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Guide To Teaching English In New Zealand
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The land where time stood still. Middle Earth. Call it what you will, New Zealand may be small but it has a lot to offer any TEFL teacher who decides to make their home here.
Finding a TEFL job in New Zealand
Considering the population of New Zealand is not very high, it should come as no surprise that there aren’t that many TEFL jobs in New Zealand. Now, we’re not saying there aren’t any but they aren’t as abundant as in, say South Korea or Spain. Having said that, the jobs you will find are in private language schools or on summer camps. New Zealand is an English-speaking country so you won’t be teaching New Zealanders, but rather foreigners, especially Asian students, who come to New Zealand to learn English.
You’re not likely to find TEFL jobs in New Zealand advertised online so it’s best to come to the country and find a job yourself, which is not hard to do since most nationalities can apply for a work visa. What’s more, you don’t need a degree to teach English in New Zealand, but you do need a 120-hour TEFL certificate. All you need to do, then, is print out a few CVs and pound the pavement until you’ve found the job you’re looking for. You can even get a temporary job while you are looking for the perfect TEFL opportunity.
Teaching English in New Zealand
Teaching English in New Zealand generally means teaching in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch in a language school or on a summer camp. Language schools run year-round so you should be able to find a job in any season. There are lots of language schools cropping up, so make sure if you go this route that the school you are applying to is legitimate.
New Zealand is one of the more established countries for teaching English as a foreign language as a result of the large Asian population who make their way here to study English. Teaching English here will involve opportunities for professional development and not as backpacker-y as in some nearby Asian countries.
Living in New Zealand
Living in New Zealand is the outdoor enthusiast’s dream. The North Island boasts volcanoes, beaches and farmland while the South Island is all about glaciers, fjords and mountains. On the other hand, if you’re not a big outdoors fan there are lots of options to enjoy the local nightlife. Or, if you feel like going further afield on your holidays, Australia is a hop, skip and a jump away.
Honestly speaking, your TEFL salary is not going to allow you to live in the lap of luxury but since you go to New Zealand for the adventure more than the money, this shouldn’t bother you. One thing’s for sure, you are bound to have a good working environment and fun-filled time off if you decide to teach English in New Zealand.
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Accreditation Partners
The TEFL Academy was the world’s first TEFL course provider to receive official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies in both the USA and UK. This means when you graduate you’ll hold a globally recognised Level 3 (120hr) Certificate or Level 5 (168hr) Diploma, meaning you can find work anywhere and apply for jobs immediately.
I am South African, an English native speaker with a TEFL qualification. I do hold a 2year diploma in commerce and a 2 year diploma in fashion designing. I also have 2 years of experience teaching children at a playschool, I would love an opportunity to teach in New Zealand, however I would like to be issued a work permit before I leave my home country with a proper work contract, please assist me on how to go about doing that. I am 51 years old, very healthy and energetic and I love working with kids
Much appreciated and thanking you in advance