Teach English in Italy

Details

Summary

Schools here cover the whole range, from cowboy operations to expensive international schools

Main TEFL regions

Rome, Milan, Naples and many other towns and cities across the country

Types of teaching

Private Language schools/academies: General English, Business English, Cambridge PET/FCE/CAE/CPE, English for Younger Learners
In-company (through private language academies): General English, Business English, Cambridge PET/FCE/CAE/CPE, English for Younger Learners
Private tuition: General English, English for Specific Purposes
Summer camps: General English, English for Younger Learners

Accommodation

If you work at a summer camp, accommodation will be provided. Private language schools sometimes provide accommodation but, as most teachers work freelance, you’ll probably end up finding your own place.

A room in a shared flat starts at about €300 per month in Rome, but prices drop sharply outside of the biggest cities.

Flight reimbursement

Some schools offer an end-of-contract bonus to cover and annual return flight back to the UK.

Salary

Salaries vary between €800 and €1,400 per month after tax, depending on your qualifications and experience. Private tuition can earn you between €20 and €35 per hour

Taxes

Income tax rates are high in Italy. Expect to pay between 24% and 28% of your earnings as tax. However, many salaries are quoted after tax.

Cost of living

The cost of living varies significantly between the North and South. In the more developed North, it’s similar to other Western European countries. In Rome, a beer in a bar is about €4, a pizza starts at about €5, while taking the train to Milan will cost around €55.

Potential to save money

If you live and work in the South, it should be possible to save a small amount each month.

How much TEFL training is recommended?

As much as possible. Many schools prefer a CELTA, but an i-to-i 100 Combined Course should be enough to get you a job in smaller language schools. Having some teaching experience will really help.

Common teaching conditions

Expect to teach for about 25 hours per week, although you’ll probably spend a lot of extra time travelling between lessons. The students are often a joy to teach: friendly, well-behaved and generally just good fun!

Be aware…

There are so many language schools in Italy that you’re bound to come across a few unscrupulous ones. Get some opinions from experienced teachers before you accept a job offer.