TEFL Certification in Florence, Italy

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Teaching English in Italy is one of the easiest ways to realize your dream of living in and experience Italian culture. With a robust and varied job market, taking a TEFL certification course with job placement assistance will provide you with the tools you need to be an amazing teacher and the guidance to find a job to support your new life abroad. Read more about why this course may be the best fit for you!

Course Overview

• Course located in Florence, Italy
• 4-week intensive in-person TEFL certification course, with 130 hours of instruction
• Monthly start dates available
• Taught by highly qualified instructors
• Small classes to ensure individualized instruction
• Assistance finding paid work abroad following your successful course completion

Have questions for a program manager? Email us at travelapplications@greenheart.org

All participants must show a serious commitment to learning, and a willingness to plan and teach in groups and to work reflectively. In order to make sure you gain all of the tools and practice you need to teach English, the course is intensive and involves long days in the classroom, plus homework on nights and weekends. Other requirements are:

• At least 18 years of age
• Native English Speaker*
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Must be open minded, flexible, and adaptable
• Have a laptop (tablets not acceptable)
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19

*Native English speakers or non-native speakers with a C1 certificate with a high school diploma may be academically eligible to join the course.

$1,800 USD

$700 USD payment is required to reserve your spot on the course; the remaining tuition is paid directly to the school and due 6 weeks before your course

What’s Included:

• 1 month International medical and accident insurance
• 4 weeks of intensive TEFL training in Florence
• Course books and materials
• Italian language and cultural lessons
• Orientation tour and end of course celebration
• Job, visa and housing assistance after the course

What’s not included:

• Meals
• Housing
• Visa or insurance after the first month
• Airfare to/from Italy
• Access to a computer

Accommodation is not included in the tuition of your course, but you will be assisted in setting this up prior to your arrival into Florence! We will assist you in setting up accommodation prior to your arrival upon your registration.

Most students opt to share an apartment with 2 or 3 other TEFL students. These apartments will include a private bedroom, shared kitchen, shared living room, WiFi, AC and will be furnished including cookware. You should expect to provide your own bath towels and other toiletries.

This course is an intensive 4 weeks and students should expect to be at school for the majority of the day Monday – Friday and to complete homework assignments every night. Hours at the school are typically 10:30am – 7pm. Here is a typical daily schedule:

Although this course should not be taken lightly, as long as you go to class and get your homework done each night, you will do great! It is rare for students to fail this course, but you should be prepared for an intensive 4 weeks of classes, teaching practice, and homework.

This course is accredited as a Level 5 certificate by Learning Resource Network (LRN) which meets the highest international standards and is accredited and externally monitored by leading international accrediting bodies in the field of TEFL/TESOL.

Accreditation ensures that your certification course meets quality standards in the level of instruction, the quality of the curriculum, inclusion of a practicum, extent of training and other areas. It ensures that the course’s quality and ethical standards are maintained, and to recognize professional acceptance and recognition in the international job market.

International Standards

Most schools, language institutes and Ministries of Education recognize TEFL certifications that meet certain basic standards that are also recommended by leading bodies in the field, including the British Council. These standards reflect those incorporated into a standard, accredited intensive four-week TEFL class and include:

1. At least 100 hours of coursework and training
2. At least 6-20 hours of live practice teaching and observation involving actual ESL students (not peers – no role-playing)
3. External validation and accreditation by a recognized, independent body within the field;

Much like other Central European countries, it can be difficult to find work in Italy with a school that will sponsor a teacher from the US or Canada on a legal work visa. The main reason for this difficulty is simply that schools in Europe can hire someone from the UK, who will speak English natively and can already legally work in the EU, without needing to spend much extra time or money to arrange for their arrival. As a North American in Italy, you will not have a shortage of jobs to apply to but you should expect to work under the table on a tourist visa. If this is something you are not comfortable with, the school also provides job placement assistance in other countries – alumni have taught in more than 45 countries around the work with the help of the school!

If you decide you want to stay in Italy to teach, here is what you can expect:

• Year-round hiring
• Peak hiring season in September/October and January
• Language centers are the most common employer
• Students are usually university students, adults and professionals
• Non-EU teachers will be working on a tourist visa
• $11-$18/hour
• 3-12 month contracts

Why should I choose this course?

You should get TEFL certified in Italy if you are looking for a quality training course in a Central European country. This course offers amazing support in helping graduates find work both in Italy and around the world, depending on your preferences!

How do I know if this course is right for me?

You should take this course if you:

• prefer learning in a physical classroom (instead of online)
• want to teach English in a European country
• are still in school, but want to teach English when you graduate. Get qualified in the summer!
• are interested in being immersed in a different culture while earning your certification
• are seeking the best accreditation from an independent, accrediting body
• are a novice teacher: The course offers solid, practical, teaching techniques to ensure you enter the classroom with confidence
• understand that a highly qualified, experienced instructor, an exceptional curriculum and excellent accreditation are absolute necessities in TESOL / TEFL Certification training

Which course dates are the best to align with the main hiring season in Italy?

Italy has year-round hiring with peak hiring in September, October and January so any start date that works for your timeline is the best course to take!

Where will I do my practicum?

You will do your live student teaching and observation at the TEFL school mostly with Italian adults from the community.

Is Florence safe?

Florence, like many other large European cities, is generally a very safe city but it’s advisable to use the same safety precautions you use in your hometown to keep yourself safe. Always be aware of pickpocketing when near major tourist’s destinations as well as small-scale scams in restaurants and in taxis. Be sure to educate yourself on these tourist scams to be aware of them when you move to Florence

How do I get to the school when I land?

Airport pickup is not included in your tuition, but the school can assist you in setting this up if you’d like to schedule a pickup instead of taking a taxi.

Do I need a visa?

For the TEFL course, a tourist visa is sufficient. If you plan to stay in Italy to teach after the course and do are not an EU citizen, you should expect to have to overstay your tourist visa, unless you are hired by an employer who will sponsor a work visa, which is very unlikely. Overstaying a tourist visa is common practice for English teachers throughout Europe, but it is something you will have to figure out if you are comfortable with.

Do I need to speak Italian?

It is not required to speak Italian as many Italians speak English fairly well. However, learning a little before you go or while you’re there won’t hurt and lessons are easy to find!                   

How much money should I bring to get started?

Because you will not be collecting a paycheck during the course, we recommend bringing at least $1500 USD  to get you through the first month of the course as well as a number of weeks after until you receive your first paycheck. You can limit the amount you spend by avoiding eating out for dinner every night and instead cooking for yourself.

If you are planning on staying after to teach, you will want to bring more as you will need money to hold you over until you get your first paycheck. Generally, you will need to put a deposit down on an apartment or pay for nights at a hostel until you find an apartment. We recommended bringing $1500 for the month of your course and at least another $1000 if you plan to stay and get settled.

Will I be able to find a job teaching English in Italy once I’m done with my course?

Yes! You will receive assistance from the TEFL school staff to help you look for work during your course. Generally, students don’t have a problem finding a job, but they will have a problem picking which job they should choose as there are so many teaching jobs available throughout the year.

1. Start Your Application Here (Approximately 5 Minutes): Greenheart Travel Application. This first step includes things like your name, address and chosen start date and should take around 5 minutes to complete. Once complete, you will receive a link to a digital Terms and Conditions form.
2. Sign the Terms and Conditions Document (Approximately 10 Minutes): These are our basic policies like cancellation policies, deferral policies, etc.
3. Fill out your Registration Form (Approximately 10 Minutes): Fill out a simple form to formally register for your course.
4. Submit your $600 payment (Approximately 5 Minutes): A payment is required in order to apply for the program and is subtracted from your total program fee. After you submit your payment, we will start to arrange your arrival details!
5. Schedule your video interview! (Approximately 15 Minutes): Once you have submitted your online application and paid your application fee, you will be asked to schedule a video interview with a Greenheart Travel representative.
6. You’re accepted! Woohoo! We are usually able to accept people within 1-2 weeks of their interviews.
7. Balance: Your remaining tuition balance will be due 6 weeks prior to your course start date.

Have questions or want to talk to a program manager? Set up a time to have a phone call below.