Job Discussion Forums

[norbdemn]

I been considering the move to Italy for some time. I read a few threads and would like your input.

Cumulatively, I have over 4 years teaching experience (English and Math) in Asia. I have a BA and a TEFL cert. I am wondering how much I can expect to earn in Italy as a Full-time teacher? Also, to you veteran teachers, what kind of school do you suggest I pursue? Private or Public?? What are the lengths of the contracts like? and What is included with the contract? (Housing, Health Insurance, etc.)

FYI, I have an EU passport. I am wondering if there is anything I need to be aware of with this in hand?

Thanks

[SueH]

Leaving aside international schools which require full qualifications your only option will be private language schools. Do some more reading here for details. Maybe �1200 a month (term time). No housing (or very, very rarely) or health insurance but if you are legal and paying your contributions you will be covered by the national health service.

[Dave_1]

[SueH]

You can be insulted by anybody you want. I have great respect for the DELTA qualification but I'm not an International school and I'm not doing the recruiting. Don't shoot the messenger. Normally they want standard teaching quals e.g. PGCE and QTS. You aren't teaching ESL at an International school.

I suggest you do your own research, and there's plenty already on this forum.

[Teacher in Rome]

Dave, I don't think it's Delta you need for international schools, but state teaching quals, such as PGCE or the primary school equivalent.

BTW, I have a Delta, but I think the only place it would have been useful would have been the British Council. Last time I asked there about teaching, they were awash with teachers and could only offer me something freelance if I wanted to teach on Saturdays. I didn't, so I never found out about rates of pay and conditions there.

If you work in a private language school, it really is that grim. You'll be working at most ten months a year. You might be sent out all round the place to teach in companies, or you might get to stay on the premises. Sometimes your school might send you to teach in secondary schools. Good luck to you if they do, as they vary enormously in student motivation and discipline. At least the lessons are short! But, if you're on a contract, you won't be able to pick and choose where you go.

You can work freelance for a language school and work directly for other clients (i.e. in state schools, for companies etc) as I do, but then you need to get an accountant, residency, and a VAT number. None of this is difficult, but you may need to have a reasonable grasp of Italian to explain to accountants (who often don't speak English - mine doesn't). With this option, you can earn more in state schools, but only for a few months of the year. I got my school contacts through word of mouth - i.e. I had been here a while, rather than just rocking up off the plane, and I was lucky in that the state school wasn't already locked in to a contract with a language school.

But you originally asked about money and salary expectations.

On a contract, your tax and INPS (contributions) will be deducted at source. You'll maybe lose 25 - 30% this way. As a freelance, you invoice your client, deducting 20% for tax that they pay on your behalf. Then at the end of the year, you pay any remaining tax owed, plus an advance for the next year's tax that your accountant estimates based on projected earnings, plus your INPS of, wait for it, a further 20 - 24% (I can never remember what it is).

I earn about the same freelance as I did as a fully-employed teacher (though it was a cushy office job and I mostly developed courses etc), but I prefer being freelance. In neither cases do I get free housing / flights paid etc.

Sue's figure of �1200 per month is pretty accurate I'd say. Though beware of contracts that end in June, as you won't get paid over the summer - you'd have to sort something out for the summer months separately.

[norbdemn]

[quote]Dave, I don't think it's Delta you need for international schools, but state teaching quals, such as PGCE or the primary school equivalent.

BTW, I have a Delta, but I think the only place it would have been useful would have been the British Council. Last time I asked there about teaching, they were awash with teachers and could only offer me something freelance if I wanted to teach on Saturdays. I didn't, so I never found out about rates of pay and conditions there.

If you work in a private language school, it really is that grim. You'll be working at most ten months a year. You might be sent out all round the place to teach in companies, or you might get to stay on the premises. Sometimes your school might send you to teach in secondary schools. Good luck to you if they do, as they vary enormously in student motivation and discipline. At least the lessons are short! But, if you're on a contract, you won't be able to pick and choose where you go.

You can work freelance for a language school and work directly for other clients (i.e. in state schools, for companies etc) as I do, but then you need to get an accountant, residency, and a VAT number. None of this is difficult, but you may need to have a reasonable grasp of Italian to explain to accountants (who often don't speak English - mine doesn't). With this option, you can earn more in state schools, but only for a few months of the year. I got my school contacts through word of mouth - i.e. I had been here a while, rather than just rocking up off the plane, and I was lucky in that the state school wasn't already locked in to a contract with a language school.

But you originally asked about money and salary expectations.

On a contract, your tax and INPS (contributions) will be deducted at source. You'll maybe lose 25 - 30% this way. As a freelance, you invoice your client, deducting 20% for tax that they pay on your behalf. Then at the end of the year, you pay any remaining tax owed, plus an advance for the next year's tax that your accountant estimates based on projected earnings, plus your INPS of, wait for it, a further 20 - 24% (I can never remember what it is).

I earn about the same freelance as I did as a fully-employed teacher (though it was a cushy office job and I mostly developed courses etc), but I prefer being freelance. In neither cases do I get free housing / flights paid etc.

Sue's figure of �1200 per month is pretty accurate I'd say. Though beware of contracts that end in June, as you won't get paid over the summer - you'd have to sort something out for the summer months separately.[/quote]

I appreciate your input TIR. It seems as if it is not worth teaching in Italy with all that tax you got to pay!...LOL

What if you do both contract (i.e., work for a school) and free lance? I am assuming you would have to pay double the tax then?

Another option I am considering is teaching in Malta. I am Maltese. I can understand the language fluently and can speak at a semi-intermediate level - if I was to live there I can pick it up quick.

I am also curious to know what the teaching scene is like in Malta, so if anyone has any knowledge on it, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

[Teacher in Rome]

No, you only pay tax once. As a freelancer you invoice your clients, and deduct 20% for tax on the invoice. So they pay your tax for you on your behalf. A bit like PAYE.