A vast island full of gorgeous green landscapes and mythical stories – Ireland absolutely has its charm and is a popular choice for visitors all over the world, looking for their own literary adventure. A lot of potential TEFL teachers, those already living in Ireland and those who are thinking about coming from abroad, wonder if they can use their TEFL certificate to teach English here. We’ll take a look at the opportunities available for TEFL in the Emerald Isle!

Firstly, it’s important to note that a TEFL certificate does not qualify you to teach in primary schools or secondary schools. The teachers that you would have had at these stages as a student would have obtained a different qualification which TEFL does not cover. These teachers are not typically teaching English as a second language so a TEFL certificate does not prepare you to do this. So if you are interested in teaching in this capacity, you’ll need to look into this separately. However, there are many options for those who want to work teaching English as a Second Language if you want to live in Ireland:

Private Language Schools 

You will find the majority of TEFL work takes place in language schools in Ireland. These are usually found in bigger cities such as Dublin or Cork. These often involve teaching adults English as a Second Language. These adults will probably emmigrated to Ireland and need to learn English to work or study there. In these classes, you will most likely follow a General English coursebook or focus on communication so that the students can learn to speak more fluently.

There are also a lot of Business English and Professional English courses to teach as adults aim to improve their working language to get ahead at work. It’s a great advantage to have a Teaching Business English qualification or to have some experience of these types of lessons. Adult learners might also aim to prepare for an exam in the English language such as IELTS or Cambridge so exam preparation classes will also be on offer for you as a teacher.

You might also encounter lessons with teenagers at these types of centres who have come for an intensive course. This is normally part of a short, cultural programme arranged by their school to spend a week or two in Ireland to improve their English. You role will involve teaching them for several hours a day. You might also incorporate cultural knowledge into your lessons, teaching them about Ireland and its traditions or history.

Universities 

While you can’t obtain a full-time position as a lecturer with a TEFL certificate, there is the possibility of working for a university in a short-term capacity. A lot of universities run summer programmes for their international students who are aiming to start studying in the autumn term. These programmes give students the opportunity to boost their English language level and academic skills before they start at an English-speaking university. These courses can be done face-to-face in Ireland or online. You will need experience before you can apply for an position like this so it’s one for more seasoned TEFL teachers. It is something you might consider for the future. These positions are great for your CV and pay fairly well.

You might also find work during term time teaching international students privately. These students want to progress their Engish level as they study at university. They might require more one-to-one focused speaking or writing classes to help them write more complex essays. You can think about advertising your classes online, in Facebook groups or, if possible, on campus for these lessons.

Summer Camps/ Schools

As an English-speaking country, Ireland attracts many students every summer to spend their summer improving their English and to get to know the beauty and culture of the country. There are many summer positions all over Ireland where you would be required to teach the English lessons for these students. They are usually aged 10-18. 

The type of lessons depend on the school but they are usually a few hours a day and might be more communicative-focused. These means that they aim to get the students speaking more fluenty, rather than sitting with grammar exercise. It’s also common for these classes to involve some sort of cultural education for students. This might be incorporating Irish history or literature into your classes. You might even want to educate the students about the Irish language for them to understand the country better.

These classes will most likely take place in the mornings and the students will partake in cultural activities/ visits in the afternoons. This will involve visiting local cultural sights to learn and see more of Ireland. Depending on the contract for the job, you might be required to attend or lead these activities too. It’s important to always check the duties you are expected to carry out when working for any summer school.

Ireland is a good option if you are only looking for summer employment as they receive a big influx of students for summer stays. Your contract will most likely include accommodation and board for summer so it can be a good way to make some money and explore a new country or get to know your own more! Check what is included in your contract to ensure that there are no extra expenses you hadn’t considered.

Working with refugees and migrants 

Did you know that Ireland has around 100,000 refugees displaced from around the world? Of course, English is important for them to learn in order to integrate and obtain work locally. There are many courses run for refugees to learn English in local schools or community centres. Sometimes this work is paid and sometimes it might be voluntary. It is a good way to gain experience and obtain short-term work if you are looking for a shorter project. Being able to help others learn English is also a very important aspect of TEFL and working in this context can be very rewarding.

These lessons might focus on more functional English such as ordering in a restaurant or going to the doctor. The students will need to know how to survive in these situations in real life so ensure you are always teaching them something they can use. You might also involve English for work interviews or job applications – these are essential skills for people coming to live and work in a new country.

Private classes

You can find private classes in many places and Ireland is no exception. Students who want a more focused one-to-one programme, or one that has a special focus (e.g exams) will often look for a private teacher. You can also organise your own group classes once you gather a sufficient number of students. Organising your own classes is usually more work but the financial rewards are greater. You can charge your own rate and this can be more lucrative with group classes.

Online platforms

You can also teach online from Ireland. Whilst there aren’t really any Irish-based companies for online work, there are many online platforms you can teach for. These might have a set rate of pay or there are companies where you can set your own rate of pay. You can even work for multiple platforms at the same time usually (just check your contract to ensure there is no clause about this) which helps build up your hours. Once you’ve gained more experience, you can work towards running your own private classes and charging more per hour.

Important things to consider about TEFL in Ireland

It’s important to note that to teach TEFL in Ireland you typically need a degree in any subject and a TEFL qualification. Any non-EU citizens will also need a work permit whilst EU citizens do not need this. Always check the requirements of any jobs before you make any serious plans as you don’t want to be derailed by visa issues if you don’t hold an EU passport.

The cost of living can be high in Ireland, especially in its capital, Dublin. If you already live there then you are aware and can have a better idea of this. If you are thinking about moving, make sure you consider your salary against these living costs. Check out rental prices and how much you will need to cover the first few months of living before you get paid – this can be high so you should be prepared. You often need a deposit and you’ll need to survive some time before your first payday so factor this in.

Most TEFL jobs in Ireland pay hourly and hours can differ each month. That can make it more difficult to judge how much you will earn each month and guarantee covering your rental costs. Annual salaries are normally reserved for management or language school directors. You can top up your salary by teaching online or private classes if you need to but you should be informed about how much you will be taking home from your main salary.

As you can see,  to teach English in Ireland is certainly possible and there are several options available for both those living in Ireland already, and those dreaming of moving there. It’s important to be prepared in terms of salary and schedule expectations. Ireland can be a dream to spend the summer if you are interesting in shorter employment so this might be the perfect time for you to explore!