Teach English in India

Teach English in India

Why teach English in India...


The clamour of the cities is balanced by the beauty of the countryside and India's spiritual heart; and the overload of smells, sights and tastes will have you reeling in shock but thirsty for more. It can be difficult to find paid jobs teaching English in India though, as a lot of schools can't afford to pay teachers: but it is possible; and these are popular amongst TEFL teachers as the job is so rewarding, with students respectful and eager to learn.

It's great for TEFL teachers because...

The close ties between India and the United Kingdom (India was once part of the British Commonwealth) means that English is already widely spoken in India, and is the second language there. This means that demand is lower than in any other Asian country. If you're in possession of a Professional TEFL qualification, you can still find opportunities, mainly in the larger cities of New Delhi and Bangalore, where schools have more money and can pay a teacher's salary.

All you need to teach in India is...

You don't need a degree to teach English in India, but you will need a minimum of our Professional TEFL Certificate (120 Hours), although the i-to-i Professional TEFL Certificate (140 Hours) is preferred if you have no experience of teaching.

Average Monthly Teaching Salary

36,500 INR / £370 / $600

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Basic Info

  • Language: Hindi
  • Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
  • Population: 1.25 billion
  • Capital City: New Delhi

Cost of Living

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You're never going to live a lavish lifestyle off what you'll be paid teaching English in India, but you can comfortably live. Accommodation in India ranges from the very basic to the very luxurious. This reflects the demographic of India's population, where 80% of the wealth is held by 1.3% of the population. A standard two bedroomed apartment in New Delhi will cost you £110/$180 and accommodation generally is affordable on a teacher's salary.

The cost of food is cheap in India too; and although there's a huge emphasis placed on fresh food in India, you can pick up plenty of ingredients at very low prices to make your own traditional Indian dishes! Staples are cheap too - you can pick up a pack of gram flour (used to make many Indian snacks) for only 30p/$0.45. Eating meals together as friends and family is very important in India, which means eating out is cheap as it's such a popular pastime - for just £1/$1.60, you can order a nice meal in an authentic Indian restaurant.

One popular (and affordable) pastime in India is yoga! Lessons with a private teacher start from only £1/$2 and you'll be getting fit for the money you're spending too.

Food and Drink

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In contrast, Gujarati food is extremely healthy, with mainly vegetables used in dishes - be sure to try the popular snack of Khandvi: a mixture of flour and chickpeas rolled up, it can be served either sweet (with coconut) or savoury (with mustard). It doesn't take long to make it yourself, but as it can be bought at nearly every corner shop in Gujarati, people just tend to buy them instead!

The laws on alcohol are fairly relaxed in India: only the remote island of Lakshadweep has banned the buying and consumption of alcohol. In other areas where alcohol is prohibited, foreigners can still purchase it, providing they have a license (all they need is a proof of address). A popular alcoholic beverage amongst the Indians is Feni - originated in Goa, this liqueur is made from cashew apples, and can be drunk straight or mixed to create a cocktail. Perhaps just as popular for its taste is its price - you can pick up a litre bottle for just 70p/$1.15 in Indian supermarkets!


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As you'd expect, Indian summers are hot and humid in the North, with it regularly reaching 40 degrees Celsius. In the autumn, the monsoons come, so prepare to get soaked if you move to India to teach English! The weather in the South of the country is more consistent, with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius all year round, although it's much rainier in winter, so make sure you pack an umbrella!


Accommodation Icon

Employers won't provide their employees with accommodation, so you'll have to find it yourself. Standards vary dramatically throughout the country: housing in major cities will be what you're used to at home - potentially even grander, as you get a lot more for your money in India, and if you share with another English teacher, you'll have two salaries between you to spend. However, in the underpopulated regions such as Madhya Pradesh, don't expect more than a tiny room, and you'll be lucky if you have running water!

Where could I teach English in India?

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Bangalore - otherwise known as the 'Silicon Valley' of India because of the large number of IT companies situated there, has a lot of opportunities for teaching business English to professionals. Bangalore is growing in popularity amongst the Indians and is seen as the place to be, and you'll find that there's plenty of things to do there - top of the list being Bangalore Palace; a replica of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, with the huge 454 acre grounds hosting a range of public and private parties... who knows, you may even be invited with your new colleagues?!




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In the city

The major cities in India have both a metro and buses, but avoid the buses if possible as they're overcrowded and hot, and can be very frustrating if you're travelling into school on them! The locals much prefer catching the metros instead, which are much more modern and quicker. A one way ticket costs a mere 15p/$0.24, so getting to work will be extremely cheap no matter whereabouts in the city you're living in!

The taxis in India are amongst the safest in Asia, with the government recognising the need for passengers - and in particular women - to feel safe. A lot of companies now offer tracked taxis - such as Meru Cabs in Bangalore - where passengers can send either a family member or friend a text, and they can then track whereabouts they are in relation to their desired destination. As you can imagine, the fare is cheap too: a 15 minute journey in the capital of New Delhi only costs an average of £2.65/$4.30.

Further afield

Contract hours vary hugely for TEFL teachers - if you work for an international school, you'll be working an average of 20 hours a week actually teaching English, whereas in smaller private schools, you could be working as many as 40. International schools represent the best opportunities not just in the form of working hours, but also in holidays, with English teachers in India getting 10 weeks off a year, with summer holidays in April and May, which means there's a lot of 'further afield' exploring to be done!

The best way to travel round India is by plane, because as it's so huge, catching a train or driving takes too long. You can get cheap flights between the larger cities with India's low-cost carriers IndiGo and Spice Jet, with a return ticket from Delhi to Calcutta for £62/$100, taking 2 hours. You can also travel to nearby countries cheaply too, with a return to Kathmandu in Nepal for £125, also taking 2 hours - for prices like that, there's no excuse not to do some travelling during your holidays!

Insider Tips


Respect is very important in Indian classrooms: your students will refer to you as either 'sir' or 'madam', and you will be expected to dress conservatively, with trousers for men and knee-length skirts for women.

If you're moving to Bangalore and want to live in an expat community, search for accommodation in the area of Koramangala. There's always something going on there, with bars, restaurants and even shopping malls right on your doorstep!

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