Teaching English in Ireland

Do I need a degree to teach in Ireland?

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Yes.

Do I need a TEFL qualification and/or experience?

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Requirements vary, but most private language schools require a CELTA, Trinity Cert TESOL, CELT or equivalent, as well as a year or more of experience.

What are the visa requirements?

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Non-EU teachers require a valid work permit. Few schools will sponsor this as it administratively easier for them to recruit EU teachers.

Where are the jobs?

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Most language schools are in and around Dublin, with work also available in smaller towns and cities such as Cork.

What’s the best way to find work?

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If you’re already in Argentina, by going door-to-door. If not, through MIE, an association of over 50 language schools throughout Ireland.

When is the best time of year to look for work?

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The best time to find work is between May and September.

What kind of salary can I expect?

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About 20 euros per contact teaching hour in schools in Dublin.

What kind of teaching schedule can I expect?

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25 hours a week is normal at private language schools, with a high proportion of teaching children and teenagers during the summer months.

Are there opportunities for private teaching?

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Yes. Websites such as Gumtree are good for advertising.

What about the cost of living?

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100% of respondents in our survey thought that the cost of living in Ireland is high or quite high compared to salary.

What’s the best way to get around?

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Example answer:
Walking, by bike or by bus are the most common transport type. For Dublin, regional train and tram system are also used.

What about internet access?

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Internet is easy to install at home and costs about 30 euros a month. At internet cafes, 2 euro an hour is the average price.

What’s the best way to find somewhere to live?

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Daft.ie is a good place to start. Language schools don’t usually help with the process.

Piglet on 17 April 2006

Ireland has become one of the most expensive countries in Europe to live over the last five years but with that the economy is booming and there is plenty of work for qualified EFL Instructors. Many of the schools are in Dublin as expected but there are some little gems in the countryside which is where I have been working for the last year. The wages are on average 15 Euros per hour, and if you have a place in the country then the rent is normally OK at about 70-100 Euros per week. Once you get to know the area and some of the other teachers it is possible to share digs much cheaper. A lot of the work in the countryside is seasonal so if you are looking for summer work then there are many schools advertising. You can save money too if you stay away from drinking 7 nights a week. I work 25 hours per week and have found that I was able to get by on about 150 Euros per week after the first three months here. My school is not so strict on teaching materials and lets the teachers decide what is used in class as long as the material is appropriate for the level of students, and the DOS will visit my classroom every two weeks to make sure I am giving the students good classes. My advice for locations to teach in Ireland would be to apply to the west coast schools. Even though there are less people there you will have a lot of tourists passing through about six months (or more) of the year and you will get the chance to get to know the locals better and enjoy the peace, quiet and spectacular beauty that you won’t see in Dublin.

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