Teaching English in Germany – Munich

Published: 12 October, 2018  |  Last updated: 06 January, 2020

Teaching English in Munich, Germany

 

Report submitted on 05 Nov, 2017 by Elidgh.

Teaching English in Munich, Germany:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Munich, Germany?
Join Melta, the English language teaching association. Jobs are advertised on their website and there are plenty of networking opportunities. The Volkshochschule ( Adult Education Centre) has plenty of teaching opportunities and there are many private language institutions and firms looking for English teachers.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at colleges / universities, teaching at companies, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
Celta, Tesol or similar. In kindergartens native speaker level is sufficient.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Celta or Tesol or similar.

What are the levels of payment?
Between 20 and 60 Euros (approx. 23 – 69,50 US$) per hour.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
As many as you are willing to do. days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
As many as you are willing to do. hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Most Esl teachers are self employed. If you are lucky to get a permanent position then 6 weeks holiday is normal.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Munich, Germany to teach English?
It`s difficult to find a full time job teaching adults but there are plenty of part time opportunities. Full time opportunities can be found in bilingual kindergartens but the pay isn`t very good as you have to have a German qualification to get the top rate. Finding accommodation is difficult because of the high cost of renting.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Munich, Germany?
Germans are very keen to have native speakers as teachers and the job carries status.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Munich, Germany?
Lack of full time jobs.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Germans are perfectionists. They like to be taught from a textbook and their aim is to speak perfect English. They get annoyed when you don`t correct every mistake. They prefer traditional teaching methods and can be hard to motivate when you introduce new ideas.

 

Living in Munich, Germany:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Germany?
For members of EU states there are no requirements but other nationalities may require a visa and certificate of residence.

What is the cost of living like in Germany?
More expensive than the States but less expensive than the UK. Renting an apartment in Munich is very expensive and health insurance is mandatory.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Most people rent. Accommodation can be found through newspapers and estate agents.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Munich, Germany?
Munich is a beautiful city with lots of cultural and traditional events. There`s always something going on and you are only a few hours from the alps.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Munich, Germany?
Germans can be quite reserved so it can be hard to get to know them and the bureaucracy is horrendous!

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Make sure you can afford to live in Munich and make sure you have your paperwork in order. There`s a lot of bureaucracy to get through before you can be considered eligible to live and work in Germany.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Germany?
The friendliness and humour of the Scots. Some foodstuffs. British Tv.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
The good weather. How safe the city of Munich is. A huge selection of bread.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
You can get everything you need in Germany.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Elidgh

Nationality: British

Students I’ve taught in Germany: toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), adults, business

Where I teach: St Franziskus , VHS Haar in Munich. Teaching for 25 years.

How I found my current jobs: Through Melta (Munich English Language Teaching Association.
 

My school facilities: Good. Teaching resources.

What kind of teacher support is available at your school/s?: training / workshops

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Teaching English in Germany – Lübeck

Published: 06 March, 2017  |  Last updated: 06 March, 2017

Teaching English in Lübeck, Germany

Lübeck-Germany

Report submitted on 20 Jan, 2017 by Cynthia Walther.

Teaching English in Lübeck, Germany:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Lübeck, Germany?
By sending out applications to language schools.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
Usually native speaker, college degree. Teaching certificate is a plus.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
I would recommend doing a teaching course before applying to schools.

What are the levels of payment?
Sometimes unqualified teachers (students making some money on the side) charge as little as €8 (approx. 8,50 US$)/hr. Otherwise it’s usually €20-30 (approx. 21 – 32 US$).

How many teaching days a week is normal?
  It’s different for everyone days per week

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
See above hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
I believe most schools close during school holidays and their teachers take their holidays at that time as well.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Lübeck, Germany to teach English?
Besides doing a course before, get an apartment close to the center, buy a bike and you’re all set.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Lübeck, Germany?
You get to know all sorts of people, it’s a respected job, it’s interesting and your customers are always happy to see you. If you work in a larger school, you can meet other foreigners. I still have contact to some of my earlier co-workers from 20 yrs ago!

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Lübeck, Germany?
The hours are spread out, morning, afternoon and evening, which makes it difficult to do other courses yourself, e.g. German or fitness.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Sometimes people in companies don’t like talking about their personal lives in front of colleagues, which can create a stiff atmosphere.

 

Living in Lübeck, Germany:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Germany?
Yes, you have to get a resident permit and a work permit, but if you’re teaching your own language that’s usually not a problem for western countries.

What is the cost of living like in Germany?
My town is relatively cheap. Rent: €12 (approx. 13 US$)/sq mtr, Pizza €12 (approx. 13 US$), Bus €2.50 (approx. 2,70 US$), Loaf of bread €3 (approx. 3,20 US$)

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
I live with my family in our own house. Young people might want to share an apartment with other students, called a Wohngemeinschaft or WG for short.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Lübeck, Germany?
Culture, the Baltic Sea, traveling possibilities, reliable health care.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in scenery, Germany?
There are no mountains here and the weather is pretty lousy.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Lübeck, Germany?
Don’t just come in May, visit in November. If you can stand it then, it’ll be fine.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
The American people (enthusiastic, up-beat, fun, chatty with strangers, spontaneous); pop tarts, butterfingers, candy corn; the great outdoors (the woodsy areas are broken up by highways more in Germany).

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Germany?
The German people (honest, decent, reliable, loyal), the affordable cultural events, the free healthcare, the food especially the bread and pastries, riding my bike everywhere, the architecture, the Christmas markets, coffee and cake time.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Bring some food items that you love, to make the transition time easier. Macaroni and cheese in a box, reeses cups, bisquick, poptarts or whatever you love. You’ll need a taste of home for a while.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Cynthia Walther

Nationality: American

Students I’ve taught in Germany: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), adults, business

Where I teach: YouSpeak Language School – Lübeck, Germany. Teaching for 25 years.

How I found my current jobs: I founded it. I’m the owner.
 

My school facilities: Good. We’re very small and don’t have much technology. However, the room is very comfortable and the location is great.

What kind of teacher support is available at your school/s?: However, the room is very comfortable and the location is great.training / workshops, lesson observations, teacher evaluations

Links: www.you-speak.de

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Teaching English in Germany – Munich

Published: 11 January, 2015  |  Last updated: 11 January, 2015

Teaching English in Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany

Report submitted on 11 January, 2015 by Lisa.

Teaching English in Munich, Germany:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Munich, Germany?
Over the internet – ToyTown is the expat forum and I found my three agencies through the job search forum.
In the newspaper – sometimes individuals or small groups will advertise for Nachhilfe.
Word of mouth – other expats will refer jobs that they can’t take onto people they know.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at companies, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
You really need to be a native speaker. Germans already have a very good level of written English – in most cases they are after native speakers with whom they can practice and improve their spoken language. Obviously the better qualified you are, the more likely you are to be employed. That said, I have met a couple of people who have no specific teaching qualifications, but have a different career and therefore have been in demand as business English teachers.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
A TESOL certificate would be of great benefit.

What are the levels of payment?
It really varies. The usual schedule is based on a 45 minute teaching unit (UE) and most companies will book you for two UE in a block (single UE for kids classes). I work for three different agencies and receive between €19 and €24 per UE. I interviewed for a couple of places that only offered €15-17 per UE. Keep in mind that you are never paid for preparation time, and rarely for travel time. Of course as a freelancer you have to pay your own tax, insurance etc.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
3-5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
15-20 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
As a freelancer, obviously if I don’t work, I don’t get paid.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Munich, Germany to teach English?
Have a qualification and an interest in teaching English. (That would be my advice to anyone, teaching anything, anywhere.) Teaching is an important job and students here value their education.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Munich, Germany?
Moving around and meeting people. The students are interested, engaged and appreciative.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Munich, Germany?
This would be the case for freelancing anywhere: lots and lots of unpaid prep time. Some unpaid travel time. Lots of admin (again unpaid).

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
As a native speaker I acquired my grammatical knowledge communicatively. I have been asked some curly grammatical questions by some students who have taken a very structured approach to their language learning – on a couple of occasions I have needed to look up the “rules” in between classes in order to give a correct response.

Living in Munich, Germany:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Germany?
If you are a member of an EU country you are eligible to work here. As an Australian I needed to obtain an Aufentshaltitel – easy for me as I am the wife and Mum of German citizens.

What is the cost of living like in Germany?
Munich is EXPENSIVE in terms of rent. A public transport pass varies depending on how far you need to go, but my pass that covered the whole city area costs €74 per month – very reasonable given the extent and reliability of the network. Groceries are cheap and if you are in student-oriented areas you can find cheap places to eat out.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Some people live in share houses or dormitories. Newspapers and internet searches are of course helpful. It is difficult to find rental accommodation in Munich. We found a place relatively easily because we were prepared to live outside the centre of the city.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Munich, Germany?
It is really, really beautiful. German food and culture is wonderful.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Munich, Germany?
Paperwork. Seriously. You need to spend quite a bit of time getting yourself registered and so forth. It can be frustrating to navigate the bureaucracy here.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Munich, Germany?
Learn German first. A lot of people speak English, but you can’t rely on that.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Darrel Lea licorice bullets.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Munich, Germany?
The people. The scenery. The food.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Lisa

Nationality: Australian

Students I’ve taught in Germany: Pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), adults, business

Where I teach:  teach for three different agencies and have been approached for private lessons as well. Working here for 1 year.

How I found my current jobs: Through the ToyTown jobs available forum.

My school facilities: Good – I don’t often have internet connectivity, projectors, CD players etc, but there’s usually whiteboards, flip charts and comfortable seating, good lighting, clean, quiet facilities etc.

Teacher support at my school: Training / workshops, lesson observations, teacher evaluations.

 

Do you teach English in Germany?

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Teaching English in Germany – Hamburg

Published: 26 November, 2014  |  Last updated: 26 November, 2014

Teaching English in Hamburg, Germany

 

Hamburg, Germany

Report submitted on 26 November, 2014 by CalGal.

Teaching English in Hamburg, Germany:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Hamburg, Germany?
Word of mouth, social networks, Internet.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at companies, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
– native speaker (at the entry level schools)
– teaching credential for the better schools or businesses
– German Ausbildung for teaching children in a German school.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
– teaching credential from your home country
– if you want to stay in Germany and work with school age children, enrol in the World Teacher Program (Hamburg only) OR go back to Uni and get the Ausbildung.
– if you want to work with adults teaching Business English, get a credential in your home country, then start wherever you can, then network your way up to a decent paying position.

What are the levels of payment?
Depends – 11 euros per hour at a starter business school, up to 30 euros per hour at a high-end school

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
20 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Teaching hours are hard to say…depends on the school and on how you organize your time. Lots of flexibility with the different jobs.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Hamburg, Germany to teach English?
– learn German, be prepared to learn German
– learn how to teach

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Hamburg, Germany?
– respectful clients
– eager to learn English
– you will need to be prepared and to really know your material

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Hamburg, Germany?
Tax laws and net income–either work for 450 euros a month or less and pay no taxes, or go for full time work and get as much money as you can, and benefit from the good benefits.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
– stereotypes, cultural misunderstandings
– reserved culture, takes a long time to get connected
– students do not like to make mistakes and get embarrassed easily

 

Living in Hamburg, Germany:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Germany?
Yes, must register at the Foreign Office, prove competency in German.

What is the cost of living like in Germany?
Depends on your lifestyle.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Hamburg, Germany?
Hamburg is awesome! If you can handle horrible weather, then take advantage of the international community, the music, the food, the football……coffee and cake.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Hamburg, Germany?
– weather is awful. You have to like rain and gray.
– takes a long time to get “in” to a community, but once you are in, you are in for life.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Hamburg, Germany to live?
Learn German, book a plane ticket to somewhere sunny in January or February, be prepared to wait a while to make German friends (as in years), learn German, be open to international friends, join clubs, do your own thing, don’t take it personally if people are “direct” or “blunt” as it is perfectly okay to be direct, learn German, and be prepared to live in rhythm with the weather.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Sunshine, relaxed attitudes, shallow friendliness on the streets.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country (e.g. things that are difficult to get in your location)?
Spices, anything related to food, health and beauty products, Tampax (seriously! They only sell OB, no applicator).

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Hamburg, Germany?
Transit systems, the slower pace of life, bakeries, the quality of friendships, being able to bike everywhere, Christmas markets, being able to call Christmas Christmas and not “The Holidays”, Saturday football games.

Other comments
If you want to do it, go for it. You won’t regret it. Plan to be there for three years, and don’t be surprised when you stay for six, or ten.

About Me and My Work:

My Name: CalGal

Nationality: USA

Students I’ve taught in Germany: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), adults, business.

How I found my current jobs: Social network, and I created one at the preschool per parents’ requests.

My school facilities: Very good – comfy room, technology, freedom to teach as I feel meets my students’ needs.

Teacher support at my school: Lesson observations, teacher evaluations.

 

Do you teach English in Germany?

Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in Germany.

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