Teach English in Berlin

Are you looking for a way to combine your passion for teaching with your love of travel and adventure? If so, teaching English in beautiful Berlin could be the perfect opportunity for you! 

Regarded as the city where anything is possible, Berlin is a vibrant and exciting city with a rich cultural history and a thriving arts scene. 

So, whether it’s taking in the Brandenburg Gate or chowing down on some bratwurst, take the leap and kickstart your teaching career in Germany’s capital! 

From requirements and the cost of living to types of teaching jobs on offer, check out everything you need to know about teaching English in Berlin in our complete TEFL guide.

If you’re considering a career in teaching English abroad, Berlin is a great place to start. For one, there’s a strong demand for English teachers in Germany, which means you’re likely to find plenty of job opportunities.

Berlin is a city renowned for its thriving arts scene and historical architecture, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore and immerse yourself in the local culture.

With easy connections to the rest of the country, it is the perfect springboard for exploring the rest of Germany!

Teaching English in Berlin is a great way to gain valuable professional experience and enhance your language skills. Living and working in a foreign country can be a truly transformative experience that will broaden your horizons and give you a fresh perspective on life.

All in all, teaching English in Berlin is a challenging and rewarding career path that offers a unique blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth.

Berlin is a great place to look for English teaching jobs, as there are many schools and language centres in the city. Some of the best places to start your job search include the Berlitz Language School, International House Berlin, the Language Gallery Berlin and the John F Kennedy Schools.

In addition, you might consider looking for teaching opportunities at local universities, international schools, or private tutoring agencies. With a bit of research and some networking, you can find a rewarding and fulfilling career teaching English in one of Europe’s most dynamic and welcoming cities!

Being the capital of Germany, anyone travelling from European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a work visa to teach English in Berlin. 

However, those outside those areas must immediately register at the Ausländerbehörde or Foreigners’ Office to get a residence permit. For citizens of certain countries, proof of employment must be provided before they even set foot on German soil. 

Residency permits usually last for the length of your contract.

Here are the requirements to apply for a residence permit: 

• A valid passport
• No criminal background
• German health insurance
• Clean health check
• If employed: a job offer from your employer

A TEFL certificate is not required as a part of the residence permit application. However, it’s highly recommended you have one when it comes to applying for English teacher jobs in Berlin. The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 168-hour Combined TEFL course gives you the best shot at being noticed by employers in Germany’s capital city. 

Depending on your embassy, the process of visa application can take between 2-5 months – with American applications taking the longest!

According to some employers in Berlin, having prior teaching experience is something they value more than how many hours TEFL a candidate has completed. Germans expect their TEFL teachers to be knowledgable and professional. However, experience is not necessarily essential when it comes to teaching in Berlin, providing you have the right attitude!

Prior teaching experience will enable you to ask for a higher salary, with experienced teachers earning €17 – €30 ($19 – $32 USD), and inexperienced teachers netting around €11 – €15 ($13 – $17).

Around 80% of Berliners have some level of English proficiency, which means employers are looking for TEFL teachers that are going to be the best in the business. Because of this, we recommend completing our Level 5 168-hour Combined TEFL course to show that you are the right sort of fit for an English teaching job in Berlin. This course comes with three top-up courses (Teaching Young Learners, Teaching Business English and Teaching Online & 1:1), as well as a 10-hour teaching practicum, giving you all the skills an employer is looking for. 

Alternatively, our Online Level 5 TEFL course offers the same material but with the convenience of being entirely online!

You do not need a degree to teach English in Berlin – but you’re sure to see job postings looking for one! A Master’s or Bachelor’s degree is a great way of ensuring that your CV stands out from the competition, but it is by no means essential. There are plenty of opportunities for those with no degree to teach English in Germany.

You do not have to be a native speaker (i.e. from countries where English is the first language) to teach English in Berlin. However, some employers may show a preference for native English speakers over non-natives.

Definitely not! Because of its high level of English proficiency, Berlin is one of the best locations for non-native English speakers to land an English teaching job abroad. 

A little goes a long way though – learning a few phrases in German will not only broaden your language skills, but is also a nice way of assimilating into the culture.

• TEFL certification: A TEFL course can cost between $100 – $500 depending on the length and level of the course and the course provider. 
• Document fees: Any costs related to certifying and notarising your degree and TEFL certificate
• Flight ticket: Variable
• Visa application: The cost of getting a residency visa is €50 – €80 ($55 – $85). Extension prices vary from €15 – €40 ($16 – $44). 
• Living expenses: One month’s start-up capital is recommended. Without rent, a single person’s cost of living for one month in Berlin is around €980 ($1,070).

It is relatively uncommon employers to offer full-time contracts to those teaching English in Berlin. Instead, most teachers will work as freelancers charging a rate per lesson. Most freelance teachers work twenty hours a week for different schools and institutes. 

Language schools 

Language schools are a popular option for English teachers in Berlin, as they offer a steady stream of students and a reliable income. Salaries typically range from €20 – €30 ($22 – $32) an hour, depending on your qualifications and experience. Some language schools offer benefits like health insurance and paid vacation time.

Private tutoring

Private tutoring can be a lucrative option for experienced English teachers, as you can set your own rates and work with students one-on-one. You can also consider providing online teaching classes.

Corporate training

Many businesses in Berlin offer English language training to their employees, and experienced English teachers can earn a good income providing these services. Salaries range from €40 – €60 ($43 – $63) an hour, and benefits like health insurance and paid vacation time may also be available.

Overall, the salaries and benefits for English teaching jobs in Berlin can be quite competitive, especially for experienced teachers with advanced qualifications.

Now let’s take a look at some of the ways you can improve your odds of nailing the job of your dreams in Berlin! 

1. Get a TEFL certification. Acquiring a Level 5 168-hour TEFL certificate (for those who haven’t taught in an EFL classroom) is first on the list. 
2. Meet the minimum requirements. Make sure you take the time to see if this is a position you actually stand a chance of getting. 
3. Prepare your documents. It takes time getting everything in order but from your legalised TEFL certificate to ensuring your passport is up-to-date, it’s an essential part of the teaching abroad process.  
4. Prepare your CV. Personalise it each and every time you apply for a position. The smallest tweak can make all the difference! 
5. Start your job search. Check out our jobs board for teaching positions.
6. Consider using recruitment companies. Recruiters are a great way of ensuring you have a helping hand through all the legal jargon that comes with a move abroad.
7. Apply for a visa. With a job position being offered after you’ve smashed your interview, the process of applying for a residence permit can take several weeks.

Wondering how much you will make and save teaching English in Berlin? Many consider Berlin to be an expensive city to live in; however it actually comes in cheaper than neighbouring cities in France, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Couple this with free healthcare and plenty of cheap public transport links, there are ample opportunities for saving some pennies.

From currywurst to wiener schnitzel, let’s take a look at exactly how far your Euros will take you in Berlin.

Accommodation

• One-bedroom apartment in city centre:€1,230 ($1,340)  
• One-bedroom aparetment outside the city centre: €920 ($1,000) 

Utilities

• Gas, electricity, water, garbage disposal: €325 ($356)

Food and groceries

• Monthly shop: €250 ($275)  
• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €12 ($14) 

Transport 

• Monthly pass: €84 ($92)
• Single bus or subway trip: €3 ($5)

There is a sizeable jump in the cost of living for those living in the centre of Berlin, and those on the outskirts. For example, renting a three-bed apartment in the city centre will cost roughly €2,368 ($2,594), while that number drops to €1,637 ($1,793) on the outskirsts of the city. 

Berlin’s reliable public transport networks and accessibility when it comes to cycle lanes means living outside the city centre can be one of the smartest ways of saving money.

Yes, it’s possible to save money as an English teacher in Berlin, although the amount you’re able to save depends on a number of factors. Generally speaking, English teachers in Berlin earn a decent income, and the cost of living in the city is relatively affordable compared to other European capitals. 

However, you’ll need to be careful with your spending and budget wisely in order to save money. Housing can be one of the biggest expenses in Berlin, so consider sharing an apartment with roommates or living in a more affordable neighbourhood. 

Public transportation is also very affordable in Berlin, so you can save money by using the U-Bahn or S-Bahn rather than taking taxis or driving. By being mindful of your spending and living within your means, you should be able to save some money while teaching English in Berlin.

What’s it like living and teaching in Berlin? Well, it’s an exciting and rewarding experience, that’s for sure.

The city has a vibrant cultural scene, with plenty of museums, galleries, and theatres that are worth visiting, as well as a thriving food and drink culture. Day-to-day life in Berlin can be quite laid-back, with a slower pace than other major cities, and many locals enjoy spending time in the city’s many parks and green spaces. A city where old meets new, Germany’s ample public holidays give TEFL teachers so many opportunities to visit historic landmarks or hang out in some of the trendiest bars in Europe. It almost feels like you are on vacation, only permanently! 

Teaching Business English to adult classes are the most popular form of TELF jobs in Berlin, with Germany’s profiency in English and superb state education system meaning Young Learner jobs are less in demand. Having a keen interest in business or banking will get you a long way here! 

Teaching English in Berlin offers the chance to live and work in one of Europe’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.