Job Discussion Forums

[guru84]

Hello,
I have been reading the posting on this forum and am questioning the viability of teaching english in Italy. My brother and I are hoping to both do the CELTA course early next year and then move to Italy, Bari in particular and teach english. However, after reading the postings on this forum it seems the usual rates of pay for teaching positions are about 10 euros an hour, which equates to less than 16 Australian dollars an hour. This is barely above minimum wage in Australia, and I am told that living costs in Italy are significantly higher than here. Is it viable to be able to work as an english teacher and pay for rent, food, travel costs and still have enough to enjoy the sights and events of another country? Will we have enough for all this and still enough to do the tourist things? I seem to get conflicting reports about how viable this is. If people could give us an idea of what we're up against that would be great.
Thanks,
Gary

[Old_Liz]

Gary, will you be able to teach legally in Italy - ie do you hold the nationality of any member state of the EU?

If not, and if you want to work legally - forget it.

Simply search other posts in this section to have this confirmed.

English language teaching is NOT a well-paid profession, and taxation in most European countries is higher than, or on a par with, that in Australia. No doubt you can get more specific information from other posters in this section.

However, the local people who live in a country manage to survive, pay their rent, eat, sightsee, etc etc on the "average wage" or less, so it all depends on what you are looking for and where and to what extent you are willing to make compromises.

I don't know where you are in Australia (I am in Sydney) but be aware that everywhere in Europe petrol is MUCH more expensive than it is in Australia, as are most utilities and much public transport.

[spiral78]

The kicker with the locals who earn roughly the same wages as an EFL teachers are NOT paying for housing at the same rates.

I've heard this thing over and over from newbies here in the Czech Rep. "You mean, I'm going to be making double the average local salary, but I won't be able to save enough to buy a car/flat/travel extensively!?"

Like Czechs, the Italian locals have housing from their families, or are eligible for mortgages. The difference in housing costs is typically that locals pay between 20 and 30% of what an expat will pay, particularly if we're talking about newbies without local connections or language skills.

[guru84]

We are dual citizens with Italy. Is my figure of 10 euros an hour correct, cause I've since read other posts on this forum of people saying they earn 16 and even 32 euros an hour.

[SueH]

Guru, the problem is all those figures are true, just in different circumstances. I got 32 (gross) an hour for one short intensive contract last year. If I worked in a local language school it would be nearer 10 (although probably more than in Bari as the north is more expensive). Private lessons are what people are prepared to pay (lets say 20 an hour), but finding enough will be the problem.

Accommodation is the killer, and you won't be living at home, been helped by Mum and Dad, in Gran's old flat, know somewhere cheap, as Spiral has intimated. But there are two of you, so that helps.

Mind you, people do it all the time, although they don't tend to come from quite such a distance and an Easyjet flight home to UK/IE is cheap enough if things go sour. I'm sure you'll be fine, and given a little flexibility and a few savings for when you arrive I'd say go for it.

[Old_Liz]

If you've got dual citizenship, you probably have rellies who can help with the housing - take advantage of it, wherever they are.

Via friends and relatives, I've got an offer of accomodation in Portugal and an offer of a flat to use in Greece, so although I'd prefer to live in Italy, I have to face reality and accept that Portugal or Greece will be my preferred destinations.