The former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan is a country undergoing immense change. There is growing demand for Business English classes with native speakers as English replaces Russian as the language of business. Expect a rather poor infrastructure and not exactly the warmest of welcomes (smiling in public is considered strange as appears to be typical for former Soviet republics). There is some fascinating natural scenery in Azerbaijan but pickpocketing is common on public transport and there are still no commercial ferries on the Caspian Sea.
| Type of Institution | Typical salary (USD/month) | Typical hours | Typical annual leave |
| Language centres | 1,200 – 1,500 | Various but sometimes 6 days a week | 2 weeks plus national holidays |
| International schools and universities | 3,000 upwards | 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday plus some weekend work | 10 weeks plus national holidays |
Main places for jobs
Baku.
Typical requirements
Degree, TEFL certificate.
Tips
1. For a more detailed look at teaching in the country, visit the Azerbaijan English Teachers’ Association website.
2. Americans might consider volunteering with the Peace Corps.
3. Avoid speaking about political topics in public.
Red tape
Tons! A letter of invitation from a contact in Azerbaijan is required in order to enter the country. You must register with local police if you wish to stay for more than 30 days within 3 days of arriving. Expect to encounter corruption.
Cost of living
Rather high – accommodation, food and transport.
Tax and salary information
Employers generally pay your income tax for you and as usual you should expect to be paid on a monthly basis.
Summary
 There is growing demand for English tuition |
 Lots of red tape (see above) |
| Beautiful natural scenery |
Some say that it is not a particularly friendly country |
| Azerbaijan has some excellent cuisine! |
It is not the safest country to live in and the infrastructure is rather poor |
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