Teaching English in London, United Kingdom
Report submitted on 29 April, 2015 by Mar.
Teaching English in London, UK:
How can teachers find teaching jobs in London, UK?
Recruitment agencies. If you complete a PGCE, the schools you do placements in may offer you a job after you graduate.
The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).
What are the minimum teaching requirements?
You will need to get a TEFL qualification of some sort. You wouldn’t be able to teach in a public school without having a Primary or Secondary Ed qualification, but you could teach in private academies or tutor privately.
What teaching requirements would you recommend?
As above. Salaries are quite high but the cost of living is really high as well, so if you’re only teaching English you’d have to work in a really reputable company, or have lots of students that you’d teach privately.
What are the levels of payment?
Private tutoring may get you around £30 per hour.
How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.
How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
30 hours per week.
What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
1 month a year plus public holidays (8 in England)
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to London, UK to teach English?
Be ready for the weather! Try to save so you can travel around.
What are the positive aspects of teaching English in London, UK?
The people you get to meet from all over the world.
What are the negative aspects for teaching English in London, UK?
The weather you have to endure 6 months of the year.
What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
This is an English speaking country so you would be teaching foreigners or people who live here and who have moved recently – levels will range from knowing nothing at all to wanting to a Proficient level.
Living in London, UK:
Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in the UK?
If you don’t reside in the EU you will need a working visa.
What is the cost of living like in London?
Cost of living is really high in London. Be prepared to not be able to save much, if anything at all. However you can travel cheaply to other places in Europe.
What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
A lot of people rent a room in a shared house. You can find available rooms online and from estate agents.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to London, UK?
Stay for at least 2 years. There’s always something to do here!
What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
The food and the weather.
What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave the UK?
The money that you can earn and the stability that a job offers you.
What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Nothing – everything is accessible.
About Me and My Work:
My Name: Mar
Nationality: Spanish
Students I’ve taught in the UK: Pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), adults.
Where I teach: I taught privately for over 10 years. Then I taught primary ed in several different schools. Teaching here for 10 years.
My school facilities: Very good – No lack of resources.
Do you teach English in the United Kingdom?
Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in the United Kingdom.