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Though the coronavirus pandemic has been a global event, its impact has been uneven, varying across borders and within communities.
Industries everywhere, particularly those that rely on travel, have suffered, but even those consequences have been dissimilar. While borders closed and the international tourism industry came to a halt, travelers headed for mountain towns and beaches closer to home, providing a boon to local destinations as people became tourists in their own backyards.
The teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) field has traditionally relied on the ability of teachers to travel outside of their countries to work, therefore this industry has been greatly affected. Some classroom teachers had to adapt to teaching online while others remained in the classroom and adopted strict safety protocols.
Some teachers postponed or entirely canceled jobs requiring travel. Many foreign teachers also saw their situations change dramatically when they left their current postings to return to their home countries.
With so many different outcomes, it’s not an easy task to predict when the English Language Teaching (ELT) industry may revive. One way to gauge the health of the recovery is to take the pulse of the teacher recruitment business.
For the good of their teachers and their partner schools, English teacher recruitment companies have had to stay abreast of the constantly changing regulations brought about by the pandemic. Their insights provide a window into the outlook for 2022.
How has the pandemic impacted the ELT industry?
Compared to last year, four times as many teachers have applied for positions for the 2021-2022 school year.
The English language learning (ELL) market is expected to skyrocket over the next five years, growing to a value of nearly $55 billion by the year 2027. This is despite the impact COVID-19 has had on the global ELT industry.
As language schools closed, streaming classes and online learning apps rose in popularity, leading to an overall expansion of the ELL market. So, the pandemic has spurred some of this growth.
However, while one sector of the industry was thriving, another was in dire straits, as this report on the ELT industry in the U.K. shows. In 2020, there was an astounding 79% drop in English language learners compared to the previous year— a void that led to job loss and layoffs for 91% of the U.K.’s ELT employees. The loss in revenue since March 2020 has been reported to be at least £590 million.
Popular teaching destinations have been impacted in various ways and ELT recruiters have weathered this unprecedented crisis to the best of their ability, some faring better than others.
They are now turning their sights toward the future.
In Hungary, public schools remained open except for a month or so in early 2020. For the Central European Teaching Program (CETP), a teacher recruitment organization, this stability led to the ripple effect of increased teacher retention in 2021. Foreign English language teachers, who are so often on the move, may have found it easier to simply stay in one place during a time of so much uncertainty.
“We usually have about a 60% retention rate, year-to-year,” said Mary Rose, CETP’s Director. “Now, we have a higher retention rate and fewer new teachers coming.”
For RVF International, an organization in Spain that connects English teachers to public school positions around the country, things are looking good.
Compared to last year, four times as many teachers have applied for positions for the 2021-2022 school year. Founder and CEO Harrison Fowler speculates that this growth is likely because schools in Spain never closed, despite the country implementing one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe in early 2020.
“All of our people in Spain last year up until right now have just been doing in-person teaching,” Fowler said. “So that never changed at all.”
This lack of disruption, plus the fact that travelers from many countries can now enter Spain, may have created an air of confidence about teaching in Spain. Even if outbreaks occur in the future, teachers can rely on the consistency of remaining in the classroom.
Fowler speculates that people who might have been headed to Asia or elsewhere may have adjusted their plans and decided to teach in Spain.
Minga House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that places teachers in all subjects at every grade level throughout Colombia is also an organization that’s struggling to fill an enormous void of teachers that the pandemic has created.
“If 400 teachers came today, I could place them all,” said Glen Galindo, Founder and Executive Director of Minga House Foundation. “Today, I have 68 immediate open positions and there aren’t enough teachers inside Colombia to fill them, so literally as they land, they’ll have positions to choose from.”
Once the pandemic hit, foreign teachers began to trickle out of the country on humanitarian flights.
“Everything froze,” Galindo said of his company’s operations.
Some recruiters fared better in part because of the range of countries they work with.
“Everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, but one of the pros we have going for us is that we have several programs, so we’ve been able to continue placing teachers since the start of the pandemic,” said Carrie Kellenberger, owner and co-president of Reach To Teach Recruiting, an agency that places teachers in Asian countries.
Where are English language teachers currently in demand?
“We get calls every day from schools asking for help to find native English speakers, and so anyone that’s inside Colombia, we can get them a job,” Galindo said. “Anyone who takes a flight, we can get them a job. It’s that much of an in-demand situation.”
“Colombian schools were not ready to go online,” said Galindo, as he explained the chain of events that has led to such high demand for teachers currently.
Online curriculums had to be sorted out, and there needed to be access to technology and digital devices. Even then, a thunderstorm might come along and knock out the power.
As schools reinvented themselves, recruitment of foreign teachers became less of a priority, so the teachers stopped coming altogether.
Eighteen months later, the placement of foreign teachers in schools around Colombia has resumed, but Galindo said he has never seen this level of teacher shortage before.
“We get calls every day from schools asking for help to find native English speakers, and so anyone that’s inside Colombia, we can get them a job,” Galindo said. “Anyone who takes a flight, we can get them a job. It’s that much of an in-demand situation.”
South Korea is a longtime popular destination for teachers due partly to the abundance of jobs and the appealing benefits that come with them, such as a bonus upon contract completion or renewal.
Reach To Teach Recruiting, which is in partnership with the Ministry of Education-affiliated English Program in Korea (EPIK), had to wait for the country to reopen in 2020 but is now actively placing teachers.
“We’ve got hundreds of positions available in South Korea right now,” said Kellenberger.
Another country that continues to have a high demand for teachers is Oman, and with its rich history and stunning landscape, it remains a popular destination. Oman is reporting a relatively low daily COVID-19 infection rate of 19 as of October 13, 2021. Travelers entering the country must show proof of vaccination as well as a pre-travel negative PCR test.
The spread of coronavirus variants, high rates of infection and shifting regulations may prohibit teachers from traveling to certain destinations, even those with a large job market.
Morocco, for example, may be problematic at the moment. While entry is permitted from certain countries, they are under a federal “Health State of Emergency” until the end of October, and a nationwide curfew is in effect.
And though the number of reported COVID-19 cases is decreasing, the average of new infections is more than 526 per day. The country’s vaccination rate currently stands at about 59%.
In comparison, Taiwan’s vaccination rate is around 40%, and the country is seeing an average of only seven new cases per day. Averages for Oman, Morocco and Taiwan were reported on October 13, 2021.
TEFL hot spots in Southeast Asia are suffering as well, something Reach To Teach has seen the effects of.
“Vietnam has had a lot of ups and downs over the past two years,” said Kellenberger. “We haven’t been able to send many teachers there due to numerous outbreaks.”
More recently, Vietnam is under a strict lockdown after a dramatic rise in cases and, as of mid-October, is battling a wave of 3,986 average daily infections, with just 28.6% of the population vaccinated.
TravelBud, an organization that places teachers in Vietnam, is accepting applications for February 2022 but states in a Sept. 13 update on their website that Vietnam is not open to foreign teachers currently. Like everywhere else, the shutdowns have led to serious economic consequences, leading to decreases in student enrollment.
Thailand has fared slightly better in its placement of teachers but their economic impact is also apparent.
“There are very few teachers looking to travel at this time for the next term, Nov. 21, but schools are not hiring either,” said a representative via email from Echo English, a recruitment company in Thailand.
The company is, however, expecting teacher placement to return to near-normal levels in 2022.
As of October 2021, nearly 10,475 daily cases are currently being reported in Thailand and their vaccination rate is at approximately 42.8% of the population.
Is it currently possible to teach in China?
Hunter also explained that banning test-prep schools doesn’t impact the hiring of foreign teachers, since they are typically staffed by Chinese teachers.
Reach to Teach Recruiting felt it was safer to halt their program in China early in 2020.
“In hindsight, we’re glad we did that, because it looks like the ESL industry in China is in trouble, especially with recent news of online teaching companies being shut down,” said Kellenberger.
She is referring to a July announcement that the government has banned foreign tutors based outside of China from teaching via online platforms such as VIPKid.
Banning a large portion of online instruction is not the only shift in China’s English language industry. Among other restrictions, the government now allows only materials produced and published in China to be used in K-12 education. In addition, foreign holidays such as Christmas may no longer be taught.
These rules may steer ESL teachers toward countries with more academic freedom; however, that’s currently beside the point due to the ongoing closure of the Chinese border, which is expected to last well into 2022.
Ryan Hunter, an independent recruiter who helps ESL teachers find jobs in China, confirms that as long as the border remains closed, most foreign teachers will not be allowed in.
However, he does not believe the education restrictions will deter applicants in the long run.
“There are still many teachers hoping to come to teach English in China,” Hunter said. “I know at least 50 teachers now that are willing to go to any type of school, including public schools, kindergartens and training centers, as long as it can offer a PU letter.”
The obstacle is that those “PU letters,” which are official invitations issued by the Chinese government, are, for the most part, on hold.
Another major crackdown on education occurred in July when private tutoring companies, which typically drilled test-preparation tactics to students who attended lessons after their regular school day, were banned from operating altogether.
“The government … doesn’t want to put so much pressure on students,” Hunter said. “They don’t want them to go to school on weekends.”
Less work for students also alleviates pressure on parents who won’t have to spend so much time helping with homework, something that may result in other desired outcomes.
“Our government wants more parents to have their third child,” said Hunter, who is referring to a regulation in May permitting couples to have up to three children, which counters a long-held law that allowed only one child per couple.
Hunter also explained that banning test-prep schools doesn’t impact the hiring of foreign teachers, since they are typically staffed by Chinese teachers.
Do English language teachers want to travel in 2022?
“Since Korea and Taiwan are seen as relatively safe countries, we’ve actually seen a jump in the number of applicants that are applying,” Kellenberger said. “We have been able to place several hundred teachers in both countries over the last two years.”
It appears that English language teachers do want to travel in the coming year. Many are already well into contracts that will take them into next year. The Central European Teaching Program in Hungary has more than 100 teachers who are about to embark on the new school year.
RVF International is expecting close to 300 teachers to arrive in Spain in September. In addition, they’re accepting applications on a daily basis and estimate accepting at least 100 more for the 2022-2023 program year, something that Fowler is looking forward to.
“We’re going to continue doing what we’ve done since 2020 and 2019 and before,” Fowler said.
The pool of applicants for teaching in South Korea is also on an upward trajectory.
“If we’re talking about the year 2022, the number of teachers has never been stronger,” said Alistair Wery, a recruitment consultant with Korean Horizons, a prominent agency that also partners with EPIK.
Reach To Teach Recruiting has seen a similar upward pattern in South Korea, as well as in Taiwan.
“Since Korea and Taiwan are seen as relatively safe countries, we’ve actually seen a jump in the number of applicants that are applying,” Kellenberger said. “We have been able to place several hundred teachers in both countries over the last two years.”
However, in order to get a May 2021 outbreak under control, Taiwan closed its borders and some teachers who were supposed to arrive over the summer have not, as of yet, been able to enter the country.
“Taiwan is an extremely safe teaching destination, but the government is concerned about the Delta variant running rampant in other countries around the world, and thus has decided to keep borders closed until we reach our vaccination percentage,” Kellenberger said. “We’re closing in on that percentage quickly.”
Research has also shown that teachers want to return to traveling. In a November 2020 BridgeUniverse article about moving abroad during the pandemic, of the 33% of teachers whose plans were disrupted, more than half expressed a desire to resume their plan to teach abroad within the next year.
What role do recruiters play in whether ELTs will teach abroad?
Prior to arrival, they help teachers find quarantine hotels and spend time with them on video calls answering questions. They’ve also written guides and informational pamphlets to keep teachers up to date on the latest COVID-19 related requirements.
English teacher recruitment companies generally highlight the level of support they provide to their teachers. That is a major role they play and a reason why people utilize their services instead of trying to find jobs on their own.
Perhaps recruiters are more important now than ever, as they help teachers navigate testing and vaccination requirements and quarantine protocols, in addition to the mountains of paperwork that have always existed for those who want to teach abroad.
The level of support that recruiters provide comes in many forms.
Rose described how CETP teachers who are arriving in Budapest must come with proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test. Upon arrival, they must be tested again and quarantine until a negative result comes in.
Teachers are met at the airport by Rose and Hajnalka Vancsik, CETP’s Hungarian Director, as well as their new employers.
“People from their school will take them to their apartment and make sure they have what they need while they’re quarantining,” said Rose.
CETP also takes the extra step of alerting embassies in countries where teachers have layovers.
“We’ve had problems with people getting through Amsterdam and Zurich,” said Rose.
To circumvent this, teachers’ names are sent to the layover country embassies, who can in turn be contacted if there are any problems getting onto flights to Budapest.
Teachers arriving in South Korea must undergo a 14-day quarantine period. Korean Horizons is on hand to inform them of all the necessary logistics, including where they’ll be staying, what their meals will be like and what expenses they can expect to incur.
“But also just being realistic with them that they’re going to be bored and they have to bring something to entertain themselves because they cannot leave their rooms,” said Wery.
Wery added that the safety of the Korean community is and always has been a top priority during the pandemic.
For RVF International, providing consistent and accurate information has been essential. Since the earliest days of the pandemic, Fowler has always strived to keep teachers updated on evolving restrictions and curfews. This has been no easy task since, as in the United States where regulations are often left up to local governments, the various autonomous communities throughout Spain have imposed different regulations.
Most teachers who apply to RVF International are U.S. citizens who, at the moment, do not need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test. But that could change at any time.
It will likely vary from region to region, and Fowler’s main goal is to stay up to date with ongoing and accurate information for current and potential teachers.
Consistent communication is also vital for Reach To Teach Recruiting. Prior to arrival, they help teachers find quarantine hotels and spend time on video calls with them answering questions. They’ve also written guides and informational pamphlets to keep teachers up to date on the latest COVID-19 related requirements.
As for Minga House Foundation, they suspended placement in other countries they had previously worked with.
“It’s not just about placing — it’s about supporting our teachers — and it’s a lot easier to support them in Colombia because we’re here,” said Galindo.
He mentioned how his diverse background has put him in a unique position to support his staff and teachers throughout the pandemic.
He has taught K-12 in the U.S., worked in higher education for 20 years and is a former Marine Corps officer.
“I’m very comfortable managing logistics and risk management,” Galindo said. “I’ve done a lot of things that afford our teachers great support in terms of pre-arrival strategizing. I just have a lot in my tool belt, in my treasure chest, to facilitate success for our teachers and volunteers to come to Colombia.”
What can teachers expect when living abroad in 2022?
The only constant throughout this health crisis has been the uncertainty it has created. Luckily, English language teachers tend to possess an innate sense of adventure. Bringing that along with them will go a long way.
As with many outcomes of this pandemic, living and working circumstances will vary. Vaccine requirements and mask mandates may change. Entering and leaving a country may get easier or more difficult. Flexibility is key.
In South Korea, the health of the community as a whole, especially the children, is a top priority, said Wery, and teachers must be considerate of that fact. That means wearing masks and adhering to social-distancing guidelines. However, due to mandatory quarantine periods, day-to-day life is much the same as it’s always been.
The fact that this ordinary, day-to-day life has not resumed in many countries around the world may be a driving factor for the rise in applicants both in South Korea and Taiwan.
“That stability is a huge draw for teachers who want to teach abroad,” Kellenberger said.
Perhaps the best sources of information about the experience of daily life during a pandemic are the teachers themselves and those who have gone through Reach To Teach Recruiting.
“The feedback we’ve received from our teachers who came to Taiwan or South Korea in 2020 and 2021 is that they’re happy and pleased to be here,” said Kellenberger. “They are enjoying life in Asia. There’s plenty to see and do in both countries.”
Emphasizing that he doesn’t want to downplay the severity of the pandemic, Fowler said that teachers in Spain should expect business as usual in the classroom but their experience outside of work may be a different story.
“Many shops in Madrid are empty, and a lot of really cool and unique mom-and-pop tapas bars, restaurants, and really amazing businesses are now closed,” Fowler said.
People wishing to travel across Europe will also have to contend with restrictions and safety protocols making patience and flexibility vital.
“As long as people are willing to adapt to the travel circumstances, they’ll be fine,” said Fowler. “With that being said, things are definitely opening up.”
For teachers who wish to live in Colombia, now is the time. Professionals at any stage of their career have options, whether they are new to teaching or seasoned veterans. Positions are certainly available throughout public schools to teach English, but there are positions available to teach dozens of other subjects as well.
“It’s a welcoming country that has a demand, need and appreciation for becoming bilingual,” said Galindo.
The country is also an appealing choice because the cost of living is low, the weather is pleasant and diverse and jobs can be found in a range of places, such as the mountains, the desert, big cities, coastal towns and coffee regions.
Barring something completely unforeseen, it does appear that English language teachers will be on the move in 2022. They may end up somewhere they had never planned on going, but that can happen in completely normal times, too.
The only constant throughout this health crisis has been the uncertainty it has created. Luckily, English language teachers tend to possess an innate sense of adventure. Bringing that along with them will go a long way.
