Ireland is a truly romantic destination, and its capital city, Dublin, is home to many writers' pubs. Adventure lovers can go night kayaking on Lough Hyne, with several exotic plants and rare animals not found elsewhere in Ireland.
To become an English teacher in Ireland, a degree and a recognized TEFL certification are essential, especially if you want to teach in private language schools. Some private schools also require at least one year of teaching experience. You can earn between US$2,000 and US$3,000 per month teaching English as a foreign language in Ireland.
With your TEFL certification in Ireland, you get a perfect chance to walk in the trails forged by some of history's greatest writers. They include Oscar Wilde and James Joyce while enjoying a fulfilling career.
ESL teachers in Ireland, especially those interested in literature, can also visit Dublin Literary Pub Crawl to satisfy their literary writing cravings. Teachers can move away from Dublin to experience amazing views, ancient castles, quaint villages, and coastline during the holidays. Get ready to be spoilt for a choice of golf courses numbering over 400 all across the country.
Get a TEFL certificate in Ireland to explore the English teaching opportunities in Dublin and other ESL destinations such as Galway, Killarney, and Cork.
TEFL Courses in Ireland
A Guide to Teaching English in Ireland
Are English teachers in demand in Ireland?
There is a demand for English teachers in Ireland, especially in the summer when potential ESL students visit the country to join summer camps. Although Ireland is an English-speaking country, there are notwithstanding many ESL teaching positions available across the country, with a bulk of them concentrated in Dublin's capital city.
A vast number of individuals come to the country to study and work. There is consequently a high demand for English teachers with an increasingly competitive market. However, ESL teachers with a TEFL certificate in Ireland can easily beat the competition and secure the best teaching positions.
ESL students who attend summer camps to improve their language learning create an avenue for ESL teachers to make extra money for a couple of months.
International companies also seek to arrange English teachers to train their employees to a globally accepted standard of English, thus helping their staff to be better equipped with the language.
What qualifications do you need to teach English in Ireland?
To teach English in Ireland, you are expected to have a TEFL certificate alongside a Bachelor's degree. There is an emphasis on a degree in education as this can help gain access to the better-paying teaching positions in Ireland.
Some International language schools also require ESL teachers to have acquired a Master's degree and a TEFL certificate in Ireland. In addition to this, certification by the particular state in which a teacher is employed in the country is highly required.
Additional coursework in specific areas such as adult education or early childhood education is advantageous due to the wide age range of students ESL teachers might have to take.
What type of jobs are available for English teachers in Ireland?
Types of jobs available for English teachers in Ireland include:
- Private language schools
- Public schools
- Freelance private tutoring
- Higher institutions
Private Language Academies
Most of the ESL teaching positions in Ireland are offered by private language schools in the big cities of Dublin, Galway, and Cork.
These schools tend to cover general English lessons for non-native speakers and business English for employees of international companies who wish to get better at speaking and writing the English language. Teachers can expect to teach for about 25 hours a week in private schools.
Many private language schools in Ireland belong to the MEI-RELSA, an association of English schools recognized by the Irish Department of Education. Some of these schools include Castleforbes College, Citas College, Dublin, and Cork English World.
Public Schools
Irish public schools mostly have a high demand for STEM teachers. However, ESL teachers can also find work teaching English, especially in public secondary schools. To teach English in an Irish secondary school, foreign English teachers need a degree, a teaching license, and a TEFL certification recognized by the Ireland Teaching Council. Public school ESL teachers in Ireland work an average of 27 hours a week.
Freelance Private Tutoring
ESL teachers in Ireland also take private lessons to make some extra cash. Students for these lessons could range from those preparing for English exams such as IELTS and TOEFL to adults willing to up their grasp of spoken or written English.
Teachers can advertise private tutoring openings on websites such as Gumtree or through word of mouth.
Summer Camp ESL Jobs
ESL teachers can also take advantage of language classes in summer camps for children and teenagers. These are more suitable for teachers in need of short-term jobs that last only a few weeks.
How to find English teaching jobs in Ireland?
You can find teaching jobs in Ireland either by traveling to the country or from your home country. These are some of the ways to find an English teaching job in Ireland.
Visit schools
Visiting schools with your CV is one of the popular ways to find English teaching jobs if you are already in Ireland. You can check local newspapers to guide you on what schools to visit and where to submit your CV. Teaching jobs are sometimes advertised in the local press like the Independent, the Newsletter, or the Belfast Telegraph. If you are not in Ireland, you can search for language schools and apply for jobs through the association of English language schools in Ireland called MEI.
Marketing English in Ireland (MEI)
If you are not yet in Ireland, you may consider searching for jobs through the Marketing English in Ireland website or the Independent Language Schools Group. There you will find an extensive list of language schools in Ireland where you can apply for jobs. Each school has its website listed to look through and send direct applications to the appropriate channel.
Advertising
There are websites where ESL teachers can advertise their services to get teaching jobs in Ireland. This is also a common way to find ESL jobs while you are in Ireland. Gumtree or jobs.ie are popular websites where you can publicize your service as an English teacher.
Enroll in a University Graduate Program
You can explore this option to find English teaching jobs in Ireland within the university community, especially if you want to avoid the process of getting a work permit. International students in Ireland are allowed to work without a permit as long as they are enrolled in a course identified by the Irish Department of Education.
While you enroll in a graduate program, you can meet many non-native ESL students who want to learn English and teach them as a private tutor. If you have a master's degree, you may also apply directly to the University as an English teacher. The University College Cork and Dublin City University are some universities with a high number of potential ESL students.
Join ESL Communities Online
Joining a teaching community online is a great way to mingle with fellow teachers having similar ESL goals in Ireland. ESL teachers already teaching in Ireland share information on such platforms, including available jobs, interview tips and other useful content. Examples of online groups for ESL teachers in Ireland is ELT Ireland. If you have a specific state where you wish to teach, you can join state-specific groups like Cork English Teacher.
What is the salary for English teachers in Ireland?
The salary for English teachers in Ireland is between US$2,000 and US$3,000 per month. Most ESL jobs in Ireland pay on an hourly basis. Therefore, your salary will vary depending on the number of hours you work.
Long-term contracts may pay monthly, but these are more common among native Irish teachers and management staff than foreign English teachers. Salaries are also different based on location and the type of school. On average, teachers can earn about US$20 to US$30 per hour.
Many schools do not offer the cost of international airfare and other travel costs.
What type of visa do you need to teach English in Ireland?
To teach English in Ireland, ESL teachers must possess a work visa or employment permit. It is important to point out here that Citizens of EEA countries can work in the country without a work permit. Be sure to check if your country is a non- EEA country before applying for a work permit in Ireland.
Work permit for Non-EEA teachers in Ireland
Americans and ESL teachers from other countries have to obtain an employment permit first. A visa application can be made at the Irish embassy or consulate with requirements to be met, including a passport, finished application, and proof of Irish employment.
Before making an application for a work permit in Ireland, it is important to go through all requirements stated by the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. You can also find the most recent visa regulations on the Irish government website.
Irish ESL employers hardly sponsor work visa applications for employees, so it is advised that you have enough funds to obtain your visa.
Can you save money while teaching English in Ireland?
You can break even while teaching English in Ireland, but the chance of saving is very low.
ESL teachers in Ireland are paid just enough to live. You may need an extra stringent lifestyle and additional jobs like private tutoring to save a few hundred dollars monthly. This is mostly due to the expensive cost of living than the low salary.
In addition to this, Irish ESL employers hardly offer any benefits. This means you have to cater for your work visa costs, accommodation, and transport making it even harder to save.
Cost of Living in Ireland
The cost of living in Ireland is quite high. Most ESL teachers will not have a substantial amount of money to save if they do not take up side jobs, extra hours, or lessons such as summer camps or private tutoring.
The country's tax rate is relatively high, and ESL teachers usually have to be prudent with their budget to break even.
On average, the cost of living is put between US$1,200 and US$1,700 per month.
Accommodation Options in Ireland
Housing options available to ESL teachers in Ireland include hotel rooms and private accommodation. Most ESL teachers opt for shared accommodation to cut down apartment costs or live with a host family in a homestay placement.
This homestay placement is an excellent opportunity for ESL teachers to minimize costs and learn the customs and traditions of the country.
Generally, a one-bedroom apartment in Ireland costs about US$1,300 in the city center and US$1,000 outside the city center.
When can you apply for teaching jobs in Ireland?
ESL teachers can apply for teaching positions all year long. They will usually not have any problems finding out vacant teaching opportunities online and in the papers. However, summer camp positions are only available through the summer months.
ESL teachers can apply for jobs online or in person. If you are in Ireland, you can try contacting schools directly and enquire about vacant positions. However, many schools advertise vacant positions on their websites, and you could see many openings on the internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I teach English in Ireland without a degree?
No. To teach English in Ireland, you need a bachelor's degree, equal to a Level 7 qualification on the National Qualification Framework. There are additional requirements like teaching experience and an internationally recognized TEFL certification to teach in commercial language schools.
Where can I teach in Ireland?
Dublin is the largest destination to teach English in Ireland. Being a small Island country, Ireland does not have a vast population, and ESL jobs are mostly concentrated in the biggest cities. The most important cities for ESL teachers in Ireland include Galway, Cork, and private language schools in Dublin.
Do I need to know Irish to teach in Ireland?
No. You do not need to understand Irish to teach English in Ireland, except you want to teach in public primary schools where the Irish language is compulsory. For most private and commercial language schools, speaking Irish is not required. Some employers will also emphasize that you speak only English to students.
How easy is it to get a teaching job in Ireland?
It is not very easy to get an English teaching job in Ireland, especially as a non-native ESL teacher. The ESL market in Ireland is competitive. You will need the required certifications and teaching experience to compete in the market. Even with the requirements, native speakers usually get jobs more quickly than non-native English teachers in Ireland.
Can a non-native get a teaching job in Ireland?
Yes. It is possible to get an ESL job as a non-native in Ireland even though English is a dominant language. You can get a teaching job in Ireland as long as you meet the requirements and speak English on a native speaker level. Non-native speakers that earned their degree from a native English-speaking country can also get teaching jobs in Ireland.
Fun and travel activities while teaching in Ireland
With its wealth of beautiful terrains and stunning views, Ireland is home to scenic natural wonders like the Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway. There are also some fantastic human-made sites like Kilmainham Gaol and Blarney Castle.
As an ESL teacher living in Ireland, your stay in the country will be incomplete if you fail to take a seaweed bath in Sligo or go cloistering on Clare Island. Every weekend in Galway is host to some fiesta in summer, whether it be a tiny village bash or a ginormous music festival.
You can get treated to film festivals, summer races, and the annual Arts Festival. Also, find love at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, where you could even meet your future partner if you do not already have one.
Have you ever heard of Baltimore? This small village looks several planets away from other earth at sunset. You can enjoy a glamorous view of the sunset behind Sherkin Island and Cape Clear. You can go mountain biking in the Ballyhour Mountains or take a hike across for a more tasking exercise.
No matter what you love doing or what your taste of adventure is, Ireland has something in it for you at every point in time.
