there may be problems with bad internet connectivity, power outages, and housing availability. Property is in high demand because the housing market has been unable to keep up with the increase in tourists and workers entering the nation.

Eating local food is quite affordable, but Western food is generally more expensive. Burmese food is a fusion of Southeast Asian, Indian, and Chinese flavours. The well-liked lephet, a fermented tea leaf salad, mohinga (the unofficial national dish), curries, samosas, and noodle meals are a few dishes to try in Myanmar. It does imply that issues with poor internet connectivity, power outages, and a lack of available homes would exist. Due to the nation’s housing market’s inability to keep up with the surge in visitors and workers, real estate is in high demand.

Eating locally produced food is fairly inexpensive, while Western cuisine is typically more expensive. Burmese cuisine combines flavours from Southeast Asia, India, and China. There are many delicacies to sample in Myanmar, including the popular lephet, a fermented tea leaf salad, mohinga (the unofficial national dish), curries, samosas, and noodle dishes.

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: £745–£1,071/€895–€1,330
Utilities: £79/€100
Health insurance: Cost of a typical visit to a GP: £30/€37
Monthly transport pass: £11/€13
Basic dinner out for two: £14/€17
Cappuccino in ex-pat area: £1.94/€2.39
A beer in a pub: £1.10/€1.37
1 litre of milk: £1.19/€1.49

Tefl Jobs In Myanmar: KEY POINTS

AVERAGE SALARY

$500–$800

EDUCATION NEEDED

Bachelors degree

TEFL CERTIFICATE NEEDED

120-hour TEFL qualification

MAIN JOB TYPES

Public & private schools

KEY FACTS

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 (£600–£1,500/€700–€1,800) per month.
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most positions
Prerequisite university degree: A BA degree is a visa requirement
Term times: Official term commencement date is June 1st
Currency: Burmese kyat (MMK)
Language: Burmese
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: 1+ year of experience preferred, 2/3+ for top jobs

Teachers, including English teachers in Myanmar, are held in the highest regard, and this is a predominately a Buddhist nation. Therefore, you should dress appropriately and conduct yourself accordingly with decorum and respect for others. According to TEFL instructors, students in Myanmar are enthusiastic, kind, and inviting individuals. Depending on where you teach English in Myanmar, you’ll discover very different students because the majority of teaching jobs in the nation are either at international schools where people have money or volunteer roles in less wealthy areas where sadly, there is a lot of poverty.

In Myanmar, the literacy rate is 89.5 per cent, with boys being more educated than girls. Up to the conclusion of primary school, when kids are just nine years old, attendance is required in state schools, and then there is no further regulation to insist that children attend school. However, attendance is required at foreign schools until pupils are 15 or 16. As a result, there is a demand for high-quality foreign schools among those who can afford them despite the government’s meagre funding for education and the low educational levels at public schools across the nation.

Even though English is taught in schools starting in kindergarten, competency is low. Myanmar placed 86th out of 100 nations on the 2019 EF English Proficiency Index, falling within the ‘very low’ category. The study also discovered that kids end their education before entering high school, with the average number of years spent in school is less than five. Therefore, the ability of those who have the opportunity to attend an international school will be far higher than that of their classmates who received their education from a public institution. So this means that work prospects for English teachers in Myanmar will be better at fee-paying institutions.

Facts about Teach English in Myanmar the Complete Guide for TEFL Teachers | Reviewed May 2022

LANGUAGE

Burmese

POPULATION

5.44 crores

TEFL TEACHER DEMAND

High

CURRENCY

Myanmar kyat

CAPITAL

Naypyidaw

OUR MYANMAR TEFL RATING

3.5/5

Tefl Jobs In Myanmar: FAQS

Is Myanmar expensive to live in?

EFL teachers in Myanmar can live well and save money each month on the average teaching income. It is worth noting that jobs teaching English in Myanmar at private institutions tend to come with housing included, which makes things much easier to manage as otherwise, rent will be your most significant bill.

How much will I make as a TEFL teacher in Myanmar?

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 (£600–£1,500/€700–€1,800) per month. However, the cost of living is also comparatively low, and if accommodation is included, your money will go a long way as an English teacher in Myanmar.

Do I need a degree to teach English in Myanmar?

Not always. It really depends on where you are applying to. They tend to place more importance on a TEFL qualification, so you should try and get that sorted. Obviously, the more qualified you are, the more chance you will get a higher-paying job.