Teach English in Cyprus
TEFL jobs 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.
Living costs
On paper, it might seem that the salary isn’t as good as an English teacher in Cyprus; however, you have to remember that it is all relative to the cost of living. Generally, if you are working at an international or private school, you can expect to earn approximately $1000. Some positions will pay less, but that is an average salary estimation.
The cost of living is lower than some of the other European nations, particularly when compared to the UK. You can also alter your cost of living depending on where you choose to base yourself. As a rule of thumb, you will find that living in cities is always more expensive than living more rurally. However, there are fewer opportunities for English teachers in Cyprus in smaller towns and villages. The majority of ex-pats tend to live in the south of Cyprus, so if you are looking to find a community of ex-pats to fit in with, this is a good place to begin your search. However, some people don’t mind the more expensive cost of living and prefer to stay in the cities of the north.
The best way to make your money go further is to live like a native, so shop in local markets, eat local cuisine and avoid imported goods as these will be much more expensive. Cooking at home is obviously cheaper than eating out, but you will also find some small tucked-away eateries offering very reasonable meals for the occasional treat. Many English teachers in Cyprus find they can their accommodation costs down by house sharing, so this could be an option if you are feeling sociable. You are unlikely to find a position that offers accommodation as part of the remuneration package.
In order to provide the most accurate cost of living figures, we use numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living database, updated regularly.
- Accomodation: USD $579.96-$1,420.52
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course: USD $50.18
- Domestic Beer (0.5-litre draught): USD $3.01
- Cappuccino (regular): USD $3.18
- Milk (regular), (1 litre): USD $1.43
- Monthly Pass (Regular Price): USD $40.14
TEFL jobs in Cyprus: KEY POINTS
SALARY
USD $700 - $1,000
EDUCATION
BA degree preferred
MAIN JOB TYPES
Private schools, public schools, private tutoring, volunteering projects
TEFL CERTIFICATION NEEDED
120 hour TEFL Training
KEY FACTS
- Education: BA/BS degree
- TEFL TESOL Certification: Required - you can take a course in-country
- Peak Hiring Months: September, June
- Where to Seek Employment: Foreign language schools and summer camps
- Typical Hiring Process: Interview in person in Cyprus
- Working Hours: 20-30 hours of classroom & extra prep time per week
- Types of Students: Business professionals, Children in Language Camps
- Cost of Living per Month: USD $900 - $1,200
- Average Monthly Pay: USD $1,000 - 1,300
- Language: Greek/English
If you are looking to teach English in Cyprus, you will find yourself in an absolutely beautiful location. Teaching in the circumstances is very gratifying, and you will be paid well when compared to the cost of living. It is a gorgeous country, and in your spare time, it will be nice to explore. Generally, the working week is around 20 hours, giving you a lot of downtime so you may find yourself engaging with a local community or finding a new hobby.
Things to note when teaching English in Cyprus
Facts about Cyprus
LANGUAGE
Greek
POPULATION
12.1 million
TEFL JOB DEMAND
Mid
CURRENCY
Euros
CAPITAL
Nicosia
OUR CYPRUS TEFL RATING
3.8/5
TEFL jobs in Cyprus: FAQS
What Can I Expect From Cyprus's Workplace Culture?
Schools in Cyprus tend to be very structured and have quite a strict classroom conduct compared with other countries in Europe. You should find no problem fitting in issue observe local customs. Expect to dress in a conservative way, but you will find nice small class sizes making it a lot easier to build the all-important teacher-student relationship.
The first language in Cyprus is Greek, so it will never do any harm to learn some Greek before you go. However, you will find that the majority of written training materials are available in English. Of course, knowing some Greek makes it much easier to integrate into the local community outside of work.
What Qualifications Am I Going To Need In Cyprus To Teach English?
Unless you are applying for a volunteer position, it is likely that you will be asked for a TEFL certification from a recognised in the situation. The standard accepted qualification is the 120-hour TEFL certification. Of course, teachers who have qualifications in their own country will always stand a good chance of getting work, especially if they are highly experienced.
If you come from a non-European Union country, you should approach your embassy in order to determine what kind of Visa you may need to live and work as an English teacher in Cyprus.
What Is The Cost Of Living In Cyprus?
The cost of living in Cyprus is low compared to other places in Europe. However, most jobs will not include any form of housing expenses, that is, unless you are a volunteer in one of the charity programs. You can split your expenses with other ex-pats who are in Cyprus as English teachers. However, with a good cost of living and relatively appropriate wages, you should find that you can easily make ends meet, striking a good balance between work and play.
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