Although English is one of the official languages of
Indonesia, the Indonesian people speak very little English. The upper class or
middle class section of the society are privy to learning the language as
learning English properly is very expensive. Although the government has made
English a part of their curriculum, the poorer section hardly know any English.
A few words are all that the tourists can expect from them.
Recently the demand for English teachers has greatly increased in Indonesia due
to the incentive taken by the government. The schools from all over the country
are opening up additional posts for English teachers as they want to give their
students the very best education. There are also a number of language schools in
Indonesia focusing solely on teaching English to the students. A large number of
TEFL teachers are hired in such institutions. Some even offer up to three year
contracts with return flights paid.
The schools in Indonesia are very much hung up on certificates and prefer
teachers who are equipped with a TEFL certificate. It is highly unlike to get a
job in Indonesia with a professional degree as the institutes put much faith in
excellence and experience. There are also a number of small schools which take
in teachers without a certificate. However it is always easy to get a job when
you have a certificate to show. The packages offered by the schools are very
attractive and are always up a notch when it comes to TEFL teachers. Although
jobs can be found all over the country also there is a concentration of work
around the Java Island, especially in Jakarta and Bogor.