Job Discussion Forums

[3plus1]

Hi everyone,

To cut a long story short, I'd love to teach English as a foreign language in Italy sometime next year, between mid May and the end of September. I've been told that it's difficult finding a job in Italy generally (and even worse during the summer months), so I thought I'd find out from the horses' mouths, so to speak!

I'm a native English speaker, speak 3 other European languages including Italian, have a shiny new 10 year UK passport, have 10 months experience as a classroom assistant in a UK school and by next May, will have spent 7 months working in a French school as an English language assistant. That's me in short, so come on, be harsh, rate my chances. If I get a proper TEFL qualification this summer, what are my chances of finding teaching work in Italy? I guess the big question is... is it worth it? Do you think a good TEFL qualification will turn out to be an investment for me or a big waste of money?

All opinions welcomed, whether it's what I want to hear or not

Cheers all!
S x

[Niamh]

hi,
if you also have a degree, you would probably be able to find work without a telf cert, because of previous experience - all tefl jobs in italy require at least a ba. The only work in italy in summer is summer camp work, which if you are willing to do(i found pay and conditions fairly awful when i did it), you should also be able to get work without tefl cert, as their standards are generally not as high as language schools since its only short term work. it is worth doing the tefl cert though,as if you have a BA, you should have no problems finding work with tefl cert. of course it also depends on where you go...i know where I am, in the north of Italy (Torino), there was no real shortage of work for prople with eu passports and the proper qualifications. It also helps if you speak italian (i can't remember if you said that was one of the languages you spoke?)
Anyway, hope this helps, Niamh

[mikecoombs]

Dear Niamh
in my experience you caould probably find work without a qualification, but then there are a lot of schools in Italy, including cowboy outfits. THe more serious schools will only really consider you if you have CELTA or similar unless they're really desperate!
Hope that helps

[3plus1]

Thanks for all your advice, I've decided to enroll on a CELTA course in the UK before I head off to France. Hopefully I'll be able to find a job in Italy next year and the CELTA will turn out to be an investment rather than a big fat waste of money!

S x