Teach English in the United Kingdom

Details

Summary

Although the summer holidays are the peak time for TEFL teachers, jobs are available year-round. UK employers usually expect you to have some teaching experience.

Main TEFL regions

London, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Bournemouth, Brighton, Hastings, Edinburgh and several smaller towns and cities

Types of teaching

Private language schools: General English, Business English, Cambridge PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS
Summer schools/study tours: General English
Migrant English programs: General English, English for Younger Learners

Accommodation

This is not usually provided by your employer. Apartments, especially in London, are notoriously expensive. The cheapest you’ll possibly be able to find a studio flat for is £50 per week, but you really wouldn’t want to live there! A decent place will start at around £80 per week.

Flight reimbursement

Not typical

Salary

£180-£350 per week (£8-£20 per hour) Pay is commensurate with a teacher's qualifications and experience

Taxes

At the lower end of this salary range, you’ll pay about 10% of your income as tax. At the higher end, it’ll be around 16%.

Cost of living

If you’re from the UK, you’ll already know about the cost of living. If not, get ready for a rude awakening: it’s expensive! But it’s also possible to live frugally by shopping at local markets and “pound shops”. A beer in a bar starts from £2, weekly groceries cost about £20 per person, as does a meal in a restaurant (although, realistically, you won’t be having many of these!)

Potential to save money

There’s little chance that you’ll be able to save any money.

How much TEFL training is recommended?

As much as possible. i-to-i’s 100-hour TEFL course will give you a good foundation on which to build your TEFL career. If you're planning to teach in the UK long-term, a TESOL/CELTA should also be considered.

Common teaching conditions

You’ll usually teach for about 25 hours per week, although working hours in summer schools are much longer – you’ll be acting as the proverbial mother, father and priest to the teenagers you’re looking after! The students are of all nationalities and from all walks of life, but tend to apply themselves well.

Be aware…

If you want to work at a summer camp, be prepared to sign your life away for 2 months – you could be called on at any time of the day or night!