TEFL Courses in Leipzig | Germany

Fees:

• 600 USD non-refundable deposit
• 950 EUR final payment including tuition, course material, certification and moderation fees

Course fees include course materials and certification. Accommodation, transportation and meals are not included.

Final payment of the balance is due upon your arrival. You may pay by cash or bank transfer.

All payment transactions must be made by the end of the first day of the course.

You will receive your personal course schedule during the first lesson, which will start at 9:00 a.m. on Monday. There will be regular breaks, including a one hour lunch break. Your course will include a theoretical part in the morning, course planning in the afternoon and a practical teaching part in the evening.

The maximum amount of students in Leipzig is 12. The number of students varies from course to course. Most students are American, Australian, British and Canadian. We also accept non-native speakers

During teaching practice, you will teach local students. The size and level of the classes vary, but the students are always very enthusiastic. All the students that you teach have volunteered to attend, so you can be sure that they are only coming because they really want to learn English!

There is a wide range of accommodation options to choose from in Leipzig. As the city center is only about 20 minutes from the school on foot, you could also stay at one of the many youth hostels or hotels there. The accommodation in Leipzig is normally very clean so the differences in price that you see reflect the size and quality of the room.

English is very important for business in Germany, so there are many job opportunities. Once you have completed your training, it is fairly easy to find a job with a language school.

The earlier you start to look for work, the better. We recommend that you start sending out résumés and organizing interviews around the second or third week of the course.

We will give you information to help you with your job search in Germany. You will also receive a list of schools that you can apply to.

Most ESL teachers in Germany work as freelancers. The average rate of pay is around 15-18 EUR per teaching hour. Salaries vary depending on location within Germany, the type of school you work for and whether you have a contract or work as a freelancer. As a contracted trainer, you can expect around 2100-2400 EUR per month (Gross - based on a 40 hour week) for a full-time contract and a minimum of 24 days of paid holiday.

Health insurance is mandatory for anyone residing in Germany. As a freelancer, you are responsible for finding and paying for your own health insurance. It is unlikely that your employer will pay for health insurance unless you have a contract. If you are offered a contract, your employer normally pays half of your health insurance cost. The other half is then deducted from your salary.

Unless you are from the European Union, you will need to apply for a work permit.

For more information on work permits and which documents you will need, please make an appointment at your local Foreigner Authority Office (Ausländerbehörde).

It varies from school to school. Most lessons take place directly at language schools, but you might also be asked to travel to companies to give your lesson at the company’s site. You may even teach some classes in Kindergartens. The focus of the lessons varies depending on the students’ needs and ranges from business and technical English to English for travelling. Schools usually provide information about the students, their needs and the materials they will use. However, teachers are often expected to complement the books with additional materials in order to tailor the lessons to the students’ needs. If you work as a freelancer, you will need to teach at more than one school as this is a requirement for freelancers in Germany.

The TEFL certificate meets international standards and can be used to teach English both nationally and internationally. Please check any local requirements and regulations with your employer.

Your monthly living expenses depend on where you live in Germany and your lifestyle. Munich, for example, is more expensive than Leipzig. Monthly expenses for a single person in Leipzig are about 800 EUR.

Please bring your résumé/CV.

When applying to schools in Germany, you may need to provide copies of your academic certificates, transcripts and any letters of reference you might have.

We recommend checking if your license is valid in Germany before your arrival. If not, you might consider obtaining an international driving license before coming to Germany, as driving is often an important criteria for language schools when hiring teachers.

Spring (March – May): Average temperatures of 10-20oC with some rainy days.

Summer (June – August): Average temperatures of 20-25oC. Thunderstorms are common in summer and these make the summer months the wettest months in Leipzig. The rain doesn’t normally stay for very long though. You may want to bring swimwear if you’re planning on going to the lake in the afternoon or at the weekend.

Autumn (September – November): Average temperatures of 10-20oC with some rainy days. The weather is often nice enough that you can go swimming or get out in the sunshine in September too.

Winter (December – February): Average temperatures of 3-4oC. It normally snows in Leipzig in the winter so sturdy footwear and warm clothes are often necessary. The roads and footpaths are largely kept clear of snow but there are often icy patches.

Summer is the perfect season to be in Cape Town. The average temperature is about 24°c and 14°c at night.