Florence, Italy
4 week TEFL Course
- Government accredited
- 10 hours teaching practice
More info
Deposit Refund Guarantee
We're confident in the quality of our training: If you complete the course and don't pass, we'll refund your deposit.
Fully accredited
Ofqual level 5 TEFL certification, recognised worldwide and exceeding international standards
What's included?
4 week, 130 hour (+/-) course
10 hours of teaching practice
6 hours observing experienced teachers
Pre-course support, including visa advice
Expert tuition from certified vocational trainers
Lifetime job support
Accommodation assistance
Welcome breakfast or lunch and graduation ceremony
Save $100 with our current offer
Lifetime job support (in addition to the partner centre job support)
Deposit refund guarantee
FREE add-on Grammar Course
FREE lesson plan subscription
FREE starter pack of resources
TEFL teachers are in high demand in Italy right now, with an abundance of language schools. An extraordinarily rich culture and history, not to mention the weather, pizza… it’s no surprise that Italy, and Florence’s unique backdrop in particular, is a mugh sought-after location to take your TEFL course, establish yourself as a teacher in the country, and become fully immersed in the Italian way of life.
Whether you decide to stay in Italy or not, our accredited, 4-week TEFL course qualifies you for thousands of English teaching jobs worldwide, and comes with expert job support.
The course
This is a full-time, intensive course, involving a commitment of time and work. Most trainees find the course immensely rewarding and attest to an enormous sense of achievement when they complete it. Please read What can I expect? and our FAQ below to learn more about what’s involved.The training centre
The training centre is in Florence’s historic centre, with views of the Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica. The Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery are within easy walking distance, as are centuries-old cafes and piazzas.Class size
The average number of students on the course is 8. Courses tend to get fully booked up to three months before the start of the course.Schedule
The course runs for 130+ hours over 4 weeks. You can expect to be in class, or observing, planning and teaching lessons from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The practical component of 10 hours teaching practice and 6 hours of observations is spread over the 4 weeks. Weekends are free, but with the expectation of some work completing assignments and assessments. Please see What can I expect? for more detail about the “day to day” of the course.Florence has often been voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its architecture is known the world over.
It’s a small city, making it easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. You can explore the historic streets, relax in the many parks or the serene Boboli Gardens, and have a coffee in one of the stunning squares. You’ll find welcoming, friendly faces at neighbourhood cafes, where you might strike up a conversation with an aspiring English learner over a cappuccino.
Florence’s food culture takes you into the heart of Italian cuisine. Simple ingredients and bold flavours, cantucci (almond biscuits) and gelato, famed trattorias in every square, and local fresh produce markets like the Mercato Sant’Ambrogio.
If you want to explore outside the city itself, Florence is well connected, allowing you to explore the beauty of Tuscany and beyond.
At night, you’ll find live music performances, intimate cinemas screening classic Italian films, local theaters and galleries hosting exhibitions and performances, as well as countless bars and restaurants, particularly in the Santa Croce and Santo Spirito districts.
Essentially, Florence is more than just a city. It’s a rich cultural experience with a unique, captivating charm. It’s an inspiring place to take your TEFL course and embark on an Italian TEFL adventure.
What can I expect?
Before the course
Once you’ve enrolled and paid your deposit, we’ll get in touch with our partner centre, who will look at your application before confirming your place on the course.
(If for any reason we or the partner centre are unable to offer you a place on the course, you’ll receive a full refund of your deposit payment.)
The School of TEFL team and partner centre will keep in close contact with you until the course starts, providing information and advice about visas and documentation, arranging your accommodation and other practicalities, and answering any questions you have.
You’ll pay the balance payment directly to our partner centre approximately 4 weeks before the course starts. (If you enrol closer to the start date though, that’s no problem).
At the start of the course, our partner centre will invite you for a welcome breakfast, to help you get to know the people you will spend a month with during the course.
Day to day on the course
Theory
Each day, you’ll have three hours of input sessions covering a range of topics. You’ll learn about the language itself, teaching skills and techniques, classroom management strategies and much more. The aim of these sessions is to give you a strong grasp of the theory behind teaching English as a second language. You’ll also experience being taught in an unknown foreign language to put you in the shoes of your students, and have individual and group job guidance sessions.Practice
The practical part of the course takes place across the four weeks, and you’ll leave the course with invaluable hands-on experience. On the first two days you’ll have the opportunity to observe experienced teachers giving real classes. Then you’ll jump straight into teaching the students yourself for 10 hours across the four weeks, putting into practice what you have learnt on the course. You’ll have plenty of guidance and support throughout this process, including one and a half hours of guided lesson planning each day, lesson feedback from your trainer and discussion sessions to develop this feedback.Coursework and assessment
During the 4 weeks, you’ll be assessed on the following:- Teaching practice – You’ll need to show that you can reflect on your own teaching and put feedback into practice.
- Personal and professional portfolio – This is a “progress log” where you record your achievements and identify ares for growth.
- Individual Student Teaching Project – You’ll create a detailed learning plan for one student (including two lesson plans) and normally teach one of the lessons.
- Group Project – You’ll create a project with some of your fellow trainees aound the themes of teaching and cross-cultural awareness. You’ll then present this project to the whole group.
- Final written test
- Attendance
You’ll also have several one to one tutorials with your trainer to talk about your progress and answer any questions about what you’ve covered on the course.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and practical experience you need to confidently pursue a career in English language teaching.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn everything you need to start teaching English: teaching skills, how to manage a class, teaching theory and much more. Here’s a summary of the main areas you’ll cover on the course:
- Language awareness (learning about how the language works, including grammar and phonology)
- Lesson planning and lesson structure
- Different teaching methodologies and how to apply them
- Teaching group classes
- Teaching one-to-one
- How to teach grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation
- How to teach speaking and writing
- How to teach reading and listening
- Classroom management
- Error correction
- Testing and assessment of learners
- Preparing learners for English language tests
- How to find and develop materials and resources
- Using visual and audio aids
- How to teach children
- How to teach Business English
- Cultural awareness in English language teaching
- Life skills for TEFL, including communication and employment awareness
Accommodation
The TEFL course in Florence comes with a free accommodation finding and booking service on request. You’ll have either a single or double room in a fully furnished shared house or apartment, with all the key amenities and within walking distance (or on rare occasions a short bus ride) of the training centre. A single room costs approximately 650 euros per month (or 500 euros for a shared room). The rooms are warm, clean and comfortable. Other types of accommodation can also be arranged if required, including independent apartments, and you are also welcome to make your own accommodation arrangements if you prefer!
After the course
What can I do with my TEFL certificate from School of TEFL in Italy?
The School of TEFL course trains you to teach in Italy or anywhere in the world. If you decide to stay in Italy, you’ll find job opportunities in language schools and summer camps across the country.
Our partner centre has an extensive network of schools and language centres built up over a number of years, many of whom give them advance notice of open positions. They will assist you in finding a teaching position suitable for you as part of their hands-on job guidance support, as well as helping you craft a CV tailored to Italy’s market conditions, assisting with interview techniques and more.
Where can I teach?
Florence itself, along with other cities including Rome, Naples, Venice, Milan, Bolgna and Bari, are where most teaching jobs can be found, but there are opportunities in smaller towns across the country as well, as well as in Sardinia. Many language schools in these towns and cities prefer teachers to have a little experience, but there are jobs available if you are newly qualified too, and the more flexible you are with where you choose to live, the greater your chances of finding employment.
Many teachers work on a freelance basis for two or more language schools, as well as supplementing their income by teaching privately. There are also summer schools across the country, which can be a good place to start and get some experience under your belt.
As part of their expert job support, our partner centre will work with you on all aspects of finding your first job.
If you decide to leave Italy, there is quite literally a whole world of possibilities open to you, with teaching jobs in just about every country on every continent.
Again, the School of TEFL team and the specialist staff at our partner centre will provide you with advice and support, and we take this commitment to you very seriously. We’ll help you create a CV tailored to the job market’s requirements and work with you to explore prospects with language schools and other potential employers.
Requirements
Minimum 18 years of age
Proficient in all aspects of English
Secondary education to pre-university level and able to complete an intensive university-level course.
Clean police/criminal record check from your home country
Clear understanding of professional conduct, punctuality, cultural sensitivity and the ability to get along with others.
Upcoming dates
| Dates | Spaces | Deposit | Enrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrol now, choose dates later | $400 $300 | Enrol | |
| 28th Oct - 22nd Nov 2024 | Last few | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 25th Nov - 20th Dec 2024 | Limited | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 20th Jan - 14th Feb 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 5th May - 30th May 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 2nd Jun - 27th Jun 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 30th Jun - 25th Jul 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 15th Sep - 10th Oct 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 13th Oct - 7th Nov 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
| 17th Nov - 12th Dec 2025 | Available | $400 $300 | Enrol |
FAQ about the course and Italy
Course FAQ
Who is the course accredited by?
Our course is accredited by Learning Resource Network, an Ofqual recognised awarding body, as a level 5 certificate.
How much does the course cost?
The course costs $1595. You’ll pay a deposit of $400 when you enrol and the balance directly to the partner centre approximately four weeks before the start of the course.
Please note:
These prices may be lower if you see an offer listed on our site or have a discount code.What's included in the course price?
Included in the price of the course are:
– Pre-course support – visa, insurance and documentation advice
– The 4-week, 130+ hour course
– 10 hours of teaching practice
– 6 hours observing experienced teachers
– Expert tuition from certified and experienced trainers
– Accommodation assistance
– Welcome breakfast and graduation ceremony with lunch
– All course materials
– Organised social and cultural events
– Lifetime job support from the partner centre and from School of TEFL
– Online grammar courseHow easy/difficult is the course?
This is an intensive, university-level course that requires dedication and hard work! It’s not a ‘shortcut’ TEFL course. However, with your commitment, you’ll emerge from it well-prepared and highly motivated to start your teaching journey.
Will I teach actual students on the course?
Yes, you’ll teach actual local ESL students at two different levels for 10 hours. These students will be in small groups.
Will I learn how to teach both adults and children?
Yes, the course trains you how to teach both adults and young learners. You’ll learn core teaching skills applicable to all age groups, along with specific strategies for teaching young learners.
How will I be assessed?
During the 4 weeks, you’ll be assessed on the following:
- Teaching practice – You’ll need to show that you can reflect on your own teaching and put feedback into practice.
- Personal and professional portfolio – This is a “progress log” where you record your achievements and identify ares for growth.
- Individual Student Teaching Project – You’ll create a detailed learning plan for one student (including two lesson plans) and normally teach one of the lessons.
- Group Project – You’ll create a project with some of your fellow trainees aound the themes of teaching and cross-cultural awareness. You’ll then present this project to the whole group.
- Final written test
- Attendance
You’ll also have several one to one tutorials with your trainer to talk about your progress and answer any questions about what you’ve covered on the course.
Who is the course suitable for?
The course is suitable for motivated individuals of all ages and backgrounds who want to teach English in Italy, around the world or online.
How early should I book?
The course tends to get fully booked up to two or three months in advance, so it’s best to book as early as you can.
How many other people will be on the course with me?
There is an average of 8 trainees on each course.
What should I bring/wear for the course?
A laptop for lesson planning is useful if you have one. When teaching or observing classes, you need to wear professional, business clothing (no jeans, shorts, flip-flops or t-shirts). When not teaching or observing, you can wear more casual, but still “semi-professional” clothes.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for the course?
You don’t need to prepare in any way. However, we would recommend taking our online grammar course (free when you enrol). You’ll learn grammar on the course, but this will give you a headstart.
If you want to read about English teaching before the course, Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener and The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer are both good options. Again, this is optional, as you’ll learn all you need to know about the theory and practice of teaching on the course itself, but some trainees find it helpful to be familiar with some of the terms and concepts before starting the course.
Do I need to speak Italian to take the course?
No – TEFL courses show you how to teach without needing to know the language of your students. If you go on to teach in an English speaking country, you’ll probably have classes of mixed nationality/first language, so using the students’ first language isn’t an option anyway. However, our partner centre does offer free introductory Italian lessons and language exchanges with students!
What kind of job help and support is provided?
Our partner centre provides lifetime job assistance. During and after the course you will have individual job guidance sessions, and advice and assistance with all aspects of finding a teaching job, including writing a CV, interview techniques and arranging job interviews. The partner centre has contacts with many schools both locally and worldwide, and can often place graduates within its own network of language schools.
In addition to the job help provided by the partner centre, School of TEFL provides lifetime job guidance and support. Before, during and after the course we’re on hand with expert advice on preparing your CV, applying for jobs, succeeding at interviews and building your TEFL career, for as long as you need us, and we take this commitment to you very seriously. To access this support, all you need to do is send us an email or give us a call at any time, and we’ll give you one-on-one, personalised support.
What else can the partner centre help with / provide?
Included in the course fee are organised social and cultural events, as well as survival Italian language lessons.
Please feel free to ask if you need help with anything else as well – the partner centre team will do their best to assist you or point you in the right direction wherever they can!
Italy FAQ and practicalities
What are the requirements to teach English in Italy?
To teach English in Italy you'll need:
- a TEFL certification
- the legal right to work in the EU. This means either being an EU citizen or, as a non-EU citizen, having a visa or work permit (see the questions beow for more on this)
- to have native level or a highly proficient level of English
You don't need a Bachelor's degree to teach English in Italy, although many employers prefer it and prioritise teachers who have one.
Some employers will require a clean criminal background check.Do I need to be an EU citizen to teach English in Italy?
If you are an EU citizen, there are no specific requirements - you can work legally in Italy.
Can I teach English in Italy as a British or American citizen?
If you are British or American, you will need to apply for a student visa to work in Italy. With a student visa, you can legally work, normally for up to 20 hours per week. Getting a student visa involves enrolling to study Italian at a local school or university, which leaves you free to teach at language schools or freelance in the afternoons/evenings and at weekends. With this option, you need to factor in the cost of the Italian course when working out living costs and budgeting.
Please note that this method doesn't guarantee you work, it just allows you to work legally while you are studying. Our partner centre will guide you through the procedure for this type of visa.Can I teach English in Italy as a Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand citizen?
If you are from Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you can come to Italy on a Working Holiday Visa for a year. You need to be under 30 (35 for Canadians). This visa allows you to work on a contract with a language school.
Can non-native English speakers teach English in Italy?
As long as you are an EU citizen or, as a non-EU citizen, have a valid visa, you can work legally in Italy whether or not you are a native speaker. To take our TEFL course, you must be proficient in all aspects of English.
What is the hiring period for teaching English in Italy?
The school year runs from September to June and is split into two semesters, starting in September and February. These are the peak hiring periods for jobs in Italy.
Where are the teaching jobs and what kind of jobs are available in Italy?
Most teaching jobs are in language schools in the bigger cities such as Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, Milan, Bolgna and Bari, but there are opportunities in smaller towns across the country as well, as well as in Sardinia.
The most common type of teaching job is with private language schools. Many language prefer teachers to have a little experience, but there are jobs available if you are newly qualified too, and the more flexible you are with where you choose to live, the greater your chances of finding employment.
Many teachers work on a freelance basis for two or more language schools, as well as supplementing their income by teaching privately. There are also summer schools across the country, which can be a good place to start and get some experience under your belt.
There are also jobs at international schools and univesities across Italy, usually requiring two or more years of experience.How much will I earn teaching English in Italy?
The average salary for an English teacher in Italy is between 1000 and 1500 eruos per month. If you supplement your income by giving private lessons, you can expect to earn between 20 and 25 euros per hour. The salary at summer camps is typically around 250 euros per week.
What is the cost of living like in Florence / Italy?
The cost of living is relatively low compared to many other EU countries, but less so in bigger cities. You may find that your language school salary covers your monthly living expenses but not much more. A studio apartment can cost around 600 to 1000 euros per month, but most teachers rent a room in a shared aprtment, which costs around 300 to 500 euros per month.
Our support for Plan International UK
We believe everyone should have access to the education and future opportunities they need to thrive. That's why for every TEFL course we sell in 2024, we're donating £5 to Plan International UK via Work for Good.
