ESL Activities

ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans, Jobs & More

  • Warm-Up
  • Listen
  • Read
  • Speak
  • Write
  • Jobs
  • Podcast

in Jobs and TEFL Cert

Teaching English in Indonesia: Jobs, Salary, and Requirements

The country of magical islands, Indonesia is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia, along with the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. The country is made up of approximately 17,000 islands. Among those islands, around 6000 islands are inhabited. The five main islands are Java, Sumatra, New Guinea, Borneo, and Sulawesi. However, the most popular island is, of course, Bali. Some of the islands are even more popular than the country, Indonesia itself. If you are an ESL teacher looking for a beautiful country to teach abroad, consider teaching English in Indonesia.

In terms of population, Indonesia is the fourth-largest country in the world. Indonesia’s population is about 260 million. If you teach English in Indonesia, you will be able to meet a variety of people as Indonesia is home to hundreds of different cultures and ethnicities. Not a surprise after learning about Indonesia’s population, is it? Continue reading to learn about the English teaching job opportunities in this amazing country with diverse and friendly people.

teach english in indonesia

Teach English in Indonesia

Teaching English in Indonesia

If you choose to teach English in Indonesia, you will have to prepare to really get immersed in different cultures. Indonesia is one of the 17 countries that are truly qualified as a mega-diverse country around the world. That being said, and considering the large, diverse population, you should suspect that there are many languages spoken in Indonesia. Shockingly there are over 600 regional languages in Indonesia. If you include foreign languages like English, there are 700 languages that people in Indonesia speak. Isn’t that number unbelievable?

ESL/EFL Teaching Practice and Methodology: 20 Years of Experience Teaching English in a Single Book!...
ESL/EFL Teaching Practice and Methodology: 20 Years of Experience Teaching English in a Single Book!...
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 301 Pages - 12/21/2022 (Publication Date)
Check Price on Amazon

Requirements for Teaching English in Indonesia

Following are the basic requirements you want to meet to get an English teaching job in Indonesia:

  • a bachelor’s degree
  • TEFL/TESOL certificate
  • must be a native English speaker (from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa)
  • one-year commitment (preferred)
  • teaching experience (preferred)

Unfortunately, Indonesia only issues work visas to English teachers who are from one of the seven countries classified as English-speaking nations. Also, if you don’t have a TEFL certificate yet, we strongly recommend getting one as it is extremely helpful to find a job when you teach abroad. There are online TEFL courses if that’s the way you prefer. Unfortunately, teachers without a university or college degree have a harder time getting an ESL teaching job. Those of you might have a better chance of teaching English online.

english teaching jobs in indonesia

English Teaching Jobs in Indonesia

English Teaching Jobs in Indonesia

Indonesian people learn English starting in elementary school. It is one of the most popular second languages in the country. There are mainly two types of institutions where you can find ESL jobs in Indonesia.

Private Schools

ESL teachers will have a better chance of finding English teaching jobs in private schools than in public schools. The Ministry of Education in Indonesia made changes in the curriculum so that public school students focus more on learning the official language, Bahasa Indonesia. However, private schools and international schools continue with their emphasis on English education and, therefore, are seeking native ESL instructors. A few examples of this type of institution include Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), ACG School Jakarta, and AIS Indonesia.

Language Schools

English teaching jobs at language schools or after-school programs are perfect for teachers who want to build their experience teaching a wide age range of students. ESL teachers will interact with students ranging from primary school to university students. Also, classes at these types of institutions mostly happen in the afternoon. Depending on how you want to spend your time, language schools can be the right choice for teaching English in Indonesia.

Salary for ESL Jobs in Indonesia

It’s common for English teachers in Indonesia to make around 600-1,100 USD per month. If you get an ESL job in a private international school, the salary will be higher. However, other the salary at other institutions is quite modest and is somewhere around the average range. Although the monthly salary isn’t a lot, ESL teachers will be able to cover the basic costs of living, including housing.

teaching english in indonesia

Teaching English in Indonesia

Things to Consider When Teaching in Indonesia

The cost of living in Indonesia is significantly lower than how it is in North America. Generally speaking, the cost of living in Indonesia is more than 50 per cent lower than in Canada. The rent solely is over 70 per cent lower in Indonesia than in Canada. Although the specific numbers will vary depending on one’s lifestyle, ESL teachers will be able to live comfortably with the average salary in Indonesia. However, it could be challenging to save money. If you are looking for ways to supplement your income while teaching English in Indonesia, consider teaching English online as your part-time job.

FAQ About Teaching English in Indonesia

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding English teaching jobs in Indonesia. Check out the answers!

Are English teachers in demand in Indonesia?

Yes, there is a large demand for English teachers in Indonesia. ESL teachers looking for a teach broad job will find a lot of opportunities at private schools and language schools.

Can I teach English in Indonesia without a degree?

Unfortunately, teachers without a university or a college degree will have limited teaching opportunities in Indonesia. Furthermore, teachers will need to have a TEFL certificate in order to get an English teaching job in Indonesia.

How much do you get paid to teach English in Bali?

On average, English teachers in Bali make around 600-1050 USD per month.

Is Indonesia a good place to teach English?

If the most important factor you consider is money when teaching abroad, Indonesia isn’t the best place. There are many other countries that are known to pay higher salaries. However, Indonesia is a great place to expose yourself to other cultures while teaching English. Also, you will be able to easily travel to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, which is awesome if you love to travel.

Teach English in Indonesia: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on teaching English in Indonesia? Is it the right place for you, or are you considering teaching ESL in another part of Asia like South Korea, Japan, or China? Let us know what you think in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at:
YouTube
Facebook
Pinterest
TikTok
LinkedIn
Instagram

« Teaching English in Europe: Qualifications, Jobs, and More
First Future: Guide to Teaching English Online, Salary & More »
Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners
Great Debates for ESL/EFL: 39 Important Debating Topics for English Learners
Check Price on Amazon
103 Fun ESL Games & Activities for the Classroom : Interactive, Minimal Prep TEFL Ideas for All Ages
103 Fun ESL Games & Activities for the Classroom : Interactive, Minimal Prep TEFL Ideas for All Ages
Check Price on Amazon
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
67 ESL Conversation Topics with Questions, Vocabulary, Writing Prompts & More: For English Teachers...
Check Price on Amazon
Sale 1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
1001 English Expressions and Phrases: Common Sentences and Dialogues Used by Native English Speakers...
Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What does this mean? I recommend products (only ones that I like) and if you purchase a product through that link, I earn some money.

Sale 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
Check Price on Amazon

Search this Site

Sale 39 Task-Based Language Teaching and Learning Activities: A Very Practical Guide to Using TBL in the...
39 Task-Based Language Teaching and Learning Activities: A Very Practical Guide to Using TBL in the...
Check Price on Amazon
esl-food-and-drinks-games

ESL Food Games and Activities | Fun Food and Drink Games for ESL

all about me worksheets

All About Me ESL Worksheets, Lesson Plans, Activities & More

christmas classroom activities

ESL Christmas Activities + Games, Worksheets, Vocabulary, Lesson Plans

fill in the blank activities

Fill in the Blank Games and Activities for ESL | Fill-in-the-blanks

esl-collocation-

Teaching Collocations: ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans & Worksheets

Sale 101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults
Check Price on Amazon
  • About + Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Top Selling ESL Activity Book

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL Conversation and...
Check Price on Amazon

Search

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

More ESL Activities and Games

sequence word list

Sequence Words List: More than 50 Examples in English

esl-pronunciation-games

ESL Pronunciation Activities, Games, Worksheets & Lesson Plans

esl-white-board-activities

Whiteboard Games and Activities for ESL Classes

esl-kindergarten-games-activities

ESL Activities for Kindergarten: Fun ESL Kindergarten Activities

About, Contact, Privacy Policy

Best-selling author and English teacher Jackie Bolen has been talking ESL activities and games since 2015. The goal is to bring you the best ideas, lesson plans, and activity recommendations for your TEFL classes.

Get in touch: About + Contact

Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Email: [email protected]

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

LinkedIn

Address: 2436 Kelly Ave, Port Coquitlam, Canada

Copyright © 2023 Jackie Bolen + ESL Activities. All rights reserved.