Age Limits in TEFL Teaching
As with any job, the older you get the more difficult it becomes to start a new career. The ELT market is no different in this respect. However thanks to the nature of teaching - where a degree of maturity, a certain level of responsibility, along with charisma and patience play a relevant part, applicants past their prime will find opportunities to start a new career.
This is not to say that age is not a concern, and ageism is certainly an issue in some countries.
So how much does age count when it comes to finding an English teaching position abroad? And is ageism rife in TEFL?
There are two main aspects to this issue. One is to do with visa regulations. This is perhaps the easiest to tackle. Just check the visa regulations of the country where you intend to move to and see if you tick all their boxes. (See below for a list of countries and their regulations on age limits.)
The other aspect has to do with the attitude of a country towards its more mature citizens. This is not often blatantly obvious so it might require a little more time to research.
Some Facts
It is a fact that most schools prefer younger teachers in their twenties. This is perhaps because they can pay them less and manipulate them more easily. However, there are certainly many schools which prefer older teachers who can often bring authority to the classroom as well as greater experience and style to the lessons. Although most jobs won't specify an age limit, it is as well to let the school know when you apply how old you are to avoid them turning round and canceling everything once you send a photo over for your visa.
Many teachers who start out in TEFL later in life come up against ageism in their 50s and 60s. A lot depends on the country. For example in France it is not uncommon to find schools where well over two thirds of the teaching staff is over 50s. In Indonesia instead you’d be pressed to find a school where there is one teacher over 30.
Male over 40s will find the Middle East welcomes mature teachers. Although 55 is often the limit for new TEFLers in some parts. In Morocco, however, foreign nationals over the age of 60 cannot be employed.
China is also a country that seems to have no major age restraints when it comes to hiring English teachers.
In Thailand the vast majority of the TEFL teachers are over 40. Many are 50+, and there are some sprightly 70-year-olds doing a great job.
In Korea age discrimination is quite prevalent so you should check out a few of the regional offices there if this country is of interest to you. The three main agencies are GEPIK, SMOE, and EPIK.
Croatia is starving for TEFL qualified native speakers and age is not an issue. It's worth a look if you are interested in teaching in Europe.
Missionary and volunteer work around the world offer opportunities to teachers of all ages and is often the choice of many older Americans who find it the perfect way to get started in a foreign country knowing that by offering their teaching skills they can always count on the Mission or Volunteer Organisations to help out and support them in their new environment.
Age Limits by Country
This is the information we have on the current situations in these locations. If you can add to this, please feel free to do so!
Africa - in most African countries state teachers retire at 55 and there is little work available after this. There can be ways around the limit if you know the right people!
China - regulations say that foreign teachers should retire in their early sixties while local teachers retire much earlier. Z Visas are not issued to anyone over 60 - 65 however there are older teachers working in China on an F Visa although strictly speaking it is illegal to teach on this.
New Zealand - difficult for the over 60s.
Russia - many older teachers.
Saudi Arabia - official limit is 65 but special dispensation can be sought for older teachers.
South Korea - the official age limit is 60 in state schools but private schools can employ teachers to any age.
USA - the situation varies and although strictly speaking it is not legal, older teachers have been forced out in some areas.
Uzbekistan - older teachers are preferred.
Vietnam - difficult over 60.
To Sum Up
It is true some employers do discriminate on the basis of age. However, that is not true for all TEFL employers.
It's worth inquiring directly about schools in your chosen destination. There may be some schools which, because of a shortage of TEFL teachers, will forgo their "recommended age" requirement.
Try and apply in person if at all possible. If you are physically in your country of choice and you personally visit an EFL school, your chances of getting hired increase significantly, as opposed to applying via mail or email.
Remember, although you may, unfortunately, have to endure some ageism in certain job applications that you may make, there are plenty of countries and schools which will welcome a qualified, motivated teacher regardless of age.
Finally, in the words of C.S. Lewis, British Scholar and Novelist (1898-1963): "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
