Italy is making its way to becoming one of the hot spots in Europe to teach English behind more popular destinations such as France, Spain and Germany. A lot of teachers in search of a ‘fitting country’ to teach in overlook Italy (and Europe) altogether, simply because they think that it is too difficult to land a position there. The good news is that a lot of people think like this, which is increasing the demand for teachers just like you.

Finding a job

The advice that most people who have taught in Italy will give you is to first get yourself there and then worry about finding a position. A Bachelors degree will make it possible for you to find a job, but it would help immensely if you were armed with a TESOL certificate. The best way to find a job is to go door to door; locate schools in the area that you want to be and see if they are hiring. Be sure to have all of your proper documents in hand when you go.

Do I need to be a member of the EU?

While most schools will hire someone who is from Europe, many schools are now starting to prefer teachers with an American accent (Canadians, you can take advantage of this too). Try and find some schools that have based their schools on teaching ‘American English’.

Open to interpretation

A common complaint from teachers who have worked in Italy is that contracts and deals made with the school are often left open to interpretation. This can turn into a huge problem for teachers who quickly sign a contract that they haven’t fully explored. You want to make sure that you know what you are getting into at all times before you sign anything. It is also important to make sure that you are registered with the government; this will take some time and effort, but it is better to play it safe to make sure that the school follows up on its agreement with you.

While the whole process in getting a job teaching in Italy requires a little more effort on your part, the rewards are endless.