TEFL jobs in Switzerland

Clients of language schools are often local businesses (during the academic school year), and overseas students are also welcome during the summer. Language schools frequently strive to be as accommodating as possible to their students. This means that their itineraries have few restrictions–courses can range from a week-long intensive course to two hours per week for more than a year. You can teach English in Switzerland language schools in small or big groups at the client’s office, in a school setting, or to students of various levels.

The schedule is based on the needs of the clients and is highly flexible and fragmented. Teaching English in Switzerland in this setting can see you earning €15 per hour; however, the hourly rate can climb to €60 per hour. Therefore, working circumstances in language schools are not ideal for everyone who wants to teach English in Switzerland. However, this is a fantastic place to start for inexperienced teachers comfortable with change.

These are usually small single-gender colleges with an affluent international clientele. All teachers, including those teaching English in Switzerland, are periodically required to join pupils on abroad travels; therefore, full-time positions with paid vacations are available. The teaching equipment is up to date and ample, and the lessons are frequently intense and demanding.

Because all courses are taught in English, English is important to the curricula of hospitality schools. As a result, hotel schools provide a variety of English language classes to students with limited English skills. Hotel school English teaching in Switzerland pays from €2000 to €3000 per month for 22 to 25 hours per week, which is plenty to work and save. Working hours are 8 am to 6 pm, and schedules are set. Generally, hotel schools only offer semester contracts; however, full-time, permanent opportunities are occasionally available.

You should be aware that as a private instructor, you are required by Swiss legislation to pay social insurance and taxes on your earnings. However, lessons are worth whatever you can get for them—the average hourly fee is roughly €60, but it can range from €30 to €115 for 45 minutes, including travel expenses.

Zurich, Bern, Basel, Luzern, Geneva, Winterthur, Ticino

Most jobs are freelance and paid hourly or by lesson (often 40 or 50-minutes). Hourly rates are usually around SFr60 (€60) but can range from SF20 up to SFr123 per hour (€18–€123). Work in a hotel school and earn SFr2,200–SFr3,000 (€2,000–€2,080) per month. Other full-time positions might exceed SFr 5,000 per month.

At least a 120-hour TEFL qualification

Most jobs require a Bachelor’s Degree

The school year starts in August/September

Language Schools, Summer Camps, Private Finishing Schools, Higher Education Facilities, Private Lessons, Hotel School

Postgraduate, apart from some summer camp roles

Some jobs rank experience over a degree or TEFL experience, but others are happy to take new teachers. Inexperienced teachers can struggle even with getting summer camp positions, but they might get a job if they’re bilingual or multi-talented.