Teach English in Switzerland

Switzerland is a great place to teach English if you’re looking for something different. The demand for English teachers is not that high, but there are opportunities to teach in the hotel industry and private tutoring. Once you find a job you’ll enjoy a high quality of life, beautiful scenery and the safety of Switzerland. 

But that’s not all!

• Nature is everywhere you look. Switzerland is known to have a lake within 10 minutes of most locations! The amazing landscapes allow you to take part in a lot of different adventure activities. Most work weeks are capped at 30 hours, so you will have ample time to enjoy the great outdoors.
• Switzerland offers amazing salaries and benefits. Salaries are really impressive in Switzerland. Teachers get paid well, though the cost of living is correspondingly high. 
• Great travel opportunities are on your doorstep. Nestled in between France, Italy, Austria and Germany, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to travelling. A short train ride can get you to Paris or Berlin or Vienna. Imagine!
• Enjoy world-famous cuisine. Teachers with a sweet tooth will love Switzerland. Known as the home of chocolate, enjoying the large variety of chocolates seems like a responsibility – it would be rude not to. And don’t forget about the cheese! You can’t come to Switzerland without trying an authentic cheese fondue!

Most TEFL jobs are located in the big cities of Switzerland, but if you are interested in teaching English in the Hotel industry you should look at smaller towns with specialised hotel schools. Here are the most popular places to teach English in Switzerland:

Zurich

Best for the luxurious lifestyle

Zurich is the biggest city in Switzerland and voted as the best city to live in on a number of internet polls. Many English teachers start off in Zurich because of the many private language schools in the city. Zurich is known for luxury living and excellent public transport. The city has beautiful green spaces with parks and vast forest areas. Zurich is filled with history and culture, and you will find yourself wandering around the chocolatiers, boutiques and restaurants lining the streets between lessons.

Bern

Best for international schools

Bern is the capital of Switzerland and even though it is not as big as Geneva or Zurich, it has a lot to offer English teachers.The city is located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and offers great transport, ample green space and lots of activities. 

Most of the international schools in Switzerland are located in Bern. Living in Bern will give you the opportunity to frequent the historic old town, shop at the many local markets, visit the great museums and immerse yourself in local culture by dining at the local cafes and restaurants.

Geneva

The cultural melting pot

Geneva is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The city is situated on one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe, Lake Geneva. Geneva is known as the international city that is home to the headquarters of multinational organisations and corporations. 

Many international schools are located in Geneva. Here you can visit a variety of restaurants for casual or fine dining,explore the many parks, and soak up the art, architecture, music and history. For those who love the outdoors Geneva is great for skiing, hiking and biking.

Lausanne

For teachers interested in hospitality

Lausanne is a smaller Swiss city located on Lake Geneva. This beautiful city has an attractive old town that is largely car-free. Besides looking for jobs at international schools, English teachers can explore the prestigious Lausanne Hotel School. 

If you’re interested in teaching at this wonderful hotel school you’ll need a Bachelor’s degree and three years of teaching experience. Lausanne has a large population of foreigners and great transport links to other parts of Europe.

The requirements to teach in Switzerland differ from job to job. Most schools in Switzerland will want you to do in-house training with them no matter your qualification or experience. Schools have extremely high standards and they will provide you with training on how they want their lessons conducted.

What will I need to qualify to teach in Switzerland?

There are a few requirements you need to qualify to teach English in Switzerland. Standards are high so you need to make sure you are qualified before applying for jobs.

Degree requirements

Most schools require you to have a Bachelor’s degree to teach English in Switzerland. You might be able to find a job without a degree, but as there are not a lot of jobs available in Switzerland, teachers with the best qualifications are usually chosen to teach English.

TEFL requirements

Switzerland requires you to have a minimum of a 120-hour TEFL certification to teach English. The TEFL Academy can help you get certified and start your teaching journey in Switzerland. Because of the competition for teaching jobs in Switzerland, we recommend our Level 5 168-hour Combined TEFL Course to give you the best chance at success.

EU Citizenship/Work permit

European citizens and those who already have residency and working privileges will be able to easily find a job in Switzerland. Non-EU citizens should apply for a work visa (“B” work permit). To obtain this work permit you need to be qualified for the job and already have secured your job contract. Schools are hesitant to assist teachers with visas and work permits and prefer to hire teachers who already live in Switzerland or are EU citizens.

Save for basic start-up costs

Start-up costs are the basic costs you need to survive from when you arrive in Switzerland until you receive your first paycheque. Even though the salaries in Switzerland are high, so is the cost of living. Below is a broad idea of how much money you’ll need to start off in Switzerland:

• Accommodation: One month’s rent and security deposit.
• TEFL certification: A TEFL course can cost between $100 and $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 a visa is subject to your home country. You can expect to pay about $100.
• Living expenses: You will need one month’s worth of start-up capital of about ₣ 1,400 to ₣ 1,700 ($1,300 to $1,500 USD) to help you settle in Switzerland. 

There are a variety of teaching jobs available in Switzerland, each with its own unique requirements. Here is a brief overview of the most common teaching jobs in Switzerland.

TEFL jobs in Switzerland are not that easy to come by, but if you’re determined you can find jobs in private language schools, finishing schools, hotel schools and private tutoring.

Private language schools/academies

Private language schools are a good starting point for inexperienced teachers. Schools pay per hour and you can start off with as many hours as the timetable allows. Language schools try to be as flexible as possible for their clients. This means that courses range from intensive weekly courses to maybe two hours a week for a year. Your clients can be local business-people or international students during the summer months. Due to the flexible nature of language schools, your teaching schedule may be unstable and vary from week to week. 

Private finishing schools

Wealthy international students attend private finishing schools. These schools are mainly single sex schools. All teachers (including English teachers) are required to accompany students on international trips (bonus!). Full-time positions with paid vacations are available at private finishing schools. Teachers report that the lessons are challenging and intense at these schools but that the teaching equipment is modern and resources are excellent.

Hotel schools

In Switzerland English is the medium of instruction for all hotel schools. Hotel schools therefore provide students with lower-level English skills with additional English classes. Teachers working at hotel schools will have a 22 – 25 hour work week and can expect a salary of about ₣ 2,300 ($2,700). Hotel schools mostly only offer semester contracts, but permanent opportunities become available from time to time.

Private language lessons

In Switzerland private language lessons are popular and teachers get paid between ₣ 30 and ₣ 100 ($35 and $120) for 45 minutes. But in Switzerland Swiss law requires you to pay social insurance and taxes on the amount you earn, so you need to factor that into your rate.

1. Update your CV. Highlight your teaching experience and qualifications. 
2. The TEFL industry in Switzerland is mostly freelance. Teaching jobs become available at short notice and throughout the year.
3. Don’t dismiss the tourism industry – there are plenty of jobs available in hotel schools.
4. Enroll for some training courses at the English Teachers’ Association of Switzerland. This will improve your resume and you’ll be able to see positions advertised by the English Teachers’ Association of Switzerland.
5. If you are not a EU citizen make sure that you apply for a work permit (“B” work permit).
6. Consider physically visiting schools and handing out your CV . In Switzerland you’ll most likely have to go through a face-to-face interview.

Switzerland is one of the highest-paying countries for TEFL teachers. Where you end up working will largely influence what salary and benefits you get. Even though you will be getting a healthy salary, the cost of living is high in Switzerland.

• Most teaching jobs in Switzerland are freelance and teachers get paid by the hour. On average a TEFL teacher will get paid about  ₣ 50 ($60) for 45 -50 minutes of teaching or tutoring, but rates can range between ₣15 – ₣100 ($20 – $120) an hour. 
• Hotel schools pay teachers between ₣1,800 – ₣3,600 ($2,000 – $3,000)  a month. 
• Teachers at international schools earn ₣ 4,000 – ₣5,000 ($4,400 – $5,600) a month.
• Language academies pay approximately ₣1,300 – ₣2,600 ($1,500 – $3,000)  a month.
• With private classes you can earn ₣2,200 – ₣8,500 ($2,500 – $9,500) a month but remember you have to pay social insurance and taxes on the amount you earn.

In Switzerland, you can look forward to beautiful landscapes, really competitive salaries and a high quality of life. Depending on where you choose to work, you can have flexible work hours that will allow you to take time off to climb Matterhorn – or yodel, whichever you prefer! 

Here is the average cost of living in Switzerland on a monthly basis:.

Accommodation

• One-bedroom apartment in the city centre: ₣1,300 ($1,500)
• One-bedroom apartment outside the city centre: ₣975 ($1,100)

Utilities

• Electricity, water, and gas: ₣160 ($180)

Food and groceries

• Monthly shop: ₣400 ($450)
• Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: ₣25 ($28)

Transport

• Monthly transport pass: ₣70 ($80)
• One-way ticket: ₣3.50 ($4)

Internet

• Unlimited: ₣50 ($55)

Entertainment

• Gym, cinema, clubbing: ₣220 – ₣400 ($250 – $450)

Switzerland is known for its high quality of living and is one of the top three most expensive countries to live in. With a basic teaching salary in Switzerland you’ll live a comfortable life but not be able to save much. Even though teachers earn well in Switzerland a lot of teachers take on additional private lessons or tutoring to supplement their salary to make saving a bit easier.

• Living in Switzerland is unique to most European countries. Being surrounded by different cultures makes this country really special. You can look forward to exploring French, German and Italian cultures during your stay in Switzerland.
• The Swiss are known to be conservative and reserved. This might make it difficult to make friends with them at first. Living in Switzerland you need to know that rules and laws are very important to the people.
• It’s helpful to learn the local Swiss language. Even though most people in Switzerland can speak English, it’ll go a long way with the local community if you are able to speak some of the Swiss local languages. The area you live in will determine which one of the languages you will most likely learn: either French, Swiss German, Italian or Romansch.
• Diets are not a good idea in Switzerland! Like most European countries Switzerland is a wonderland for foodies. Here you have to try fondue, leeks with potatoes and sausage, raclette and the chocolate – ALL the chocolate!

Your time in Switzerland will be an amazing experience. Spending time in beautiful surroundings and taking part in all the great activities the country has to offer will definitely make your time there worthwhile. Best of all you will make a difference as a teacher in many students’ lives. Who knows, you could teach the next Marco Pierre White!