People with a legal teaching permit to work in Malta and speak English as their first language have an opportunity to teach English as Foreign Language (TEFL) to more than 80,000 students in 50 different language schools who visit Malta annually. Indeed, many people who are not native English speakers teach English, while the Maltese citizens naturally teach the subject. More so, there are many tutors, for example, Italians teaching English to fellow Italian students. For the unilingual Canadian/Brit like me to effectively teach English in Malta, the subject is done at a slow pace.
Positive Aspects of Teaching English in Malta
- People who want to make at least EUR 10 per hour will find teaching English in Malta a good source of income. Although this income may not be significant, the amount beats many other jobs which pay lower than EUR 10.
- Teaching English can be a lucrative job for people like me who want to work part-time as I integrate into Maltese life and understand their daily activities.
- People who portray professionalism in their English classes are likely to get recognition from their employers by allowing them to choose custom hours when they are available to work. Being available in the morning, however, is essential for every English tutor.
- Teaching English is a worldwide activity, and hence, you can offer your services in Sydney, Shanghai and Ireland during your annual periods.
Negative Aspects of Teaching English in Malta
- Landing an English teaching job can be hard out of the peak season of summer unless you have a top-notch experience.
- English teachers in Malta are employed by private language schools and are rated by their students. Your rating plays a significant role in the role that the school’s Directors of Studies will assign to you.
- English teachers employed in Malta have to meet the government requirements for English tutors. You can check eltcouncil.gov.mt and www.matefl.org to see whether you meet the qualifications. People who fail to meet the criteria need to attend classes for a few weeks and sit for an exam at the end of the training. These classes will cost you a few hundred Euros.
Getting a Job in Malta as an English Teacher
To work in Malta as a TEFL teacher, you will first be required to acquire a teaching permit from the Department of Education in Floriana. To get this permit, you need to meet the following requirements.
- Holder of a recognised TEFL certificate which takes at least 60 hours to complete
- A-level qualifications or an equivalent
- Passport
- Police Conduct certificate
- Birth certificate
With these requirements, you are almost guaranteed of receiving a teaching permit in Malta. If you miss either document in your application, the license cannot be awarded to you, and this means that you cannot get a teaching job in Malta. However, once you have been approved for a teaching permit, you can start hunting for a job immediately. The most comfortable time to get a teaching job in Malta is between May and September when there is high demand for tutors with at least some experience in teaching English.Although you may not be able to earn enough to buy a yacht, you can expect to receive at least €10 an hour, although the wage varies depending on your qualifications and experience. With a CELTA qualification, for example, you can expect to earn at least €11 or €12 an hour. Expect to teach from Monday to Friday for three to eight hours. Private tutors may receive up to €15 per hour, which again is dependent on qualifications and experience.English teaching could be your next financial breakthrough in Malta!
