Exploring The Global State Of TEFL: Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities

If you can believe it, we’re in the fourth quarter of 2024. And what a few years it has been! Research released recently has given us a window on the English language learning market in major English-language learning destinations. While there are teaching jobs aplenty in countries which speak a language other than English as an official language, a major job market for TEFL teachers is in English-speaking countries. 

Read more: Can I Teach English In An English-Speaking Country?

As TEFL teachers, it’s useful to know what’s what around the world to help us decide where we should go to teach next.

A recent study examined the ELT market in 2023 in eight major destinations for EFL students: Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the USA. This is what they found out.

Altogether, in 2023 these eight destinations hosted 1.1 million English language learners – for a total of 8.5 million student weeks*. This was slightly less than the 1.3 million students and 10 million student weeks in 2019 i.e. before COVID, but it shows a remarkable recovery.

Which countries have recovered better than others? What can we attribute these recovery levels to? Let’s dive in and find out.

Interesting findings from the research: 

• Australia, Ireland and Malta were the only destinations to exceed their student levels of 2019. 
• Australia, Ireland and Malta had more under-18s than adult students.
• UK reported the highest number of students.
• EFL students stayed the longest in Australia – 15 weeks, on average.
• The junior market (u/18) has proven to be very resilient. 

Teaching English in Australia in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 99%

Australia had the second-highest number of students in 2023, behind the UK. However, towards the end of the year, issues with student visa refusals started to take a toll.

Teaching English in Canada in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 78%

A change in student visa regulations affected Canada detrimentally. Financial means for visa regulations were increased and a cap on international students was threatened. 

Tetiana worked as an English as an Additional Language (FAL) instructor in Canada:

Upon completing the [Level 5] TEFL course, I embarked on a promising career as an EAL instructor at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS). Working with immigrants from various countries, both in-person and online, presented a rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic diversity. This dynamic environment challenged me to apply the principles and techniques learned during my TEFL training effectively.

As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities that the TEFL course has unlocked. It has not only equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in my career but has also fueled my passion for language education. With each lesson taught and each student empowered, I am reminded of the transformative power of education and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.

Teaching English in Ireland in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 109%

Ireland is thriving post-pandemic. Since 2019, they have increased both student numbers and student weeks. This is possibly due to European students opting for Ireland rather than the UK post-Brexit. 

Ireland is particularly popular with Young Learners, especially during the summer. Interestingly, students mostly came from Italy, Spain and Brazil. If you’re looking for summer camp work, Ireland would be a good bet for 2025. 

Read more: Five Characteristics Of Great Summer Camp Teachers

Teaching English in Malta in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 94%

Almost three-quarters of students coming to Malta to learn English were from Europe, but also Colombia, Brazil and Japan. Malta is very popular with junior students and is also a popular summer destination.

Teaching English in New Zealand in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 33%

New Zealand didn’t see as great a recovery as other countries, presumably mostly because it opened its borders to students much later than other countries. New Zealand is popular with Japanese, Thai and Chinese students.

TTA alumna Tay spent a year teaching and travelling around New Zealand with her fiance:

After travelling around in our camper van for some time, I ended up in teaching adults at language schools in both Queenstown (South Island – NZ) and Tauranga (North Island – NZ). During this time I had classes of all different levels – Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. It was great to gain valuable experience teaching students of all different abilities.

It was so inspiring to meet and teach people of so many different nationalities, to learn about their cultures and watch them connect with each other through the English language.

Teaching English in South Africa in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 94%

South Africa has almost reached the same levels of students as in 2019. A change in flights between South Africa and South America has meant that the number of Brazilian students dropped drastically, but the direct flights have been resumed so that’s likely to recover soon. 

Teaching English in the UK in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 67%

The UK has recovered 2/3s of its 2019 student levels. The number of junior students increased. Student numbers from Russia, China and Italy remained low, but student numbers from Colombia, Peru and Mexico increased. In response to the negative effects of Brexit, English UK is now hoping to establish bilateral agreements with individual countries for passport-free travel for juniors in the hopes of attracting more students.

Teaching English in the USA in 2023

Recovery rate in student numbers from 2019: 69%

The USA was negatively affected by student visa denials, as well as a generally high cost of living. Popular nationalities for students coming to the US to learn English are Japan, France, Brazil, China and Italy. 

What this means for TEFL in 2025

• China saw a huge drop in student mobility, meaning fewer Chinese students than ever before are studying English abroad. It looks set to recover in 2024 and 2025.
• Because Asia has always been a strong source of EFL students, this means the demand for English teachers within Asian countries remains high.
• A surprising growth in student numbers from Latin and South American countries indicate a growing demand for English language instruction from those countries. 
• Internationally, the biggest growth in source markets for students were Taiwan, China, Poland and Brazil.
• Visa issues for the major EFL markets have driven demand to Ireland, Malta, New Zealand and South Africa. TEFL teachers should look to these countries for job opportunities in the coming years. 
• Teaching Young Leaners looks set to retain a demand for TEFL teachers.
• English programmes which offer English language instruction focussed on career and professional development are also expected to be popular with students. 

Whether you want to teach in the UK or Uzbekistan, sign up for a TEFL course today to get your teaching journey started!

* 1 student week = 1 week a student is enrolled in a language school/academy/centre. Some students only stay for 1 week. Others stay up to a year. 

Source: Bonard Education: Global ELT Annual Report 2024 [Accessed online 17 September 2024].