Teaching English in Cambodia
- In-Class TESOL — intensive, classroom-based training
- Teaching Jobs Abroad Program (TJAP) — supported entry into paid roles
- Hybrid TESOL — flexible training + in-class practicum
Overview
AVSE-TESOL has been on the ground in Cambodia for more than a decade, delivering Australian Government–regulated TESOL training, structured job placement programs and ongoing in-country support for foreign ESL teachers. Our role is to remove uncertainty and provide clear, supported pathways into teaching English in Cambodia — with an option to transition into teaching in Vietnam if that’s the best fit.
Whether you are new to the ESL teaching profession, already hold recognised TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification but lack real classroom experience, or are a seasoned educator seeking a well-supported transition, AVSE offers practical, clearly defined programs aligned to different goals and timeframes.
Trusted by Teachers Who Trained in Phnom Penh
The materials are very thorough, covering all kinds of topics…… It covers everything from what motivates adults to learn, to how children thrive, to cultural clashes…..”
This experience has been an important first step into a new chapter for me.”
From the very beginning, the team at AVSE in Ho Chi Minh City was incredibly supportive! I’m truly grateful for their unwavering support and for helping me begin this exciting journey.”
Why Cambodia
Teaching English in Cambodia offers:
Salary & Cost of Living – Cambodia
Foreign Teacher Salaries in Cambodia
Full-time teaching schedules involve around 25 classroom hours per week (+/-), Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend work is uncommon in Cambodian schools. As with most teaching roles worldwide, lesson planning and preparation mostly take place outside classroom hours.
Most employers quote a net monthly salary and handle tax reporting and payments on the teacher’s behalf, meaning foreign teachers are not required to manage the Cambodian tax process themselves.
Cost of Living in Cambodia
By way of example, a Western-style main meal can be found for under USD $5, with street food costing even less, and you’ll pay under USD $1 for a local beer once you know your way around town. A comfortable studio apartment in central Phnom Penh rents for around USD $250 per month, though utility charges can vary depending on the landlord.
Local transport is inexpensive and widely available. Tuk-tuks are the most common way to get around Phnom Penh, with short trips costing around USD $1 per kilometre, depending on distance and negotiation. For travel beyond the capital, Cambodia has a growing bus network and limited train services to selected regional destinations.
Visas & Working Legally in Cambodia
For this reason, most teachers entering Cambodia with the intention of working do so on an Ordinary (E-class) Visa, which can be extended in-country for up to 12-months with sponsorship from a school. This visa category provides a far smoother pathway into legal employment and reduces the likelihood of unnecessary border runs during the transition period.
Core requirements for legal employment typically include recognised TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certification and a clean background check. Unlike many neighbouring ESL markets, it is not mandatory for foreign English teachers to hold a university degree to work legally teaching English in Cambodia, although having a degree is certainly well regarded by employers and authorities.
AVSE provides clear, practical guidance on visa options, documentation preparation and timing, helping teachers navigate Cambodian requirements confidently and work legally from the outset.
Our Pathways for Teaching English in Cambodia
In-class TESOL Course (Phnom Penh)
AVSE’s In-class, Australian Government–regulated TESOL program in Phnom Penh is an intensive, face-to-face course delivered over 3.5 weeks, balancing essential teaching theory with the practical skills required in real ESL classrooms.
The course is delivered in a working school environment from day one (Westline Education Group), giving participants early exposure to classroom teaching and Cambodian school culture. Small group sizes allow for personalised guidance, one-on-one trainer support and ongoing feedback.
The core focus of the program is job readiness. Participants develop lesson planning skills, classroom management techniques and the confidence to teach the core language skills — speaking, listening, reading and writing — preparing graduates to move directly into paid ESL teaching roles.
Hybrid TESOL – In-country Practicum (Phnom Penh)
The theory component is completed online in self-paced study mode with trainer support, followed by an intensive, in-country teaching practicum in Phnom Penh focused on classroom experience in a Cambodian school environment.
After the practicum, the focus shifts to job readiness, with AVSE staff on the ground providing structured support to help participants move confidently into paid ESL teaching roles in Cambodia.
Teaching Jobs Abroad Program (TJAP) – Phnom Penh
Delivered over nine days in central Phnom Penh, TJAP focuses on the practical realities of teaching English in a Cambodian context. The program centres on a supported practicum that includes observation classes, lesson-planning workshops and supervised teaching practice with real students in real schools, alongside structured cultural orientation and local familiarisation.
As the program concludes, attention turns to securing a paid ESL teaching role. Participants receive hands-on job support from AVSE’s experienced Phnom Penh–based team, supporting a smooth transition into employment through guided introductions and local market insight.
