Teach English in Germany – The Ultimate Guide

Germany is the biggest economy in Europe. That’s a huge factor when it comes to gauging the demand for English tuition because it means the country is a powerhouse of trade and commerce that does business all around the globe. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that German companies often invest very heavily in language tuition. And it’s true – there’s a multitude of jobs teaching adults in the private sector for firms and businesses.

On the more traditional front of teaching younger learners or students in private institutions, there’s also no shortage of jobs. It’s just that you might find that there’s a little more competitiveness for each position in Germany than in, say, Spain.

One thing to remember is that the TEFL jobs market in Germany is largely non-contractual. That means most teachers are hired as freelancers (known as Honorarvertrag). The upside to that is flexibility. The downside is that you have to take care of your own admin – taxes, insurance, business registration.

Unlike in some European TEFL destinations, fully fledged state school positions are typically taken by German nationals here. However, there are lots of private schools that run English courses to supplement the state curriculum in Germany, along with a whole host of international schools, especially in key global cities like Frankfurt and Berlin (they’ll have high requirements but also great wages). Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Private language schools – These are privately run institutions that offer English courses to supplement school learning or to fit around professional life. Language schools tend to be less English-focused than in other EU destinations (they often teach German and French, too). However, this remains one of the main areas for TEFL grads to find work. Schedules typically involve 20-25 hours a week, largely in the evenings and on weekends. Most schools hire on a freelance basis, so don’t expect the security of a contract.
• Volkshochschulen – Remember high school? Yea, us neither. Anyway…your education doesn’t end at graduation in Germany. The Volkshochschulen are institutions that run courses for older students to promote life-long learning. Some TEFL teachers might find work in these, but it can be tricky and is usually reserved for native German-speaking professionals.
• Private tutoring – Because it’s normal for even private language schools to hire on a freelance basis in Germany, adding on extra hours as a private tutor should be a breeze. You’re already going to be registered as your own business and you’re already going to have to take care of your own insurance and taxes. That means you can fill spare hours with one-on-one sessions that might pay more. There’s decent demand for private tutoring, especially in major cities, but expect to spend some time building a client base.
• Language camps – Germany isn’t without summer language camps. Run for young learners of between 4-16 years of age, these take place in mainly rural locations between June and August.

The German school year begins in late August and finishes in late July. The exact dates are set by individual states, but you’ll usually be out and enjoying the sunshine in the Alps by July 31^st. There are also two-week breaks for Christmas and Easter, along with smaller breaks in the middle of each term.

Of course, you’re not likely to be tied too closely to the school terms in Germany as a teacher in a private language school or with a business English job. However, things do tend to slow for the summer months and around major holiday dates, so expect fewer hours then.

Teachers do an average of 25-30 hours a week in Germany. Bear in mind that those hours are typically organized so as not to clash with school or workdays, so schedules are likely to involve evening and weekend work.