6 Programs to Teach English in Europe

Living and working abroad is a dream for many people, and Europe is a place that many want to live. One of the most popular ways to live abroad is to teach English abroad. Teaching English abroad, whether it’s a career or simply as way to live abroad is a route many people go. These 6 programs to teach English in Europe offer a bunch of different ways that you can live in Europe while making a decent salary.

Spain

Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain

The Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain is also known as the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program. You will see them used interchangeably all over the internet. They are the exact same program, just written in Spanish and English.

As an auxiliar de conversación, or North American Language and Culture Assistant, you will be a language assistant in a public school in Spain. You work 12 hours per week for 700€ per month. If you’re in Madrid, you work 16 hours per week and make 1000€ per month.

See what a typical day in the life of an auxiliar de conversación in Madrid is like!

This is one of the most popular programs to teach English in Spain because the requirements are relatively low, there is no interview process, and the work responsibilities are pretty easy. You don’t even have to know Spanish to participate in this program!

If you are wanting to teach English in Spain, check out our post on How to Apply to the Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain.

Requirements: 

• Be a native English speaker
• Have a valid passport
• Be in your last year of college or a college graduate
• Pass a background check
• Be in good health as stated by a medical professional

There are also other programs to teach English in Spain that are similar to this one, but the Auxiliares Program is just the most popular.

France

Teaching Assistant Program in France

France also has a program similar to the one in Spain where you can work in a school as a language assistant. However, the one big difference between the Spain language assistant program and the one is France is that you have to know French at a B1 level before you go.

As a Teaching Assistant in France, you will work 12 hours per week and make €770-€785 after deductions are taken out. Much like the Language Assistant Program in Spain, this salary is enough to live on, but you won’t be saving loads of money.

Requirements:

• Be a native speaker of the language you are applying to teach
• Are enrolled in or attending university at the time of application
• Between 20 and 30 years old
• Have been studying French and speak at the B1 level

If you are looking for more information on the Teaching Assistant Program in France, check out So You Think You Can France blog for more information.

Italy

SITE Program in Italy

The SITE Program in Italy is another program to teach English in Europe, similar to the ones in Spain and France.

You will work as a Teaching Assistant for 12 hours per week in the classroom and another 13 hours per week doing other activities related to “self-study and self-development, projects, conversations with students, office hours, excursions, meetings with the advisor,” according to the SITE website.

Teaching Assistants in Italy earn a salary of €700.

Requirements:

• B.A. or M.A. holder (Italian major or minor preferred) and a recent graduate within the last year.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.25
• Knowledge of Italian (Italian majors and minors will have priority)
• If you don’t have an Italian major or minor, you must have at least 3 semesters of university level Italian with a minimum of a ‘B.’ If you do not have this, you need the equivalent level of Italian which will be assessed by the selecting institution or program coordinators.
• Prior teaching experience to non-native speakers is preferred.
• Experience studying or working abroad or participation in cross-cultural activities in North American is a plus.

Hungary

Central European Teaching Program in Hungary

In order to teach English in Hungary, the Central European Teaching Program is a good option, especially for Americans.

Teaching with CEPT are full-time teachers. They are not assistants, like the other programs to teach English in Europe listed before. This may be a positive for you, but it could also be a negative if you just want an easy way to live in Europe.

You will have to teach about 22-26 hours per week, which does not include lesson planning and grading. The CEPT website says this extra time may add another 10 hours of work per week to your schedule. This could be more or less depending on your past experience teaching.

You will be paid the exact same as a first-year teacher in Hungary. The program claims this will give you the same spending power as a first-year teacher in the United States. The exact salary you will earn teaching English in Hungary will vary depending on where you are teaching.

Requirements:

• Be a native English speaker from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or another country in the European Union
• Have a Bachelor’s degree or graduate with a Bachelor’s degree before you start teaching in Hungary
• Be in good health
• Complete a TESL or education course before departure for Europe. They say most of their applicants take this course.
• Have at least 20 hours of classroom teaching experience, volunteer or paid, before departure
• Willing to commit to at least one semester
• Exhibit flexibility, patience, sensitivity to cultural differences, and maturity

Czech Republic

Teachers of English in Czech Republic

The Czech Government helps teachers find job in the Czech Republic through their Academic Information Agency. Most of the jobs are in small towns. Their website states that there are very few jobs in Prague for English teachers.

Jobs for teaching English in the Czech Republic are from September 1st to June 30th. However, there are sometimes jobs available around mid-year (January/February) depending on vacancies.

They say that English teachers in the Czech Republic need to be experienced teachers and have a college or university level degree in English or a related field. If you have a degree in something else, you will need a TEFL Certificate or the equivalent in order to find a job.

You do not have to speak Czech as the language of instruction will be English.

You will earn the same salary as Czech teachers, which is about 20,000-30,000 Czech crowns per month before deductions. This equates to about $795-$1,195 per month.

The schools also provide accommodation, which is simple but suitable for one person. They state that because schools can only afford to hire one foreign teacher, it is very difficult to place families, couples, or friends together in one location.

Requirements:

• Have teaching experience
• Have a university degree in English or education
• If you have a different degree, you must have a TEFL Certificate.

Georgia

Teach and Learn in Georgia

Another program for Teaching English in Europe is Teach and Learn in Georgia. Teachers in Georgia are considered ‘volunteers’ with this program, even though they are paid.

You will work a minimum of 25 hours per week, which includes planning time and work with local language teachers. Volunteers are supposed to create English lessons focused on speaking and listening. There is only one volunteer per school.

Something different with the teaching in Georgia program is that volunteers can live with a host family. This provides a rich cultural experience. However, it’s stated that they are required to provide the family with 3 hours per week of language lessons.

While their title is a Volunteer, they are paid a monthly salary of 600 GEL after deductions. This equates to about $185. Georgia has a much cheaper cost of living than other European countries, so it makes sense why the teaching salary is lower here.

If you live with a host family, you pay them 200 GEL per month to cover food and utilities.

If you do not want to live with a host family, the program will pay you 500 GEL per month, after taxes.

Requirements:

• Be a native speaker of English, French, German and Italian languages
• Bachelor’s degree
• Clean nationwide Criminal Record
• Medical test clearance – HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, drugs
• Flexibility, an open-mind, and a willingness to make a difference!

These are 6 programs to teach English in Europe in a variety of different countries, both as teaching/language assistants or as actual English teachers.

Each and every program has different requirements and benefits. Before deciding on which teaching abroad program is best for you, make sure to do your research and find the one that you qualify for and fits your budget, and most importantly, your goals!

If you need help deciding on a program to teach English in Europe, or anywhere else on, please contact us, and we will work with you on finding the program that best fits what you want!

Teaching English abroad is a phenomenal way to live and work abroad, especially considering that many of the programs do not require you to be a certified teacher. Whether you want to be a teacher long-term or just want to live abroad, these programs for teaching abroad in Europe will help you get there.

Do you know of other programs to teach English in Europe? Have you taught abroad in Europe?