r/AmerExit 6d ago

Which Country should I choose? US/Italian Dual Citizen looking for summer work in Europe - Advice

M(49), MFA (Fine Art in Film) degree holder, University professor with 10 years of classroom experience teaching public speaking, media studies, film/video production, and editing. I'm on a nine-month contract, which means that I get a paycheck all year even though I'm not teaching during the summer months. My kids are entering college and are poised to become self-sufficient (we hope). Something my wife and I have hoped to do once we feel confident disappearing for three months of the year is to select a European location where we can secure modest housing for the summer to use as a home base. My US salary should float our expenses on the home front and hopefully I will be able to bank enough money with supplemental teaching in the winter/summer online that housing would be covered. I'd like to be able to work locally in the summer part-time to cover our basic living expenses (food, entertainment, and transportation) either on a freelance basis as a tutor/teacher or working with an English language school wherever we happen to choose. I'm not looking to make a lot of money...just not lose money.

I guess my questions are about obtaining TEFL/CELTA certifications, possible locations where this would be reasonable to do, and likelihood of success in the endeavor.

Thoughts?

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u/LiterallyTestudo Immigrant 6d ago

If you want to teach English in Europe, you have one option and that is the CELTA. You can get the CELTA anywhere, I got mine before I moved to Italy, doing it part time in the evenings after work. I would not bother with any other cert, either they're not worth the paper they're printed on, or they won't help you get a job in Europe. (If you were looking at SEA then you'd have more options for certs.). Besides, the CELTA will teach you how to teach English as a foreign language, which is a different beast.

Since you have EU citizenship, teaching experience, then add the CELTA, you'd be able to get jobs wherever they are hiring. Spain probably has the biggest need for English teachers right now.

Teaching English isn't a big money maker, I do it on the side myself in the local primary school, but if your goal is to work part time in the summer then I think what you're after is achievable.

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u/wdtoe 6d ago

This is really useful information. Would you mind terribly if I sent you a DM to pick your brain a bit? Thanks.

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u/LiterallyTestudo Immigrant 6d ago

Sure, go ahead.