So would you suggest going into the country before apply for jobs ?

Hi Victorio,

It's not really so difficult to get a job teaching ESL in Italy - you need to aggressively search for work once you are in the country and you need to be prepared to move at short notice if you're not having any luck in a particular city. Remember that teaching rates are fairly standard across the entire country but the cost of living in the more civilized northern regions can be quite high. The southern regions are wonderful in their own way but the culture shock also increases significantly.

A couple of franchise or chain type institutions that could give you a good start are Shenker Institute, Wall Street Institute and Callan Method. They have stringent teaching methods that aren't very inspiring over time but can be really useful for 1 or 2 years while you find your feet.

The most popular courses here are the Cambridge programs: KET, PET and 1st Certificate. You should research these if you want to access individual, private language schools you will invariably find in any significant city. Needless to say that country towns, while picturesque, will severely limit your opportunities.

Hope that helps,

Andrew. 

Hey Andyman

I'm looking at teaching in Italy but I  hear that getting a job in Italy is difficult .....Could you please recommend a school to me that you have worked in that gave you just the greatest experience ever ! , Also do you have nay tips about Italy that would come in handy along the way

Thanks , Victorio Di Natale

Hi,

Thanks for accepting my friend request; I hope to keep in touch :)

Best,

Ashley

Hi, I'm hoping to teach English in Italy in September or sooner. I'm just wondering if you moved to Italy, then found a teaching job or did you secure a teaching position prior to moving there? I'm starting to look into the getting my Visa and it sounds like I need a job before I apply for it, but I was hoping to go there and look for a job. Also, do you prefer private tutoring or teaching in a school?

Thanks!

Hello Rachele,

A degree (any degree) and a TEFL certificate is all you really need to teach in language schools anywhere in Europe. If you want to work in Sicily then the two most active cities here are Palermo and Catania but the Southern Italian "lifestyle" that you want to experience can be had in any major city up to and including Naples and Rome - beyond that the culture starts to lose that laid back and carefree feel (but then Northern Italy boasts far greater architecture and refined culture in general).

English teachers predominantly teach adults in the evenings (usually from 4:30 to 8:30) in private language institues and children or adolescents in the mornings when they manage to infiltrate the public school system. The working hours are quite different here as the "siesta" lifestyle means that most shops are closed and not much goes on in the early afternoon. Having dinner at around 8 or 9 (or 10 if you go out) in the evening is difficult to get used to at first but your body eventually comes to grips with it.

In any case you need to be patient and tenacious. You also need to be... careful. Southern Italy has an ugly side associated with limited prosperity and high unemployment - especially for youths. Don't be overly trusting and try to link up with as many foreign teachers as possible in your area to learn how to live here.

Well I hope that answers some of your questions. If you have any more questions, ask away :)

Andrew.

Hi!

I am currently in the midst of qualify with i-to-i using their online 120 hour course and also have a weekend course this coming weekend. I really, really want to teach in Sicilia. It's my top destination to teach as I 'hope' the Italian life style is something of a dream and I'm sure the people are just as nice! I was just wondering how you went about getting your job where you are? Is it tough to get a job down in sicily? Is the Cambridge TEFL favoured? 

Sorry for all the questions I just wanted to start looking and applying for jobs and any tips that I could get would help. I'm stuck in a 9-5 job for another 3 months..and I'm sure it will be the longest 3 months of my life! I can't wait to get started teaching English, learning from the wise and picking up a little bit of culture along the way!

Thanks :)