Teach English in Cambodia

Quick Facts

Eligibility Requirements

You don’t need to have any teaching experience to teach English in Cambodia. You do need:

Required

• A passport from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa
• No teaching experience required
• A Native English Speaker

Preferred on case-by-case basis

• Between 20 and 59 years of age
• No major medical or mental health diagnosis or medication in the past 5 years
• No communicable diseases
• No criminal conviction whatsoever (even misdemeanors)
• No visible tattoos, such as on the face, neck and hands

Apply Now

Unsure? Apply for a Free Consultation

Submit a quick application and we’ll let you know your eligibility and best program fit.

Program Options

What’s included for each Program Option

Full Program Highlights

• Comprehensive pre-departure support and guidance

  • Getting the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
  • Assisting you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets and booking flights.
  • Answering your questions to help ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip.

• Logistics and safety when arriving

  • Airport pickup and transfer to accommodation (provided you opt to stay in one of the recommended accommodation options).
  • We’ll provide guidance on obtaining a sim card upon your arrival.

• A toolkit for navigating Cambodian culture

  • Cultural Orientation.
  • Social events and meet and greets.

• Practical Teacher Training

  • To hone your craft and ensure confidence before you begin teaching professionally.

• Guaranteed Job Placement

  • At carefully vetted schools.

• An Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL certification

  • The knowledge required to teach english successfully.

• A support network of fellow teachers

  • Lifelong friendships and travel opportunities.

• 24/7 In-country support

  • Ex-foreign teachers and local, on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
  • You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as translation help, legalities, emergencies, travel options or school queries. Someone is on hand.
  • Teacher meet-ups.
  • We check in with you regularly and keep up to date with your teach abroad experience.

• Lifetime Placement Assistance Guarantee

  • Teach placement assistance on any qualifying program in Cambodia or Indoneisa after your first contract.

• Self-development and advantageous future employability

  • Add teaching abroad to your CV to stand out from the crowd.

Guaranteed Job Placement

We find you a teaching job or jobs to ensure you have the maximum work hours allowed under your visa.

• Teaching philosophy and environment
• Teaching materials
• School code of conduct
• Local staff support and English proficiency
• After school activities and requirements
• Disciplinary processes
• And many more considerations!

So you might find a job but you’ll be unprepared from a teaching, cultural, financial and emotional perspective.

Lifetime Placement Assistance

• Pay one fee and you’re able to teach in any partner school on your program line as long as you like.
• It’s a once-off fee for a lifetime of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of your students and travel the world in a sustainable way.
• For example, once you’re finished in Cambodia you can travel over to Indonesia and experience a whole new cultural adventure.

Boost your employability

You might think you’re taking a step back by taking a year off but nothing could be further from the truth!

Although you may think it’s a halt in your education journey, you’re actually fast tracking yourself through:

• Learning independence.
• Learning how you react to different situations.
• Learning how to master and grow your confidence in public speaking.
• Learning how to overcome obstacles.
• Learning about yourself through your own personal self discovery.
• Learning how to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.

These would normally take much longer in a normal, sheltered environment and wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!

When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.

Teaching Placements

Teaching Placement Overview

Teaching Placements

Placements are mostly in the bigger cities such as Pnehm Pen and Battambangand are in “International schools”. These are not “international schools” as you might know them, these schools are “international” because they follow Western semester starts and curriculums i.e British schools, Australian schools; American schools.

Salaries

You’ll earn within the range of $800 to $2,800 USD * per month (3.2 – 11.4 million Riel) depending on your qualifications, experience and placement location.

This will comfortably cover your living expenses and weekend adventures due to the low cost of living.

General salary range:

• No teaching experience, no degree: $1,000 – $1,200 *
• Any degree, TEFL/TESOL certification, teaching experience: $1,200 – $1,800 *
• Education degree and teaching experience: $1,800 – $2,800 *

* USD amounts may fluctuate due to exchange rate volatility.

Working Hours

• You will generally teach for 25 hours per week, that’s about 5 hours a day. You’ll get 15 hours a week for administrative tasks such as lesson planning.
• Typical working hours are from 8am – 11am and 2pm – 4pm, depending on the school you work for.
• You’ll get 28 days (4 weeks) paid leave per year, all public holidays and weekends off!

Taxes

All participants will pay taxes in Cambodia of 10-15%.

Saving Potential

Saving potential depends strongly on your lifestyle and placement location, but on average the living expenses generally range from $400 – $800 USD.

Teaching Placement Locations

While every effort is made to match your placement requirements, we encourage you to approach your placement with an open mind and embrace the spirit of wanderlust as placements are contingent on available positions at the time of job assignment.

What if I am unhappy with my job? Can I be placed somewhere else?

If you are unhappy and there are clear reasons why the job is not working out for you, TravelBud will offer you placement assistance for a different job within our vetted school network.

That being said, we have strong relationships with our partner schools and our applicants are generally very happy with their placements.

We are also available 24/7 to fully support you and will check in with you throughout your teaching adventure.

What is the dress code for teaching English in Cambodia?

The dress code for English teachers is smart-casual. You are expected to look professional at all times when you are in the classroom bearing in mind that some schools may expect smarter clothing than others, so come prepared.

Here are some pointers:

• Skirt to the knee (Pencil or A-line, not too flowing) or smart trousers. Blouse that is not revealing. No sheer. No cleavage. Shoulders covered.
• Tattoos covered. Extra piercings removed.
• Collared shirts. Smart trousers. Closed Shoes (slip-ons are fine). Wear a tie to an interview if possible!
• Clean shaven or neat beard. Neat hair. Neat nails.

Cultural Preparation

Part of the success of your experience comes from understanding the culture that you’re going to be living and working in.

Our Program Includes:

Pre-departure Support

We assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets, booking flights and any questions or information you need. 

Pre departure Support

• We’ll outline the entire process you’ll follow to realise the teaching abroad dream.
• You’ll be provided comprehensive information relating to each step in the pre-departure process and you’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how silly you may think they are!
• We’ll explain and help you get the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
• We’ll assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgeting and booking flights.
• We’ll ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip and share the positive and life-changing adventures of the teach abroad experience.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

We’ll pick you up from the airport and introduce you to your support team in-country.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

• Airport pickup (provided you opt to stay at one of the recommended accommodation options).
• We’ll introduce you to your 24/7 support team on the ground.
• Transfer from the airport to your accommodation.
• We provide guidance on SIM cards (SIM cards, airtime and data for your own account) so that you can contact your loved ones back home and your new friends you’re about to make on your epic orientation!
• We provide guidance setting up a local bank account so you can save money on international withdrawal fees. Your salary is paid into your local bank account.
• You’ll get to meet and greet fellow teacher travellers.

A toolkit for navigating your new country

The perfect foundation for adjusting to life in your new country and meeting your fellow teachers and in-country stafff members.

A toolkit for navigating your new country

Our cultural orientation sessions on Cambodian culture and language gives you the perfect foundation for adjusting to life in Cambodia as well as an opportunity to bond with your fellow teachers-in-training and in-country staff members.

Learn foundational Khmer language

We help you with foundational language to help you navigate:

• The bustling markets.
• Grabbing a taxi.
• Ordering a delicious meal.
• Garnering respect from locals.

(plus it’s pretty cool to impress your mates at home or add it to your resume!)

Cultural and History lessons

• Learn from local Cambodian staff and ex-foreign teachers who have made their home in Cambodia.
• You’ll understand the cultural dynamics so that you don’t feel like a fish out of water.
• You won’t be making any faux pas or disrespecting the locals.
• How to address locals and your fellow teachers.
• You will know what you can and can’t do in Cambodian classrooms.

Cultural Excursions

Excursions could include, but are not limited to, one of the following options, dependent on the time of year, weather, size of the group and a number of other factors:

• Yoga and Kum Khmer introduction
• Culture lesson
• Local Language lessons
• Village school visit
• Angkor Park highlights tour
• Culture tour

A support network of fellow teacher travelers

In addition the personal assistance and 24/7 support we provide, you’ll also have a support network of fellow teachers.

24/7 In-Country Support

• Ex-foreign teachers and local, on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
• You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as translation help, culture shock, legalities, emergencies, travel options or school queries. Someone is on hand.
• Teacher meet-ups.
• We check in with you regularly and keep up to date with your teach abroad experience.

Have some fun and embrace your new adventure!

Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL Certification

There are so many options when it comes to TEFL/TESOL courses that it can be quite overwhelming to understand what’s legitimate and what high quality schools require from teaching staff.

A quality TEFL/TESOL course helps teachers avoid the frustration and pitfalls of being unprepared in the classroom and provides all the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively teach English.

Course Location

Our headquarters are in Siem Reap, the fastest growing area in Cambodia and home to famous Angkor Wat temples.

Siem Reap is a foodie haven, from local Khmer food to Western delights, you’ll find endless options. The city also offers plenty of ‘non-ruin’ things to do and see.

Siem Reap restaurants serve up top-quality food from almost every corner of the globe and you can travel the world from here.

Street food and simple roadside restaurants serve up food for as little as $1, for local food, with an average meal being $2- $4 at a cheap restaurant, and a bit more at a fancier spot. Vegetarian and Vegan options can be found.

A beer will cost you an average $1 to $1.50… save it for weekends, you’ll be busy on the course!

Course Components

• An introduction to South East Asian culture – to help your transition
  into the local classroom and community.
• Teaching techniques – we provide you with models to teach beginners
  as well as advanced students, young learners and adults.
• Teaching the four skills of language: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
• Planning a course for special purposes (such as for a business).
• Grammar – brushing up yours as a teacher, and techniques to teach grammar.
• Phonics.
• Creating materials for lessons.
• Lesson planning.
• Suitable activities for the language classroom.
• Discipline in the classroom.
• Building rapport with your students, including warmers and coolers in the classroom.
• Classroom management, covering all aspects Teaching one-to-one, as well as larger classes.
• Teaching vocabulary.
• Understanding problems for Asian learners (understanding the differences between their language and English) as well as for other key languages, such as Spanish and Russian.
• Error correction techniques.
• Preparing your CV/resumé, and tips for the interview process.
• Teaching business English.
• Teaching practices and assignments: You will have the opportunity to conduct several full lessons (teacher practices). These are observed by a trainer, and detailed and constructive feedback is given to you after each lesson, to help you improve for your next lesson, and your career to follow. (You will get an opportunity to teach both young learners and adults). Our qualified trainers will assist you with the lesson planning process. Read our blog on making the most of your observed lesson.
• Materials project: Here you will present the materials used for lessons, to the class.
• A journal entry assignment.
• Various lesson planning and group work assignments.
• Various tests and tasks over the 4-week course, covering grammar, punctuation and a few other aspects covered in class. We work with our teachers to adequately prepare them for these tests. All content of the tests is covered during the course.

• A grade of at least 70% is required in order to pass the course. More than 50% of this grade is made up of marks for teacher practices.
• Trainees are awarded with either a ‘pass’, ‘merit’, ‘high merit’ or ‘distinction’. All graduates receive a report, and those who obtain a merit or higher, are also presented with a personalised letter of reference.
• You’ll head off to your placement feeling as prepared and confident to step into the classroom as you possibly can. 

Detailed Course Overview

Week 1

• Meet and greet drinks
• Monday to Thursday: In class, all theory and techniques.
• Friday – morning class.
• Saturday – Off.
• Sunday – Off.

Week 2

• Group Meal 
• Monday to Friday – combination of classroom sessions and pracs at local schools.
• Friday – Social event.
• Saturday – Culture Tour (dependent on weather conditions!)
• Sunday – Off.

Week 3

• Monday to Friday – combination of classroom sessions / assignments and pracs at local schools.
• Saturday – Off.
• Sunday – Off.

Week 4

• Monday to Wednesday – combination of classroom sessions / assignments and pracs at local schools.
• Thursday morning – final classroom session.
• Thursday afternoon – GRADUATION.
• Final graduation meal.
• Friday – Off.

 International Accreditation

Our internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL course is accepted by employers around the world and is accredited by the Asian College of Teachers (ACT), Asia’s largest teacher training body with 30,000 alumni and 600 schools associations across Asia. ACT is accredited by ASIC Accreditation, a UK based internationally renowned quality standard for schools, colleges, universities and online learning providers. ASIC is a member of the CHEA International Quality Group in the USA, and are members of the British Quality Foundation.

Graduates of our internationally accredited 120-hour TESOL course have used their TEFL/TESOL certificate to successfully find employment in ESL (English Second Language) teaching and education fields in nearly every Western, native-English speaking country, as well as across Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond.

Accommodation

Accommodation during the TEFL/TESOL Course

We recommend the following options for your accommodation during the course.

All prices are for 1 month and you will need to book your accommodation separately.

Solitaire Damnak Villa – Hotel room with ensuite bathrooom

$350 USD for 4-week full onsite $250 USD for 2-week TEFL extension
This rate excludes electricity (approx $70 USD)

• The property has an undercover pool, onsite restaurant as well as cooking facilities for guests.
• All rooms have A/C, a TV and a small fridge.
• The room rate includes once a week cleaning and FREE WiFi.
• 11 minute walk to your course.

Rose Apple Square – Private self-catering apartments

• WiFi
• Smart TV
• 24/7 security
• Once a week cleaning and fresh linen
• Full fitted kitchen
• Washing machine
• Pool access
• Full Gym access
• Approx $3 per day for a tuk-tuk to and from the training centre (buddy with a friend and pay half!)

Studio Apartment (Open-plan)

Single – $350 USD
Couple – $450 USD

Note: This rate excludes electricity (approx $70.00)

1 Bedroom Apartment (separate bedroom & kitchen/lounge area)

Single – $425 USD
Couple – $625 USD

Note: This rate excludes electricity (approx $70.00)

Accommodation after the TEFL/TESOL Course

You will be given guidance on finding accommodation in accessible areas.

There are many real estate properties for rent that are available for all types of spaces and budget. From the single unit apartments to villas, there is always one that will fit your needs.

Popular expat areas in Phnom Penh are BKK1, BKK2 and BKK3, Russian Market, Tonle Bassac, 7 Makara, and Daun Penh.

Almost all apartments are fully furnished and some offer services such as cleaning, 24-hour security, garbage collection, and WiFi.

• Shared accommodation: $100 – $200
• Studio apartment: $150 – $350
• 1 bedroom apartment: $250 – $800
• 2+ bedroom apartment: $300 – $900

Please keep in mind that most apartment buildings will require you to pay 1-2 months’ deposit.

You will be provided with further resources, links and information for finding your accommodation.

Dates

Already have an accredited TEFL/TESOL Certificate?

If you have already completed your 120 hour accredited TEFL / TESOL certificate and are looking for assistance with job placement and in country orientation and support then you may qualify for our TEFL/TESOL Extension Placement Program.

Budgets

Fees