TEFL jobs in Latvia

Overview

You may not have considered Latvia as a destination for teaching English abroad, but it actually has a lot to offer. It is a stunning environment with waterfalls, forests, extensive beaches, and rivers. It is one of the Baltic nations, and the cost of living compared with other places in Europe is low. Latvia is a tiny country located between Lithuania and Estonia, and there are lots of ex-pats living and working there. 2 million people call this country home and with good reason as it is a really beautiful place to live. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will have fun exploring the four national parks, a range of castles and historical relics, many beautiful lakes and some impressive cliff walking. More than half of the country is forested, and this also gives it a claim of being one of the greenest countries in Europe. It has 500 km of coastline, which also means there are plenty of beaches if you like long walks in the sand. It is a very peaceful place, although, in the capital of Riga, you will find there is a vibrant nightlife with lovely eateries and wonderful city-based parks.

If you head over to teach English in Latvia, you will be ideally placed to do plenty of exploration around Europe. It is surrounded by lots of other countries, and you can easily get to them during your time off. To the south of Latvia, you will find Finland; to the east is Russia; and to the north is Poland. All of these are great places to explore, and public transport is inexpensive, meaning you can easily get there. Latvia is also a great place to live if you enjoy the sport of ice hockey, as it is their national sport. They have many teams that compete in the National Hockey League and the Kontinental Hockey League.

It may surprise you to know that Latvia enjoys the fastest broadband Internet speeds in the emerging European nations. It could also be an excellent place to top up your income teaching English online. If you live or work in the capital city of Riga, you can also take advantage of the free Wi-Fi connection points, of which there are over 800.

Types of teaching jobs

Primary and Secondary Schools

Jobs are often found in state schools at both primary and secondary levels in Latvia. To qualify to apply for a role as an English teacher in Latvia in one of the state schools, you will need a degree and a teaching certificate from your own country.

Language Schools

Language schools in Latvia tend to offer lessons in the evenings and weekends so that people who work full time can still attend. As an English teacher in Latvia, you’ll find a lot of language school work is teaching adults business English to help them progress with their careers.

Universities

There is more than one university in Latvia, but in order to teach English in Latvia at this level, you do need to have a Master’s degree and proven teaching experience. However, these positions are considered highly sought-after, and people tend not to leave once they have managed to secure a role.

International Schools

Because Latvia has a high ex-pat population, there are also several private language schools. These are feepaying institutions for the children of people living and working in Latvia. You will be expected to have a TEFL certification and, where possible, a degree in order to secure work at an international school. But, because they are operating as a business rather than a government-funded school, they do have the capacity to offer better salary packages and benefits to their staff.

Private Tutoring

Should you wish to top up your income, you can always look into teaching English in Latvia as a private tutor. If you are employed by any of the institutions above, you should check with them that they are happy for you to take a second role. You can teach English to people in your local area from your home or theirs, or you could teach English online, where you will probably earn more money and can stay at home.