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English Teaching Jobs in Italy
Do you have your sights on Italy? Have you thought about teaching English as a foreign language? We have a number of courses & jobs that can get you there.
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With a renowned cuisine and culture worldwide, and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country (bar China, which it’s tied with), it’s little wonder Italy is so popular with tourists and English teachers. The weather, the people, the art, the fashion, the range of exciting cities and beautiful rural resorts mean that Italy is a destination beyond comparison.
Italy is full of amazing places to teach English. Whether it's the fashion capital of Milan, an industrial powerhouse like Turin, a cultural epicentre like Florence, the Eternal City of Rome, or one of the other countless attractive locations the country has to offer, one thing is for certain: you'll never lack inspiration while you teach English in Italy.
The TEFL jobs market in Italy is healthy, with plenty of teaching jobs to be found across the width and breadth of the country. Teachers with a TEFL certificate from an accredited provider, a bachelor’s degree, and the right to work in Italy shouldn’t struggle too much to find teaching jobs. Degrees are preferable, and contracts aren’t always full-time, so be prepared to teach English in a variety of positions.
Let’s look deeper at English teaching jobs in Italy, and see if we can get you living La Dolce Vita in no time!
English teaching jobs in Italy: an overview
So you want to teach English in Italy? Who can blame you? From the gorgeous climate to the incredible history, the food, the wine and the wonderful people, Italy has so much to offer. How about finding English teaching jobs - what's that experience like?
Pounding the pavement and handing out CVs might not work in other countries, but it can be extremely useful if you aim to teach English in Italy. Approaching schools directly, meeting the director of the school and handing them a CV, even if they’re not hiring at that time, really can be the best approach. When you teach English in Italy, it’s not uncommon for schools to get in contact a few months down the line when they’re looking for staff.
Many TEFL teachers in Italy teach English on a freelance basis for several different language schools. Schools also like it when reliable teachers can be found to take on extra work when needed. When you first start teaching English in Italy, you might only pick up a few hours a week, but if you are there for them when they need you, your reputation will grow and your hours will quickly follow.
Many ESL teachers build a career online before leaving for the likes of Milan, Naples, Turin or Rome. This is so they can continue with online work while searching for English teacher jobs in Italy, at language schools, public schools, private schools, international schools or wherever ESL teachers are most needed.
Some of the tried and tested methods for finding work teaching English abroad apply to Italy too, though. Applying for teaching positions online works, and traditional media is also useful. In some big cities like Rome, there are English-language newspapers, which will list teaching jobs from local schools, but be quick about contacting them.
Some specific advice for teaching English in Italy
Here's some free advice about teaching English in Italy: be realistic about what you expect to earn when you start out. Working on a freelance basis in Italy can be tough, but over time, your reputation and salary can grow. Just ask our podcast guest Cheryl Obal, who started her own English teaching school in Italy!
Note that, when you're teaching English in Italy, adverts asking for ‘mothers only’ mean a mother tongue of English, sometimes written as EMT (English Mother Tongue). You should always include this in your private tutor adverts, rather than ‘native speaker’.
Finally, if you are hoping to acquire private students as an English teacher, word of mouth is crucial in Italy. Good reviews spread very quickly!
Quick facts about Italy
- Capital: Rome
- Official Language: Italian
- Population: 59 million
- Currency: Euro (€)
Key facts
Requirements
Each teaching job in Italy has its requirements, and you can teach English without a degree, teach English without experience or teach English as a non-native speaker, depending on the employer. However, when you teach English in Italy, expect many employers to ask for:
- A TEFL certificate: A TEFL course of 120 hours is the industry standard. An advanced TEFL certification in Business English or English for Academic Purposes will help you find adult students as a private tutor, especially in business centres and university cities like Bologna and Parma.
- A bachelor’s degree: For higher-salaried, permanent jobs, you might be asked to provide a degree in education or English. International institutions and independent schools may even require a master's degree.
- Two years of teaching experience.
- A teaching qualification: this is sometimes a prerequisite for higher-salaried roles. This usually means a teaching licence from the country where you first qualified.
Salary and benefits
A standard English teaching salary for full-time jobs in Italy is about €1,793 ($1,947/£1,513) per month, although full-time salaried English teaching jobs are less common in Italy than in other countries.Location can play a significant part in your salary, as living in Rome or Milan will mean a higher cost of living than in smaller cities or towns. Salaries can rise depending on qualifications and experience - teachers with a degree and previous teaching experience on their CV will usually have better access to full-time, salaried positions and be able to earn more.
Don’t expect a range of special benefits from English teaching jobs in Italy outside of international institutions or independent schools. If you get a job teaching English at a well-funded institution, benefits can include Italian lessons, training and performance bonuses. At university level, it's not unheard of for English teachers to be offered accommodation, either on-campus or close to the university.
Living and working in Italy
What’s the cost of living like while you teach English in Italy? Well, The Eternal City is a good barometer, so let’s see what Rome is like in terms of expenditure. It costs about $1,158/£926 to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, but Rome is gigantic, so if you’re willing to live a little out of the main hub of the city, you can find rents of around $714/£571.
A monthly transport pass in Rome is about $37/£30, and as for utilities? Basic utilities can be on the pricey side, reaching as much as $223/£173 per month. Internet access, meanwhile, costs about $30/£24. If you're doing online English lessons, this is especially useful to know - you can get reliable internet usage for about the cost of an hour's tuition.As for the good stuff: the food. You could find yourself in Naples, trying out authentic Pizza Margherita, or in a real Roman restaurant eating Cicoria Ripassata. Either way, you'll want to know if you can do this all the time! Well, in Rome, a solo meal in an inexpensive restaurant is usually under $20/£15, and a mid-priced restaurant will usually charge around $64/£51 for a three-course meal for two. A mid-range bottle of wine is just under $4/£3.So, can you live in Italy comfortably while teaching English? Yes, but you might not necessarily be able to live in central Rome and dine out every evening while sampling all of the luxury Italian brands - not that English teachers expect to live that kind of lifestyle! Around Italy, however, real value can be found, and you can quickly get used to finding amazing local cuisine and entertainment for very good value.
Types of English teaching jobs in Italy
Public schools
English teaching jobs in Italian public schools tend to go to EU citizens who are fluent in English and Italian. If this isn’t you, though, don’t fret - teaching programmes are available if you’re looking to build experience in the Italian public school system.
Jobs boards
Visit The TEFL Org Jobs Centre for listings in Italy and worldwide!
Associazione Italiana Scuole di Lingue is one of the biggest employers of TEFL teachers in Italy. They are professional, accredited schools which look for elite teachers with decent experience, good qualifications and EU citizenship.
The Yellow Pages are a good place to look for English schools, search for ‘language schools’ for the best results, and choose to search either by city, region or the whole of Italy.
Insegnanti-Inglese is one of the best places to post an advert about freelance teaching, as well as search for local positions.
Other big chain language schools you can find in Italy, and Italian schools with a good track record for hiring, include Wall Street English, International House, Linguarama, Berlitz, Inlingua, Shenker Schools and British School Group.
Related articles for teaching English in Italy
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Tucking into the world’s best pizza, sunbathing on the beaches of Sardinia, cruising down the canals of Venice or hitting the slopes in the Dolomites – when you teach English abroad in Italy, living la dolce vita is so easy to do.
Teach English in Rome
An idyllic view of the Coliseum, glass of wine in hand, after a rewarding day of English teaching? Yes, life in Rome as a TEFL teacher is within your grasp: find out how!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are English teachers in demand in Italy?
Yes, English teachers are in demand in Italy. TEFL educators are required to teach English in Italy for all kinds of groups, from school kids to adults who need proficiency for work opportunities.
Q. How do I get a job teaching English in Italy?
Although searching online for English teaching jobs in Italy does work, it’s also prudent to show face and apply for jobs in person. Handing CVs to school administrators is usually a good idea, and checking local newspapers for opportunities still works!
Q. How much is the salary of an English teacher in Italy?
English teaching salaries in Italy can vary, as full-time jobs aren’t often a guarantee. However, a realistic average salary for an English teacher is about €1,793 ($1,947/£1,513) per month.
Q. Can I teach English in Italy if I don't speak Italian?
Yes, you can teach English in Italy if you don’t speak Italian, though having even some basic Italian proficiency would certainly help. This is especially true if you’re applying for jobs in person, which is usually an effective way to get employed.