English Language Teaching in Indonesia
English language teaching that promises something for everyone
If variety is the spice of life, than Indonesia has it all. Indonesia is alive with spirit and beauty – where else will you find such a blend of cultures and religions living with such zeal? From the buzz of Jakarta’s melting-pot of all indigenous cultures to the pristine rainforests of Sumatra, English language teaching in Indonesia truly has something for everyone.
Combine English language teaching and traveling
A series of 18,000 islands between the Asian and Australian continent, Indonesia is a country to be discovered. EF English First has over 65 English language teaching schools throughout Indonesia, making it the largest English language provider in the country. Teaching English with EF will enable you to live near the rice paddies of Surabaya by week, experience the beaches of Bali on the weekend, and explore the volcanoes of Mt. Bromo over the national holiday. An adventure awaits you in teaching English in Indonesia.
Teaching English to warm, friendly people
Making friends and getting to know people is a snap in Indonesia. Teaching English in Indonesia is a great way to meet fascinating new people who you never would have met if you played it safe and stayed at home. Here, you will be greeted with warmth and a smile. You will find people approachable and welcoming, and before you know it, you will be invited into people’s lives and homes. If what interests you about Indonesia is the spirit of the people, then you will not be disappointed; English language teaching in Indonesia is the job to choose
Despite continued teething problems as Indonesia moves to a democracy, it remains a popular destination for both experienced and newly qualified English language teachers. Why? Could be something to do with an excellent climate, tasty cuisine and warm, friendly locals who have a genuine curiosity about foreigners.
English language teachers living and working in Indonesia have an excellent lifestyle. All reputable employers will offer shared housing with 3-4 other teachers. The teachers live in middle class neighborhoods and tend to have a maid for cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. It takes a little bit of adjustment to having a live-in maid—one has to remember it’s a cultural norm, it provides vital income to Indonesia’s rural community and despite the costs of paying a wage, having a maid makes it cheaper to buy groceries.
Bartering is the norm in Indonesia—a commodity is generally worth whatever the retailer can get for it. Of course supermarkets will have a “harga pas” (fixed price), but it means they are more expensive. As an Indonesian (and usually indigenous to that particular island), your maid will have excellent bartering skills—and more importantly she’ll also have the time to shop around.
When making your own purchases, a sense of humor and a little bit of Javanese (if on Java), can go along way to driving that price down. Anecdotally, I discovered there seemed to be 3 price brackets on Java – 1 for Javanese, 1 for “bule” (white people) and 1 for Chinese Indonesians. In colonial days the Dutch brought Chinese people over to help with administration, consequently many 4th-5th generation Chinese Indonesians hold a lot of economic power which causes some resentment.
Pretty much everywhere, with a large concentration on Java – more than half of Indonesia’s 200 million people live on Java and it’s where all the decent Universities are. Getting a position on Bali is never easy and preference is usually given to people in country, especially those who have a proven track record teaching in Indonesia. I spent 7 years on Java with EF English First, which is the largest chain of language schools in Indonesia and therefore the largest employer. They operate on all the major islands but have the most vacancies on Java and Sumatra. Being so large they have the advantage of career development, such as rising to the position of Director of Studies and beyond.