Details
Demand
Moderate
Busiest
Sep=Jun
Academic Year
Currency
Varies
Contract
9 months
Normally
Taxes
High
- Summary
- There are plenty of language schools, especially in Croatia and Slovenia, but the market for native-speaking teachers is still in its infancy.
- Main TEFL regions
- Zagreb, Split, Ljubljana, Belgrade
- Types of teaching
- Private language schools: General English, Business English
Universities: General English, English for Specific Purposes - Accommodation
- Some schools will provide free accommodation, while others will help you search for an apartment.
- Expect to pay €350 per month for a one-bedroom place in the bigger cities, significantly less elsewhere, or you could stretch your budget even further by sharing an apartment
- Flight reimbursement
- Very few schools offer this sort of bonus at the end of your contract
- Salary
- Salaries vary between €500 and €1000 per month, depending on your qualifications and experience. The highest salaries are offered in Slovenia.
- Taxes
- Macedonia has a flat income tax rate of 10%; in Serbia it’s 14%; in Slovenia a teacher will pay about 22% tax; while in Croatia, rates can top 35% when you include municipal taxes.
- Bizarrely, Bosnia has a regressive tax system where the more money you make, the less tax you pay!
- Cost of living
- The cost of living is lower than Western Europe, although the more developed countries, such as Slovenia and Croatia, are more expensive. Food is slightly cheaper than the UK, while a beer in a bar will start at about €2.
- Potential to save money
- There’s little chance that you’ll be able to save any money.
- How much TEFL training is recommended?
- It varies between countries. In Slovenia and Croatia a comprehensive qualification such as i-to-i’s 100-hour Combined Course or a CELTA. Outside of these countries, you can get a job with less training.
- Common teaching conditions
- Most teachers work between 25 and 30 contact hours each week.
Be aware…
The former Yugoslav states have much the same problems as elsewhere in Europe, so the same advice applies: avoid being out on your own late at night and be wary of pickpockets and petty thieves.
