Oh, Europe! You’re a beauty. Glistening alpine lakes meet the glinting beaches of the French Riviera, the spiked Tatra mountains roll down to historic towns dating from centuries gone by, while Tuscany is filled with vineyards and Greece is all postcard-worthy coves and endless sun. Tempted? You’re going to want to get on the hunt for teaching jobs in Europe for English speakers, which is where these five handy steps come in…
Step 1: Do your 120-hour TEFL
Teaching jobs in Europe for English speakers almost always ask for applicants to have a full-fledged TEFL qualification in the bag. What’s more, most won’t even think about interviewing candidates that haven’t finished at least a 120-hour course. Anything less than that and your CV could well be on the fast flight from desktop to wastepaper bin. So, avoid those free-to-enrol 40-hour courses. They might sound like attractive prospects, but they aren’t a ticket to well-paid jobs in Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal.
Step 2: Write a targeted CV and cover letter
Generally speaking, teaching jobs in Europe for English speakers are a little more demanding on the requirements front when compared with their Asian counterparts. You’ll most likely need a BA degree here, not to mention that completed TEFL qualification. A bit of experience can go a long way too. That means you’ll need to be ready to flaunt what you’ve got during the application process, which is why a good CV and cover letter is a big, positive step to make. Be sure to tailor both to the particular school or institution you’re applying for. Do your research, mention their teaching methods, focus on skills that match their curriculum. All that will help you stand out from the crowd.
Step 3: Think about summer schools
There are several different types of teaching jobs in Europe for English speakers. From full-time positions in private business schools to university lecturing posts, a lot of them will have pretty high qualification standards. That might not be the best thing for start-out teachers, which is why summer camps and summer schools can be a gift. They can help you get hands-on experience working with English learners on the continent, all with good pay packets, short contract commitments, and – usually – fewer requirements. Oh, and they take place in some seriously gorgeous places, from the Italian Dolomites to the sierras of Spain.
Step 4: Choose your country wisely
Europe isn’t one place. It’s a whole color swatch of countries. You’ll be wowed by the mega diversity that goes from west to east, south to north. Seriously, you’d hardly believe that those glowing Greek islands are on the same continent as the ice-capped fells of Norway. You’d never think that Portugal’s wave-washed shorelines are on the same land mass as Poland’s rolling eastern forests. But they are. And that’s why it’s really important to decide wisely on your TEFL destination. We’d even recommend spending some time traveling the continent to get a feel for where you love the most before starting to blast off CVs.
Step 5: Start networking locally
So, you’ve settled on where you want to go. Now you just need to start listing all the TEFL teaching opportunities in that location that you think you have the experience and qualifications to score. Arguably the best way to keep your pulse on the jobs market is to get networking with expat and local communities. Most of the larger towns and cities in Europe have some sort of online group where folk share advertisements, jobs, flat rental classifieds – all sorts. Join up on Facebook, on LinkedIn, on NomadList, and on Couchsurfing to start e-meeting and mingling.
Have you successfully scored teaching jobs in Europe for English speakers in the past? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below. Alternatively, get over to our destinations page for more information on various places to teach around the continent.
Hungary might not be up there with everyone’s first-choice of TEFL destination, but boy is it a hidden jewel. Set in the very midst of Central Europe, it’s got a rich history wrapped up with the great Hapsburg dynasty – it was once the epicenter of a mighty empire. On top of that, you can throw in wild beer bars and gorgeous Neo-Classic architecture, and whole swathes of countryside that go from winelands to glistening volcanic lakes. Appetite whetted? This guide hits some of the hotspots you’ll want to visit if you go in for teaching English in Hungary.
Budapest – obviously!
No trip to go teaching English in Hungary could possibly be complete without at least a pitstop in the amazing capital city. In fact, it’s likely you’re going to be based here, along with a third of the whole population. There’s a real buzz about the place, as the Danube snakes through, dividing the metropolis in two. On one bank is quiet and historic Buda, topped by a grand castle-palace and bastions of old fishing militias. On the other is gritty Pest, where you can unravel dark tales of communist rule, hit the City Park, and party the night away in mind-boggling ruin bars. Oh, and we didn’s even mention the spas – they steam and bubble everywhere.
Eger
Tree-peppered avenues link up with gorgeous Neo-Baroque churches in Eger, a town that’s got the looks, and most definitely has the wine. Yep, the winelands that flow over the undulating hills around the city are famed for their Egri Bikavér, also called Bull’s Blood. It’s a full-bodied, earthy tipple which is known for carrying the flavor of the local soils. Try that, but maybe check out 1,000-year-old Eger Castle and its Turkic remnants before you do.
Lake Balaton
The largest lake in Central Europe and one darn striking destination to boot, Balaton dashes its way through ancient volcanic hills on route to the Slovene border. It’s a hotspot for summer partying, with the north-eastern town of Siofok coming alive with pumping EDM festivals when the weather’s warm. The northern banks are famed for their sweet wines and age-old castles. But, best-known of the lot, is the spa facility that straddles the mineral-rich waters of Lake Heviz near Keszthely. Go there to cure all the stresses of teaching English in Hungary.
Szentendre
Draped over green and wooded hills on the winding Danube River just north of Budapest, the quaint town of Szentendre is all about going back in time. It’s got wiggling cobbled streets that go this way and that, pint-sized plazas with coffee shops, and more art galleries than you can shake a bowl of steaming goulash at – but don’t do that. Highlights include the Blagovestenska Church and the half-ruined fortress that crowns so-called Castle Hill, a remnant of the medieval age. Anyone teaching English in Hungary should find this one easy to check off the list – it’s a mere 30 minutes from the capital.
Esztergom
Overlooking the Danube on the cusp of the Slovakian border, Esztergom is one of the most prestigious religious centers in Central Europe. You won’t be able to miss the great Basilica of Esztergom, which holds one of the largest single-canvas paintings in the world. Around it, formidable Esztergom Castle is worth a visit, eventually spilling into the chocolate-box of an old district that is Watertown – think little taverns, goulash houses, and cobbled lanes.
Of course, this list touches on just a few of the amazing places that await folk who opt to go teaching English in Hungary. If you’ve anything to add, we’d sure love to hear about it in the comments below. Alternatively, check out our 120-hour online TEFL course, which can get you on the road to bagging jobs in Hungary in no time.