Teach English in Prague

Beautiful, historic Prague is the jewel of central Europe, with stunning views, cultural highlights wherever you look, and a fantastic standard of living. So how easy is it to start teaching English in the capital of the Czech Republic?

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Does teaching English abroad in one of Europe's cultural, economic and political hubs appeal? What about teaching English in the historical capital of Bohemia, one of the continent’s most beautiful cities, with astonishing architecture, the oldest university in central Europe and a truly cosmopolitan landscape that welcomes the 5th most visitors of any city in Europe?

Prague is full of fantastic opportunities to teach English abroad, though standards are high. The capital city is representative of the generally strong level of English proficiency in the Czech Republic, but if you have the right qualifications and some demonstrable teaching experience, you should be well-placed to start teaching English in the country's capital.

Prague: a short overview

The beauty and history of Prague are world-famous; it’s a city that’s nothing short of breathtaking and is one of the most popular places to teach English in Europe for good reason. Its city centre is a UNESCO Heritage Site unto itself, and perhaps due to its popularity as a destination for international travel, Prague has a robust and inordinately equipped hospitality industry, much like neighbouring European countries. As such, English proficiency is very high in Prague; though if you plan to teach English in the Czech Republic, you should know that Brno ranks even higher for English proficiency!

Requirements for teaching English in Prague

Generally speaking, the teach English abroad requirements in Prague are strict, but the demand for English teachers is high. English teaching jobs in Prague will require experience and qualifications. A reputable TEFL certificate is an absolute must; if you’ve completed a TEFL course of 120 hours or more, from a reputable, accredited provider, then all the better. A bachelor’s degree is usually required for jobs in Prague; if you want to teach English abroad without a degree in the Czech Republic, you’ll likely have more success away from the capital.

Previous teaching experience will also count for a great deal. If you plan to find teaching positions in the state school system, international schools or private schools, chances are you might find it tough to teach English abroad without experience in Prague’s education system. If you’re able to demonstrate fluency, particularly with a qualification like an IELTS, you should be able to teach English as a non-native speaker in Prague. This is especially true if you have at least basic Czech in your teaching arsenal.

You may also need a Czech business license, depending on the role and the employer. Many schools will ask for this, particularly if you want to work in one of Prague's private language schools or an international school. ESL teachers who work freelance will also require a Czech business license to work legally.

Salary, benefits and cost of living in Prague

Salary

English teachers are in high demand in Prague, and if you’re able to meet specific requirements for teaching jobs, you should be able to find jobs with a decent salary. The average salary for teachers in the Czech Republic is between 23,000 and 34,000 Czech Koruna (circa $1,000-$1,500 USD/£790-£1,184), but wages in Prague tend to be higher to meet the slightly escalated cost of living.

The average salary of a Praguer, according to Numbeo, is about 39,000 CZK. From our research, job listings don’t usually mention salaries, but can range between 20,000 CZK a month to 40,000 CZK, with qualifications and experience being the main factors determining income.

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Czech Republic	40,093 CZK £1,337 GBP $1,719 USD	Preferred	September	Preferred			None

Benefits

Some employers offer additional benefits such as housing assistance, health insurance, and professional development opportunities. Contract terms may include paid holidays and end-of-contract bonuses, especially in private language schools and international schools.

Cost of living

Prague, while being the capital city, isn’t as expensive as you might think. Typically, before rent, the average expenditure per month is 20,300 CZK (£680/$860). Rents, however, can be high - the average monthly rent for a one-person apartment in the city centre is around £815/$1,030. On a teaching salary, you’re better placed to look for low-cost accommodation just outside the city centre, or for job types that provide accommodation. Many private language schools will include this in a contract offer.

For more information on the cost of living in Prague, consult this table:

Restaurants	CZK	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	CZK	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	CZK	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	CZK	USD	GBP
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	CZK	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

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English teaching jobs in Prague

So you want to know how to teach English in Prague? Well, jobs are plentiful: if you know where to look. If you aim to find teaching opportunities in the public school system, the best bet is to go through the Academic Information Agency (AIA). You’ll also need to have your teaching qualifications and supporting documents verified by this organisation, which acts as an intermediary between English teaching applicants and public schools. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, a 120-hour TEFL certificate and preferably, some previous teaching experience to start teaching English in a public school in Prague.

There are lots of great private language schools in Prague, where TEFL teachers can find rewarding work. Typically, you'll be teaching business English to adults who frequent these language schools, though you may find yourself also teaching school pupils who need a boost in their English lessons. A TEFL certificate in Business English is a great idea if you want to find a teaching job in one of these institutions.

Private tutoring is also a big business for English teachers working in Prague. Again, it’s primarily adults working in business who’ll need expert tuition, and in general, these will be your clients. However, if you can demonstrate previous teaching experience and relevant qualifications, you could find yourself with a range of students asking you to teach English on a one-to-one basis. You will need to acquire a trade license to start private tutoring in Prague or, indeed, anywhere in the Czech Republic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much do English teachers make in Prague?

The salary you can make teaching English in Prague varies depending on what kind of institution you teach in, your qualifications and your experience. However, the national average is 23,000 and 34,000 Czech Koruna (circa $1,000-$1,500 USD/£790-£1,184), with teachers in Prague typically earning just over that average.

Q. Are English teachers in demand in the Czech Republic?

English teachers are very much in demand in the Czech Republic. Public and private schools, language schools and individuals are keen to meet English teachers who are open to teaching opportunities in Prague and beyond.

Q. How do I become an English teacher in Prague?

Do you want to teach abroad in the Czech Republic? You're not alone! The best route to teach English in Prague jobs is by earning a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours of training. A bachelor’s degree and teaching experience may be required to be successful in the visa application process and will be listed in the requirements for specific job opportunities. If you want a teaching job in any of Prague's top language schools, a TEFL certificate in Business English will undoubtedly help!