The TEFL Org guide to Euro 2024

Once again, Europe holds its breath. The absolute cream of the continent’s talent squares off in Germany for one of the most compelling European Championships of recent generations. With so many squads in flux, some absolutely obscene talent appearing just in time for this summer, and some real dark horses emerging from the shadows, there’s so much for football fans to enjoy.

As ever, it’s also a great excuse to look at some of the best TEFL destinations in Europe, because why not? Just as we did for the Women’s World Cup in 2023 , and last year’s Europa League Final , we thought we’d combine two passions: football and teaching English. 

So who will win our TEFL European Championship? Will we lose the run of the concept, and decide that all of the destinations we write about are amazing locations to teach English? Will we pack this with both teaching and football trivia? Is it an excuse for our content writer to talk lovingly about John McGinn? Arguably, yes to all three.

Let’s kick off.

Italy: The Defending Champions

You might remember that Italy won the last European Championships , overcoming England in the final on penalties. That’s certainly something that happened. Since then, Italy has seen a raft of legends like Giorgio Chiellini retire, they failed to qualify for the most recent World Cup, and they’ve had some mixed results to say the least.

Teaching English in Italy , is of course, amazing. There are a plethora of great cities to teach in, including Rome , Bergamo, Milan, Verona, Venice and Florence, and the demand for English is considerable. From its industrial ports to its centres of breathtaking fashion, its unbelievably preserved historic monuments to its countryside, cuisine and culture, Italy has it all.

You’ll generally need a TEFL certificate (120 hours+) and some previous teaching experience, while many employers will seek a bachelor’s degree or higher. As far as teaching salaries go, the average is usually about 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month (£860 - £1,280/$1,025 - $1,530). Most teachers boost their salaries with private lessons, with rates of around €25 (£21.95 / $27.34) per hour.

Key player: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma has 61 caps for Italy. He’s 25. How on earth is that possible?! It feels like he’s been around forever, having made his Serie A debut with AC Milan in the 15-16 season. The towering shot-stopper, now at Paris Saint-Germain, is a key figure for the Azzurri , and though the Italians are blessed with talent across the squad, it’s Donnarumma who’s their key man.

Scotland: The Plucky Hopefuls

It’s two in a row for Scotland, who have qualified for a second successive European Championships after a long, long tournament drought. “No Scotland, No Party” is the cry from the Tartan Army, and Scotland will be helping kick things off in Germany, playing the hosts in the tournament’s opening game. Sounds about right.

A proud footballing nation, at least historically, Scotland is passionate about a great many things. Its take on the English language is definitely one of those things. You might not think an English-speaking country like Scotland is ripe with opportunities to teach English as a foreign language. However, teaching English as a foreign language in Scotland is most certainly a viable career. 

There are plenty of language schools, tutoring opportunities, international schools and social opportunities to teach English. A bachelor’s degree and completion of a TEFL course ( at least 120 hours of training ), along with considerable experience, could get you at least an interview for most TEFL jobs in Scotland. In return, you can generally expect a wage of around £30,000-£40,000/$38,500-$51,250 annually, depending on experience, qualifications and performance.

There are loads of amazing locations. Language schools and opportunities can be found in Inverness, Aberdeen, Stirling, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond, and each is famous in its own right for its friendly welcome and cultural idiosyncrasies. Just don’t tell them Irn Bru tastes like anything else. It doesn’t.

Key player: John McGinn

Affectionally nicknamed ‘Meatball’ , John McGinn may play for English Premier League outfit Aston Villa, but he is Scottish football in a nutshell. He’s gritty, he’s determined, he’s capable of moments of utter brilliance, he can be a little bit nasty when he wants to be, and he’s routinely hilarious in front of a camera. When he’s on his game, so are Scotland. We’ve got McGinn, Super John McGinn, we just don’t think you understand.

France: Everyone’s Favourites

Here’s a sure-fire way to bore everyone in your workplace, the pub, your group chat or wherever you share a space with other people. Just say “Yeah, I think France might win the Euros”.

The France B or C team would be in with a shot of winning the European Championships. The level of talent France is producing is absolutely bonkers. Individual neighbourhoods like Seine-Saint-Denis are producing world-class talent at a rate that’s hard to fathom. 

Much like footballing talent, there’s a lot of English teaching talent in France. It’s not hard to see why, either. Though Paris is obviously the most famous city in France, there are a range of amazing locations to teach English in France, including Lens, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice and loads of others. You’re absolutely spoiled for choice. There are jobs aplenty, and teaching programmes including TAPIF that can help you make inroads into the French education system.

To teach English in France, degrees are often preferred but not mandatory. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is a minimum to teach English in France, and it will be almost impossible to find work without one. Teaching experience can sometimes be preferred, though young teachers often get their start in France. For a starter salary, you ought to expect about €1,000 – €2,000 (£926 – £1,852/$1,082 – $2,164) per month, though this depends on which kind of institution you work in and where you’re based. 

Key player: Kylian Mbappé

To stand out in a team of France’s immense talents is remarkable, but Kylian Mbappé is just that special. A talisman, a World Cup winner and the subject of years-long transfer sagas , the 25-year-old has a remarkable 46 goals in 77 games at the time of writing. The heir apparent to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé would surely love to add a European Championship to his already glittering CV.

Spain: Don’t Count Them Out

Spain may not be the irresistible force they were between 2008 and 2012, when they won Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and, for good measure, Euro 2012. The style of football, Tiki-Taka , even made it into the Cambridge Dictionary . It was truly gorgeous stuff, with Xavi, Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta et al in their absolute prime. It was a squad dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona players when both sides could boast some of the most outrageously gifted club sides in world football. 

Today’s Spanish men’s national team might not be quite as good these days ( the women’s side definitely are ), but don’t rule them out. With talented players Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Merino, Alex Grimaldo and Nico Williams at his disposal, manager Luis de la Fuente has plenty to work with. 

Today’s Spain squad is also far from being a Barcelona and Real Madrid duopoly. That’s a handy metaphor for Spanish TEFL life. No two regions in Spain are particularly alike, and that lends itself to a TEFL experience that’s incredibly idiosyncratic. Sure, there’s a lot of appeal to teaching in Madrid or Barcelona , but don’t count out cities like Bilbao, Vigo, Valencia and Sevilla - teaching English in Spain is like nowhere else for sheer cultural diversity. 

What are the requirements to teach in Spain? A degree isn’t always required, but they are often desired. A TEFL certificate is essential, but teaching experience isn’t. Some really great teaching programmes can help you get into the Spanish education system, like Meddeas and ConversaSpain Auxiliares de Conversación . You’re likely to earn around €1,200 – €1,500 (£1,053 – £1,317 / $1,300 – $1,623) as a starting wage.

Key player: Rodri

Here’s one for the stats nerds - for Manchester City, this season, Rodri was in the 99th percentile amongst all midfielders for passes attempted, passes completed and progressive passes, according to FBRef . If there’s an heir to Xavi in this modern-day Spain team, then, it’s the former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid midfield metronome, who will keep de la Fuente’s side moving in the middle of the park.

Germany: Wounded But Dangerous

Germany’s last few tournaments haven’t been good . Two successive World Cup group stage exits sandwiched a Round of 16 exit to England at Euro 2020. Like Spain, Germany have moved on from a Golden Generation, with the likes of Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Özil, Klose and Hummels all either retiring or winding down. Yet, Die Mannschaft have picked up some form of late, and Julian Nagelsmann’s side are giving European rivals plenty to think about.

With the likes of Havertz, Kimmich, Musiala and Kroos to rely upon, there’s a decent mix of both youthful zest and experience in Nagelsmann’s squad to give anyone a scare. With veteran Kroos announcing his imminent retirement, the Real Madrid superstar will be looking to bow out on a high, and it’s likely the last time we’ll see Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller at a major tournament, too. 

Like Spain, Germany’s 2014 World Cup team’s core came from one or two big clubs, primarily Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The wealth of talent is spread more evenly these days. And, like the TEFL scene in Spain, there are more than two excellent destinations for TEFL teachers in Germany . Berlin is a massive port of call, but there are also fascinating teaching locations like Munich, Hamburg, Leipzig, Düsselldorf and Frankfurt. If you have a Business English TEFL certificate , you’ll be especially in demand when you arrive in industrial cities like Leverkusen, Gelsenkirchen or Dortmund.

You’ll need a 120-hour TEFL certificate as a minimum. Most employers will want a bachelor’s degree, and having some German language knowledge will help. Teaching experience is also valuable, especially if you’ve taught Business English. If you’re able to find full-time teaching work, expect a starting salary of around €1,200 to €2,000 (£1,1123-£1,872/$1,297-$2,162).

Key player: Florian Wirtz

There’s always one German youngster who shines at a major tournament, it’s just the law. We think, this time, it’ll be Bayer Leverkusen wunderkind Florian Wirtz, who has been a mainstay during a remarkable season for Die Werkself. As the Leverkusen team won their first ever Bundesliga title - unbeaten, no less - Wirtz contributed with 11 goals and 11 assists . At 21, he’s already a household name in Germany. The world awaits.

Let the games begin

There are, of course, a whole load of other teams we could’ve talked about, but these are our top picks for success at the European Championships this time around. We hear England are also taking part - that’ll be fun for them! 

Which obvious pick did we miss out? Was it truly criminal to ignore Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal ? Did Croatia get snubbed? Let us know!

Either way, have fun watching the tournament when it kicks off on the 14th of June. If it sparks some wanderlust, and some curiosity about teaching English around the European continent, then this blog post has done its job!

Want to get started in the TEFL world but you’re not sure which course is right for you? Try our TEFL course quiz and start your adventure today!