Teach English in Malta

Do I need a degree to teach English in Malta?

No, you don’t need a degree.

Do I need a TEFL qualification and/or experience?

At least an introductory TEFL certificate is legally required, with some institutions requiring a CELTA or equivalent. Jobs can be found with little or no experience.

What are the visa requirements?

A work permit is required, even for EU nationals. You must have a job offer before you can apply for a work permit – applications are made through the employer. It may be possible to work on a temporary visa if you just come to teach in the busy summer months. Working holiday visas are available for Australia and New Zealand nationals.

Where are the jobs?

Most of the language schools are in Silema and St Julians, with a smaller number in other towns.

What’s the best way to find work?

Jobs are sometimes advertised online, but sending your CV to schools directly may be more productive.

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

Jobs are available year round, with a concentration of jobs becoming available from April through to the end of the summer.

What kind of salary can I expect?

“It ranges from 7 to 10 euro per hour, which is slightly higher than average part-time wages. There is no significant difference between regions.”

“Up to 800 euros monthly, with up to 20% of this paid as tax.”

What kind of teaching schedule can I expect?

“Schools have different schedules. Some operate on alternating morning-afternoon shifts, e.g. 4 hours morning or evening. Other schools have morning shifts, e.g. 3.5 hours, sometimes followed by afternoon individual classes, e.g. 1.5 hours individual teaching. The number of weekly hours can vary between 20 and 40 – 40 is not uncommon.”

“Morning and afternoon classes for most schools – split shifts are common. During busy weeks a teacher may work for around 30 hours.”

“Most teaching during the summer is teenagers. Summer is the busiest period.”

Are there opportunities for private teaching?

“Opportunities are rare, and it is often frowned upon or disallowed if you are also working for a language school.”

What about the cost of living?

a cup of coffee 1.20-1.50 euro
a beer 2-3 euro
a cinema ticket 6-8 euro
a meal in an average restaurant 10-20 euro
a month’s rent 500 euro or more for a two bedroom apartment
a day ticket on public transport anywhere in Malta 1.60-2.50 euro

75% of respondents in our survey thought that the cost of living in Malta is high or quite high compared to salary.

What’s the best way to get around?

Most people have cars, but buses are fine for foreigners. Taxis are very expensive and not very well-regulated. Walking is also an option since even the major cities are still quite small.

What about internet access?

Internet is easy and cheap to install at home, with good wifi coverage in public places.
 

The following are more general comments from English teachers who have taught, or are currently teaching English in Malta.

Working in Malta is great. Generally speaking most schools are friendly and pay you an hourly rate depending on your experience and qualifications. You will need a valid work permit and an A level in English, plus a recognised TEFL course as minimum. Check out the MATEFL website which is the Maltese Association for English as a Foreign Language for some reputable schools. Summer is the best time to look for work as schools go into overdrive since peak season is from around mid-May to September.
Liz, 11 May 2008

My partner and I were confused about how to go about getting a permit to teach English in Malta… We had some different advice and nothing we could find on the internet gave us a definitive answer. For example we were told to apply for everything from the UK. However we decided around 3 days before leaving the UK that the country that Malta was to be our destination. When we got here the 1st thing we did was to send off our certificates to the Qualifications Council in Malta (St Venera) so they could be verified and after a week they contacted us to advise us they needed to see our originals therefore you have to BE IN MALTA for this to happen. They also told us that to get the final report could take months which scared us a bit however they did say that should the EFL Monitoring Board need the report, they could confirm over the phone. So second, we got ourselves an apartment so everything could be posted to us and started the process of getting a Maltese ID card (very easy). Then we went to the Police GHQ in Floriana to obtain a police conduct certificate – this cost 2.50 euros and took maybe half an hour. Then we went to EFL Monitoring Board with all of our original certificates but it turned out all they really needed was our police conduct certificates and original CELTAs. Much to our surprise we were given our provisional permits straight away and were told to expect the permit within 2 weeks. It was all much easier than expected! Hope this helps anyone wondering about the process.
Sarah, 27 Feb 2012

There are plenty of job opportunities here in Malta. You will need a Tefl/Celta certificate at least and a Teaching Permit from the ESL Monitoring Board which you need to apply for by yourself (it helps a lot if you have a job offer and A Levels). Unfortunately, compared to the cost of living wages are low (up to 800 Euros net per month if you work 30 hours per week). If you are single don’t even bother to come over to Malta. The money will not suffice. :-(
Fabio, 5 Nov 2012

Related

Teacher training courses in Malta
English language schools in Malta