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teach english in lithuania

Teach English in Lithuania

With a young population excited about English, an older population that speaks Russian, and a middle-aged population of proud Lithuanian speakers, Lithuania is a linguistic anomaly and an exciting TEFL opportunity.

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The Baltic states hold so much allure and mystery, and perhaps none more than Lithuania. With endless historical intrigue, but incredibly modern infrastructure and energy, Lithuania has so much to offer. The capital, Vilnius, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Gediminas’ Tower striking an imposing shadow. If cobbled streets, Gothic churches and the like aren’t quite your thing, head out into the wilderness, where the likes of Aukštaitija National Park and the dunes of the Curonian Spit provide breathtaking wilderness and sandy beaches respectively.

Lithuania offers an interesting alternative to mainland Europe for English teachers who want to take the route less travelled. As for the English language itself, it’s part of an interesting linguistic tapestry in Lithuania. Given historic tensions with neighbouring Russia and the breakaway from the Soviet Union in 1990, Russian is only typically spoken by older Lithuanians, while the national language - Lithuanian - is a fantastically complex language. It is, in fact, the last surviving Baltic language. English is widely spoken by young people but due to complex political and cultural generational gaps, it’s barely uttered by older generations.

So what are opportunities like for English teachers who want to explore Lithuania? Can an English teacher earn a sufficient teaching salary in Lithuania? Where are all the ESL jobs in Lithuania? Let’s dig into this unique TEFL destination.

Lithuania: An overview

Teaching English in Europe is full of opportunities at the state school level, with many countries insistent on English lessons from an early age. Nowadays, English is taught from an early age in Lithuania, and that goes some way to explaining the country’s extremely high level of proficiency, according to EF’s English Proficiency Index.

The existing English teaching infrastructure didn’t spring up out of nowhere, though. In the years immediately after Lithuania left the Soviet Union, young Lithuanians typically relied on Western pop culture to learn English. This illuminating Reddit discussion shows that younger Gen-Xers and older millennials would rely upon culture from the West that hadn’t been translated - as demand for Lithuanian translation was minimal. Exposure to early internet, specifically early internet gaming, was also important in learning English.

Why does this matter to TEFL teachers trying to find English teaching jobs? Well, it means there’s a very proficient young population in Lithuania. There’s competition for English teaching jobs from both inside and outside of the country, as well as opportunities in the state school and private school system, although these opportunities can initially be hard to find. Some informational resources will tell you that it’s only worth looking at private language schools or international schools for teaching jobs but that's not the case.

Requirements for teaching English in Lithuania

If Lithuania appeals as your next destination forteaching English abroad, requirements are surely the number one question on your mind. So, without further ado, let’s discuss what’s needed for teaching English in Lithuania.

A degree is essential for teaching English in Lithuania. To meet the requirements for a Blue Card, English teachers need a bachelor’s degree (in any subject), and for teaching jobs in state schools, private schools, universities, colleges or international schools, a degree is usually essential. If you’re desperate to teach English in Lithuania without a degree there may be an option. You might be able to teach in a language school if you’re an EU citizen or a permanent Lithuanian resident and have both a TEFL certificate and some previous teaching experience.

Additionally, a TEFL certificate is an absolute must for teaching English in Lithuania. Certification from one or more TEFL courses is crucial, with 120 hours of TEFL certification being the industry standard. Advanced TEFL certificates can improve your chances of finding teaching jobs; TEFL certificates in English for Academic Purposes and Business English are super helpful, especially for securing tutoring opportunities with Lithuania’s younger, English-speaking population.

Want to each English as a non-native speaker in Lithuania? You can do it. Fluency, demonstrated by a degree, or a proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL, is crucial - as you’d expect teaching English abroad more widely. Additionally, if you have TEFL certification and meet all the other requirements, you should be able to find work teaching English in Lithuania as a non-native speaker.

Is it possible to find teaching jobs abroad without experience in Lithuania? Strictly speaking, it depends on the employer. With the level of competition in state education and private schools, experience really counts. In private language schools, you might have more luck.

Salary and cost of living in Lithuania

Now we know more about what Lithuania is like as a destination to teach, TEFL salaries are the next consideration on our list. What can English teachers earn in Lithuania?

Salary

When it comes to TEFL jobs in Lithuania, salaries can vary wildly. When you teach English in Lithuania, salaries for teaching positions can start as low as $500/£400 in private language schools to as high as $2,500/£2,000 per month at international schools. As a general guide, we’d suggest that an “average” salary for TEFL teachers in Lithuania for a full-time teaching job is between $750-$1,250/£600-£1,000 per month.

Benefits

International schools may offer various benefits such as health insurance, professional development opportunities, and paid vacations. However, benefits are less common in private language schools.

Cost of living

You won’t become a millionaire, but that kind of salary goes a decent length in Lithuania. Per Numbeo, monthly rent in city centre Vilnius, for a one-bedroom apartment, costs $800/£640, but you don’t need to live in the middle of town; rents go down to $556/£444 per month on average outside the city centre. Utilities are slightly on the expensive side, costing about $200/£166 per month.

A solo meal in Vilnius at an inexpensive restaurant comes to under $13/£11, while a three-course meal for two in a mid-priced restaurant is around $65/£52. You’ll want to try Lithuanian cuisine, as despite its reputation, there’s more to it than potatoes!

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Lithuania	€700 - €1,150 ($750 - $1,250 USD £600 - £1,000 GBP)		September		Not usually		None

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English teaching jobs in Lithuania

There are English teaching jobs in Lithuania, but the market is competitive. The academic year runs from September to June, with language schools hiring year-round.

State schools and private schools will hire extremely qualified teachers with degrees, TEFL certification and at least two years of previous teaching experience. With more English teaching talent coming from within Lithuania, it is competitive. However, being from an English-speaking country and having some Lithuanian language knowledge can give you an edge.

International schools are equally - if not more - competitive, though there are job opportunities. The highest number of TEFL jobs come from private language schools; these fill a particularly interesting role in Lithuania, given the high proficiency of young people, and the relatively low proficiency of Lithuanians who grew up towards the tail end of the Soviet era. If you want to work with adults, this is a great opportunity.

Tutoring is also a good route, however, you’ll need to find work in Lithuania and meet the requirements for a Blue Card before finding this kind of work. We’d only recommend advertising private language lessons once you’ve settled in Lithuania and you're already in employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What language do they speak in Lithuania?

While Lithuanian is the main language, most young people in the Baltic country can speak English, while older people usually speak Russian.

Q. Is Russian widely spoken in Lithuania?

According to recent studies, 76% of Lithuania’s population knows some Russian, and it’s the most widely spoken “foreign” language in Lithuania, ahead of English.

Q. Are Lithuanian and Russian similar?

Lithuanian is the most ancient Baltic language and is truly singular. While Lithuanian can be expressed with the Cyrillic alphabet, like Russian, it is traditionally expressed using the Latin alphabet - this is a very important distinction.