Myanmar (Burma) is a fascinating place to be at the moment as the nation slowly opens up to the world. Because of this, there are a large number of opportunities (both voluntary and paid) for English teachers, but many are not advertised online. Myanmar has beautiful scenery and a fascinating culture. It is safe to live there as a foreigner as long as you do not openly discuss the politics of the country but bear in mind that power cuts are common and can be quite frustrating when planning class activities reliant on electricity. Flexibility and patience are important qualities that will be required.
Typical salaries start at about $1,000 USD per month and rise to over $2,000 USD per month for good international schools. The majority of jobs are in the two major cities, Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay. Schools will expect the standard qualification for Asia which are typically a degree, TEFL certification and 1-2 years of experience as a teacher.
You might want to consider doing some volunteer work in your spare time as it can be of huge benefit to local people. Be careful about discussing local politics openly. Make sure that your employer has agreed to pay the costs associated with the business visa before signing a contract. The situation is such that most employees arrive in Myanmar on a tourist visa. This is then converted into a business visa. Having a business visa entails flying out to Thailand to renew it every 7 weeks (at the expense of your employer). Whether this is a good or not is a matter for you to decide.
Local food and transportation costs are low but accommodation is rather expensive. It is standard to pay for up to twelve months in advance so arrange accommodation as part of your employment contract if at all possible. Employers are generally responsible for paying taxes and salaries are usually paid on a monthly basis.
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