Get TEFL certified in one of Europe's most charming and famous cities. Spend your days studying to become an English teacher and your afternoons exploring 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
Have questions for a program manager? Email us at travelapplications@greenheart.org
Course Date | Availability |
September 1, 2024 | Open |
October 28, 2024 | Open |
November 25, 2024 | Open |
January 20, 2025 | Open |
May 5, 2025 | Open |
June 2, 2025 | Open |
June 2, 2025 | Open |
June 30, 2025 | Open |
September 15, 2025 | Open |
October 13, 2025 | Open |
November 17, 2025 | Open |
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:
*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:
What’s not included:
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:
8:00 AM | Wake up |
8:30 – 9:30 | Get ready, eat breakfast |
9:30 – 10:00 | Commute to school |
10:00 – 11:35 | Morning lessons |
11:35 – 11:55 | Coffee break |
11:55 – 1:30 | Afternoon lesson |
1:30 – 2:30 | Lunch |
2:30 – 4:05 | Student teaching |
4:25 – 6:00 | CV/Resume Workshop |
6:30 – 10:00 | Homework, dinner, hanging out with friends |
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:
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:
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:
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.
Have questions or want to talk to a program manager? Set up a time to have a phone call below.