Teaching English In Italy

Teach English in Italy

As one of the top destinations for world travelers and a major center of European commerce, Italy represents one of the top countries for teaching English in Europe. English teachers in Italy should count on interviewing in Italy and beginning their teaching job during the major hiring seasons in September, and then again in January, with most contracts ending in late June.   

A solid hourly wage affords English teachers in Italy a comfortable lifestyle that enables them to enjoy all that Italy has to offer but don't count on getting rich.  Schools typically offer around 20-25 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore.  English teachers typically need to have a BA to teach in Italy, and a TEFL certification is commonly required as well.  Major cities for English teaching jobs in Italy include big cities like Rome, Naples, Milan, and Turin.

For nearly all jobs, English teachers in Italy will be expected to interview in person once they arrive in Italy, and they will also handle their airfare, as well as housing.  Most teachers live in apartments recently vacated by previous teachers and share accommodations with other English teachers. 

 Check Out Stories & Videos from Alumni Teaching in Italy!

Important Details About Teaching English in Italy:

1. While a Bachelor’s degree is not required for the work visa, this is a strong preference by the schools that hire in this country. Not having a degree will make your job search significantly more difficult, and ITA does not recommend looking for a job in this country without a Bachelor’s degree. 

2. It is not common to obtain a work visa in Italy. English teachers typically work under the table on a tourist visa. It is common practice, but it is not technically a legal work visa. Should you choose to work under the table it is your responsibility to be informed of the potential consequences of working on a tourist visa. To learn more, please read: What Type of Visa Can I Use to Teach English in Italy?

3. Interested in teaching English in Florence, Italy on a student visa? A student visa allows Americans & other non-E.U. citizens to live legally & teach English in Italy while taking part-time classes in Italian language & culture. There are possibilities to teach in language institutes in the surrounding suburbs of Florence, however, this opportunity is ideal for those who would like to private tutor one-on-one or teach English online, while studying the Italian language, cinema, and more while living in the heart of Florence. Read more about our Italy Student Visa offering. 

* Note about Florence job market:  Florence is a moderate sized city in Italy and while there are language schools that are hiring during the job season (September and January),  it is a city with a lot of English teachers which makes it a difficult job market, especially for Americans & other non-European Union citizens. The rule of thumb, go where the population and standard of living is high.  Rome and Milan are where the majority of English teachers work (though there are many cities in Italy for English teaching). For a more detailed overview of how to get a job teaching English in Italy, please read Top Tips for Finding a Job Teaching English in Italy.

For more information about teaching English in Italy, check out our Italy Resource Hub.