Teaching English In Singapore

Teaching English In Singapore

Once a backwater fishing village, Singapore has experienced a meteoric rise to emerge as a global economic power in just over a century, embodying one of the greatest national transformations the world has ever seen. While the towering office buildings and glossy shopping malls are undoubtedly impressive instalments, it is the strikingly cosmopolitan Singapore culture that is the real defining characteristic of this place.

To call Singapore a melting pot would not be an overstatement considering its financial and cultural richness. Malays, Chinese, Europeans, and Indians have made this place their home, bringing with them their religions and languages with more than 40% of the local population being passport-holders of other countries. Local cuisine such as fish-head curry, Hainanese chicken, and chili crab are considered to be national specialties so for those with a healthy appetite, this diverse and extremely dynamic city is one to savor.

Being a city-state with English as its official language and a small population, Singapore has a comparatively smaller English teaching job market compared to most of the other Asian countries. Even then, opportunities do exist especially for native English speakers possessing a TEFL certification and carrying with them some degree of teaching experience. Advance interviews are largely the norm, being conducted via email, Skype, or over the phone.

As a prosperous nation with heavy investments towards education, English teachers get to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle thanks to the good salaries on offer. English language schools typically require teachers to work for 20 to 25 hours a week which gives them plenty of time to explore the location. A bachelor’s degree and a TEFL certification are necessary in order to teach in Singapore.