Dream blue waters!

Many of the countries in the Caribbean have English as an official language and there is little or no need for TEFL teachers, especially as ELL tourism hasn’t really taken off here.

However, there are still options with some of the islands Spanish speaking and thus with openings for TEFL teachers.

In general, although there are some volunteer positions which may take you with less qualifications, you will usually need a degree and a good TEFL Certificate such as the ICAL TEFL Certificate.

Jobs are not often advertised online and many jobs are given to people who are already in the Caribbean. Thus, this is often the option taken by many teachers. Another alternative is to look through volunteer agencies but here, be careful as they are sometimes little more than expensive vacations.

Pay tends to be quite low and life can be expensive if you frequent touristic bars and shops. Schools tend to be fairly basic.

The following countries comprise the Caribbean, with the most important TEFL destinations linked.

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Cuba
• Dominica‏‎
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Martinique
• Montserrat
• Netherlands Antilles
• Puerto Rico‏‎
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Kitts & Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Martin
• Saint Vincent
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks & Caicos Islands
• US Virgin Islands

Useful links

Teaching English in Mexico – another nearby destination

Teaching English in South America – another nearby destination

Teaching English in Central America – another nearby destination

How to choose a good TEFL course – things you should look for in an TEFL course