COUNTRY GUIDES: ITALY

The boot at the base of Europe offers so much to the potential visitor. Walk around its cities and you’re surrounded by thousands of years of history, from the Pantheon and Piazza Navona in Rome to the ornate religious buildings in Vatican City. In total, there are more than forty UNESCO World Heritage sites scattered within its boundaries. Then there is their proud culinary history – after tasting authentic Italian pizza, Domino’s will never taste quite the same again.

But, of course, it’s the people that truly make and country special, and the Italians are no exception. Boisterous, fun-loving and friendly, they’ll make you feel welcome wherever you go.

TEFL in Italy (Contracts, Salary, Work)

Demand for teachers

Moderate to High

Main TEFL regions

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

Busiest TEFL periods

September - June.

Contract lengths

9 months

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.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Symbol: €

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 our 120-hour 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!

Finding Work

How do I find work?

A search on Italy’s Yellow Pages website will reveal hundreds of language schools across the country. The main TEFL job websites, such as Dave's ESL Cafe, and the education sections of the British national newspapers regularly hold job adverts for Italian schools.

Can I find work while in-country?

Absolutely. As it’s so easy for Brits and Irish to work here, you can simply visit some schools when you arrive. July is the best time to start looking for jobs.

What is the usual hiring process?

The bigger schools hold recruitment fairs in the UK and Ireland, and you may be asked to teach a demonstration lesson.

Work Visas

Is a work visa required to find paid work in Italy?

EU nationals won’t need a visa, but will have to get a residence permit from the local police and a work permit from the Ispettorato del Lavoro.

These are just formalities, but can take a few months to obtain, so plan ahead.

Non-EU nationals will find it almost impossible to obtain a work visa for teaching.

Permit requirements:

• Letter from employer

• Copies of your qualifications

Why Choose Italy?

• Beautiful country

• Easy to get around

• Low cost of living in the South

• Lots of jobs

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.

Before you go

Read this…

I’m Not Scared by Niccolò Ammaniti – brilliantly written and brilliantly scary horror about a young girl’s gruesome discovery in an abandoned farmhouse.

Watch this…

Cinema Paradiso – wonderful, classic film about a young Italian boy and his love of movies.

A Few Fun Facts

• Italians love bread! On average, they consume half a pound each per day!

• They also love wine, consuming an average of 54 liters per person each year – more than any other country in the world.

• Italians are great inventors. Among their most important contributions are the barometer, the thermometer, eyeglasses and the electric battery

• Italy is the fourth most visited county in the world – an astonishing 40 million tourists arrive every year