Teaching English in Vancouver

Vancouver is for the nature lover, the athlete, and the day-tripper. Teaching English is a great way to live in this amazing city while doing meaningful work. There are a number of ESL schools and universities that offer language courses — you can teach English in Vancouver after teaching abroad for a few years, or start your career here. Vancouver is Canada's second-largest ESL market, and many OnTESOL graduates prefer it for its mild weather, beautiful ocean, and mighty mountains.

The TESOL community in Vancouver

Join thousands of teachers at the annual BC TEAL conference (formerly BCTESOL) to learn about teaching methods and new trends. BC TEAL also offers advocacy resources for parents of ESL children and a space for students to give feedback on their classes — a useful network for new and seasoned teachers alike. Beyond the conference, Vancouver's ESL community is tight-knit, with regular meetups and a strong private-school presence in the downtown core.

For the nature lover

Vancouver is surrounded by a gorgeous mountain range and a setting that's perfect for adventurers. Take the Grouse Grind — a track of wooden steps known for being strenuous but worth it (there's a gondola back down if your knees object). If you'd rather stay in the city, check out Stanley Park, North America's largest urban park, with the seawall, ancient cedars, and a perimeter loop locals walk year-round.

For the athlete

To experience some of the best mountain ranges in the world, take a trip to Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, about an hour and a half outside the city. The world-renowned resort offers far more than skiing and snowboarding — mountain-top spa, salt pools, and ziptrek eco-tours for the wilder at heart.

Day-tripping

Head over to Granville Island and experience life like the locals do. Check out the farmers' market for the best browsing in the city and some of the best people-watching you'll ever experience. There are also many artisan studios on the island — glassblowing, jewelry making, and small-batch craft workshops are all worth a slow afternoon.

Food

If you have a taste for great food, you're in the right place. Try the city's celebrated Chinese food in Chinatown — coconut-based drinks and soft Chinese buns are the easy entry points. Brunch is not taken lightly by Vancouverites, so situate yourself in the city's coolest neighbourhood, Gastown. The cobblestone streets are home to Belgian, Jamaican, Italian, and just about everything else.

Unwind

For those who teach English in Vancouver and need some R&R, you've come to the perfect city. YYoga, voted one of the city's top studios, will take some stress out after a long day of teaching. For a post-class refuel, The Juice Truck in Gastown is a Vancouver staple — staple juices like "The Green" plus seasonal smoothies.