Teach English in Cyprus

Nested in the east of the Mediterranean Sea, you will find the stunning island of Cyprus, steeped In history and a popular destination even today for historians and archaeologists. Historically Cyprus is quite significant as there are signs of human life that date right back to 10,000 BC, making it an ancient civilisation that has grown over many years. As an island, its score is highly in the human development index. It is a tourist haven welcoming many thousands of holidaymakers keen to soak up the weather and experience the Mediterranean.

It offers a unique blend of African, European, and Asian culture, which brings vibrancy and excitement to daily life. Living as an English teacher in Cyprus, you will be afforded the incredible local wonders, including turtles found nesting in the sand dunes, halloumi cheese and much more. It is certainly high on the list for English teachers abroad thanks to the great history and rich culture and of course the welcoming and warm local people.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about moving to Cyprus to teach English in Cyprus. Whether you are thinking about heading there to spend a few months of your summer vacation or want to make a more permanent move and take on a full-time role, there is certainly a lot to learn about this country, and there are plenty of opportunities for English teachers in Cyprus. So read on to discover more about the culture, way of life, and how you can find work and make the move you have been dreaming of.

Job types

It is fair to say that the public school system in Cyprus is entirely shut down to outsiders. There aren’t that many jobs for English teachers in Cyprus in state education as they tend to favour local teachers for this purpose. Your best chance of obtaining work as an English teacher in Cyprus is to approach private schools and language schools. There are lots of job boards on the Internet hosted by TEFL qualification providers, and this will give you a good understanding of the vacancies currently on offer. If you want to visit Cyprus and look for work, you might get lucky, but it might take longer. It is always advisable to get your TEFL qualification as this will stand you in better stead when it comes to applying for positions teaching English in Cyprus.

International Schools

International schools have a number of vacancies for English teachers in Cyprus. They have a fairly well-developed curriculum, and English is often spoken in classrooms no matter what subject they are learning. This means if you happen to be qualified to teach any other subjects, you might be able to find extra work.

Social Institutions/Volunteers

English is a highly valued skill, and like most places, Cyprus has various charities and social institutions set up to try and help people who otherwise could not access education. There is a high demand for English teachers in Cyprus in a volunteer capacity, and now this won’t work for everyone as some people need to earn money if you can afford to give up a few months, perhaps for a gap year or summer, you will find it a highly valuable experience. Because the positions are voluntary, there is every chance of securing a position even if you have not completed your TEFL qualifications. Of course, you will normally find that your board and lodgings are covered, but there is no monetary pay.

Private Tutor

If there is a demand wherever it is you end up living, you can look into providing English tuition on a private basis. However, if you have a role as an English teacher in Cyprus with one of the schools, you need to make sure they are happy for you to do extra work out of hours. Language schools, in particular, tend not to like this as you would be poaching their customers. Also, you need to bear in mind any tax implications and correctly report and pay as necessary, depending on the country’s policy.

When and Where to Look for Jobs Teaching English in Cyprus

There are several ways to find a job teaching English in Cyprus, one of which is to apply for a teaching program. This doesn’t give you as much flexibility as you will be placed wherever they believe you are best matched. However, this is the easiest way to find work as an English teacher in Cyprus. Will also find specialist recruitment agencies that deal with placing teachers in private and language schools in Cyprus.

Most vacancies will be posted in September, or if you are looking to work with a summer school, you should apply in June. Of course, they cannot account for every eventuality, so other vacancies may pop up throughout the year.

Although you can apply for jobs as an English teacher in Cyprus online, you will find that if you are shortlisted and called for an interview, they will be looking for you to attend in person. Sometimes they may do the initial interview over the telephone, but they do like to meet candidates and sometimes ask them to teach a dummy lesson so they can see how you work. In Cyprus, the most commonly spoken language is Greek, so you will find it much easier to fit in and get on if you have basic language skills in Greek yourself.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

Do you find a position teaching English in Cyprus via one of the teaching programs, you generally have to agree to take their TEFL training and certification first. Other than that, most private schools will be looking for qualified teachers who have already completed a teaching qualification in their home country and have various levels of experience. The salary you are offered will be in line with the skills and qualifications you are bringing to the job. Generally, private education pays more than state education. If you are looking to teach at a higher level, for example, at university, you will only get shortlisted if you have a degree at a master’s level or higher.

Classroom culture

A lot of English teachers in Cyprus comment on the fact that the student-teacher ratio is nice and low. A lot lower than you will find in many countries. Classrooms tend to be organised and fairly strict, but this does sometimes depend on the establishment. Students tend to be very respectful of their elders, and they are likely to address you by your title or first name, but you are free to set that boundary. You will address your students by their first names. In terms of dress code, you should expect to present as business casual, and it is expected that women remain conservatively dressed and do not show too much bare skin. So it is advisable to keep your shoulders, chest and legs covered.