Teach English in Lithuania

The three Baltic states are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Further south is Lithuania, and this is a fantastic destination for those wishing to experience teaching abroad. It can be a little more challenging to find work in Lithuania when compared to Estonia. Still, the benefits of living and working as an English teacher in Lithuania will outweigh any difficulties in finding a job. Lithuania is ideally placed to explore much of Europe as the Scandinavian countries sit to the north, Poland and Germany sit to the west and over to the east is Russia. Lithuania has a mix of cultures which makes it a very interesting place to stay. The country gained independence in 1990, having been taken into the Soviet Union by Moscow in 1940. Since it regained independence, the amount of immigrants and people moving to the area has increased, and the benefits of having skills in English were quickly recognised, leading to increasing demand for English teachers in Lithuania.

As an English teacher in Lithuania, you will be able to enjoy students from all over the world with multicultural backgrounds and take adventures into a diverse world. There are numerous benefits to living and working in Lithuania, and if you enjoy trying new foods, you will love their cuisine. The landscape and other buildings of note give you plenty to look at and create a fantastic skyline.

In this guide, we explore the qualifications that you will need in order to teach English in Lithuania, look at the best ways of applying and understand the visa application process. In addition, we look at the culture and the cost of living as well as any other useful information you need to know in order to become an English teacher in Lithuania.

Job types

One of the reasons the demand for English teachers has grown in countries such as Lithuania is because the younger generation realises that having language skills such as English will give them better career prospects. The more people that move to the area, the more culturally diverse classes at international schools will be, and therefore, there are plenty of opportunities for those who enjoy teaching English. You will also find opportunities to teach adults who also want to expand their work skills and learn English in language schools. a

International Schools

International schools are fee-paying institutions that educate the children of other ex-pats who have chosen to build a life in Lithuania. This means they can come from all over the world, and their English skills can range from very good to virtually nothing. This is a challenging post for an English teacher in Lithuania, and you will need to have a degree, a teaching license in your own country and your TEFL certification in order to stand out from the crowd And be the candidate that they choose. In return, you can enjoy higher salaries and a more luxurious standard of living.

Language Schools

Private language schools are found in every city across the world. And Lithuania is no exception. Here lessons tend to take place in evenings and weekends as so to avoid the working day as most of your pupils will be business, men and women looking to improve their English skills. You may get the occasional student who is seeking to enhance their English skills in order to apply to a university in an English-speaking country. You may be able to find work at a language school. If you do not have a degree, you will find that the pay is reflective of your lack of qualifications.

Private language lessons

Teaching English in Lithuania as a private tutor is also an option on offer. This means teaching students in your home or theirs, and you are technically doing so on a freelance, self-employed basis. It is therefore important that you understand any rules and regulations surrounding working for yourself and have cleared with your employer if you have one, that they don’t mind you having a second income stream. You could also look into teaching English online, and may well make more money this way as your students come from all over the world.

Finding a job

The best time to find work as an English teacher in Lithuania is during May and August. Term time begins in September, so this tends to be when schools are looking for staff. However, openings may crop up throughout the year. It is normal to have to travel to Lithuania for an in-person interview in order to secure a job, but the initial contact and application can be done from home.

Qualifications

Most roles teaching English in Lithuania require you to have a bachelor’s degree. Certainly for international schools. There is no point in applying if you do not have this. You will also need a TEFL 120 hours certification. They would prefer that you are a native English speaker, but if you are not, you will need to demonstrate that you have a high level of fluency and understand the language enough to teach. Some places will also be looking for a teaching degree in your home country and expect you to be able to bring the experience in the classroom to your job.

Visa Requirements for English Teachers in Lithuania

If you are a citizen of a European Union country, then you do not need any Visa to be able to work or live in Lithuania as they to a part of the EU. If you are not from an EU country, you do need to have a work permit in order to be able to teach English in Lithuania legally. However, the good news is that this is an extremely easy process. Simply get in touch with the Lithuanian Visa bureau or consulate in your home country, and they will assist you with your application.

Need to know

It is likely that you will find work in Vilnius, which is the capital city. There is a large concentration of private international schools and language schools here. A lot of parents are very keen for their children to have good language skills. You will also find adults looking to improve their own job prospects.

Although Lithuania is not as popular when it comes to being a tourist destination as somewhere like France, there is still plenty to do when you are not at work. They might not all be tourist attractions as such, but the places that you can visit are fascinating, and it is a very easy small country to navigate.

The capital has a vibrant and buzzing nightlife and some very beautiful, historically significant places to visit by day. The Vilnius Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Cathedral Belltower, and Saint Johns Church are all worth a look. If you enjoy museums, there is the Museum of Genocide Victims and the Palca of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

Once you have explored Vilnius, there is a lot more to see; head over to the Amber Museum, where you can see some amazing amber jewellery from the Baltic Sea, visit Trakai to see the Trakai Castle or head to Juodkrante to see Witches Hill. The food is plentiful, and there are many stunning restaurants to tempt you. Also, take a stroll through Hales Market, the Tolerance Centre and the Ethnocosmology Museum when you are off work.

Culture and Living in Lithuania

It is considered impolite to be late for an arranged meeting in Lithuania, so try and get there about 10 minutes early so as not to offend. If you are unavoidably delayed, be sure to get in touch by phone and let them know. This tends to apply to work arrangements rather than socialising, but timekeeping is generally highly valued.

Classroom & work culture

You should expect to dress conservatively for work; of course, after your first day, you can take your cue from other teachers, but aim to have a good wardrobe of smart business clothes on hand. It is generally better to go for darker colours. Learn by watching your peers, and you will soon find you fit in with the local work culture.

Culture & etiquette tips

A respectable distance should be kept from your colleagues, especially when you first meet them. They like to have personal space, so they do not stand really close to people. The best way to greet people is with a handshake while making eye contact and smiling. Greetings tend to be on arrival and again on departure. A less formal greeting will evolve over time as you get to know people, but you should wait for them to initiate this. Once you are friends, a hug is considered a typical greeting.