Indonesia - TEFL in Indonesia
Its location gives it a tropical climate. The capital is Jakarta (pop 8.5 million) which is the cultural and administrative heart of the country whilst Bali is one of the major tourist areas.
Indonesia is a common destination for tourists and this means English is in demand, both with school children and older people in the tourism industry. Jakarta is also home to the country's thriving oil industry which means there are several multinationals there and business English is in demand.
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Schools
Demand for English teaching is high in Indonesia (it's the fourth most populous country in the world with great emphasis placed on English by the government). This means that schools are springing up all over the country and conditions and quality vary greatly.
There are a dozen or so large language school chains which hire TEFL teachers, paying them well (in comparison to local wages). Some will offer up to a 3 year contract with return flights paid. However, these schools are looking for professional, experienced and well qualified teachers and without a degree and a TEFL certificate like the ICAL TEFL Certificate it is unlikely to find work there.
However, there are a lot of smaller schools. These tend to be less well paid but are often a useful 'in' into the teaching system in Indonesia. Having said this, even these jobs are easier to come by with at least a basic TEFL Certificate.
The biggest chain is EF which is a franchise. This means there is a variation in standards from EF school to EF school with some being very well run and regarded and others being less so. They use their own materials which, in some cases, are less than perfect.
Teachers who have worked there report that it is possible to find employment and to get a work permit without holding a 4 year degree. We reccommend you check with your nearest Indonesian embassy or at least with your potential employer to avoid complications later on.
If you are in Indonesia and looking for work, the best time of year is September or October when the school year begins. The Yellow Pages will have a list of local schools to try and you can also take a look in the Indonesian Observer newspaper.
A lot of teaching is with young people (4 years and up) who are usually extremely polite and courteous but the biggest group is teenagers.
Pay & Lifestyle
As you might expect, the best paying jobs can be found in Jakarta. A reasonable job will pay about 1,000 USD (700 EUR, 600 GBP) per month. However, remember that the cost of living in Indonesia is considerably lower than in most Western countries. Accommodation is also quite cheap so you will find that teachers live relatively well in comparison to the locals, often able to eat out during the week and have a good time (the expat communities are strong in the major cities like Jakarta).
For example, a cheap and cheerful meal at a local restaurant can cost 1 - 2 USD.
If you are lucky you may find work teaching business English to one of the large multinational companies; this can pay up to 3 times the usual school salary.
Visas
Indoensia has a strict policy regarding work permits. Many teachers arrive and begin work on a tourist visa (costing a small amount on arrival), however this needs to be converted as soon as possible to a work permit. Good schools will help arrange your papers either before you arrive or soon after; often this will mean flying out to Singapore in order to leave the country and then flying back in to collect it.
Note that your visa is valid only if you remain with the school who organised it.
Note also that at this time teachers who are non-native speakers of English cannot officially teach in Indonesia.
External Links
English First - the largest chain of schools in Indonesia. Although they are one of the largest employers of English teachers in the country, their schools work on a franchise system and so standards vary. Some are good and some less so; do your research.
