Dave's ESL Cafe Review: Jobs, Forums & Teaching Resources
Dave's ESL Cafe (eslcafe.com) is one of the oldest ESL/EFL community sites on the web — international job boards, forums, and a back-catalogue of free teaching resources. Here's what's still useful in 2026, what feels dated, and where to look for alternatives.Ready to try Dave's ESL Cafe?
"The de-facto ESL job board since 1995 — if you're applying abroad, you'll end up here."
Best for
Teachers looking for international TEFL jobs (Korea, China, worldwide) plus a long-running community forum and free teaching resources.
Pricing
Free
Pro tip — heads up before you bookmark it
Verify job offers before you sign anything
Any large ESL job board attracts scammers. Never wire money, pay a 'recruitment fee', or skip a video interview — even if the school sounds legitimate on the forum. Cross-check the school name on Reddit, Glassdoor, and the ESL Teachers Board scam-alerts section.
What is Dave's ESL Cafe?
Dave's ESL Cafe (eslcafe.com) is one of the longest-running ESL/EFL community sites on the internet. It was founded by Dave Sperling in 1995 after he finished an MA in Linguistics and started teaching abroad. The site's identity has always been a hub: a place where ESL teachers and learners could find each other.
The site is organised into four main areas:
- Find a Job — international job board plus dedicated Korean and China job boards
- Forums — international discussion, Korean job forums, China job forums, and a place to ask for advice
- Resources — grammar lessons, idioms, phrasal verbs, slang, quizzes, and lesson plans
- Dave's Blog — short reflections from Dave Sperling
The site's design feels dated — that's because it largely is. But the underlying databases (especially the job boards) are still maintained and still functional. For job hunters, that longevity is the point: you can trust that listings from yesterday are still relevant today.
How teachers use it
Dave's ESL Cafe works best for these specific teacher tasks:
- International job applications: the main job board plus the Korean and China boards are still the largest ESL-specific job aggregator online.
- Scam-spotting: the forums and the site's own scam-alert section are where teachers discuss and flag suspicious recruiters.
- Free grammar refreshers: the grammar lessons section is a useful stop for learners who want quick explanations outside a textbook.
- Idioms and slang: a back-catalogue of common idioms, phrasal verbs and slang — useful for adult conversation classes.
- Community advice: the forums are where teachers ask "what's the school really like?" questions before signing a contract.
- Resume posting: teachers can post a resume and be searchable by recruiters.
Is it worth your time?
Yes — but treat it as a job board first, a community second, and a teaching-resource library third. Dave's ESL Cafe has survived 30 years because the job listings are still maintained. If you're hunting for international work, you'll end up here whether you start there or not.
The teaching-resource section (grammar lessons, idioms, lesson plans) is more of a back-catalogue than a polished editorial product. Modern alternatives (ESL Brains, Teach-This) have better curation and visuals. But the resources are free, they cover the basics well, and they don't require an account.
Honest recommendation: use Dave's ESL Cafe as a job board and a community forum. For teaching materials, treat it as a free supplement, not a primary source — pair it with one of the alternatives below.
The honest pros and cons
What works
- Massive job board International, Korean, and China boards — all in one place.
- 30 years of history Survived every TEFL boom-and-bust cycle. Trusted by recruiters.
- Free teaching resources Grammar, idioms, slang, phrasal verbs, lesson plans.
- Active forums Teachers share real experiences about schools and recruiters.
- Resume posting Recruiters can find you — useful for passive job hunting.
- Korean and China-specific boards Dedicated verticals for the two biggest ESL markets.
What doesn't
- Dated design Interface looks like 2005. Functional but uninspiring.
- Some sections feel abandoned Lesson plans and idioms update less frequently than the job boards.
- Scam risk on job boards Any large job board attracts scammers. Always verify schools independently.
- No progress tracking Resource area has no logins, no completions, no gamification.
- Advertising-heavy pages Banner ads and sponsored links are common on resource pages.
- Limited audio / video Mostly text-based grammar and idiom content.
Best alternatives
If Dave's ESL Cafe isn't a fit, these are the resources teachers actually switch to:
ESL Authority
Job board, TEFL course directory, and articles for teachers going abroad.
TEFL.com
Long-running TEFL job board with worldwide listings and recruiter contacts.
ESL Brains
Lesson plans built around TED talks and authentic videos for adults and teens.
Teach-This.com
3,000+ printable ESL worksheets, CEFR-aligned, updated monthly.
Crystal Clear ESL
700+ sequential lessons for kids and adults, CEFR and Cambridge aligned.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dave's ESL Cafe?
Is Dave's ESL Cafe still active in 2026?
Is Dave's ESL Cafe free?
Who uses Dave's ESL Cafe the most?
Is the job board legitimate?
What are the best alternatives to Dave's ESL Cafe?
Does Dave's ESL Cafe have a Korean job board?
Ready to hunt for your next ESL job?
Dave's ESL Cafe has been the de-facto ESL job board since 1995. Browse international listings, join the forums, and post your resume — free.
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