Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG Program)

Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG Program)

Live with a host family, learn about Georgian culture and make a start to your teaching career through Teach and Learn with Georgia!

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Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG Program)

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Nestled in southeastern Europe, Georgia is a fascinating place to teach English. Not only is it culturally diverse, straddling the borders of Europe and Asia, but it’s also a growing, post-Soviet country with a unique history and exciting goals. One of those goals is improving its English proficiency, and that’s where the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program comes in.

Launched in 2010, TLG is a government-run program to bring English, French, and German speakers to Georgia. The aim is to improve proficiency in each European language while promoting cultural exchange between Georgia and other countries.

For English teachers interested in Asian, European, and Communist culture, Georgia has a fascinating history and an exciting future. The TLG program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience Georgian life, learn about its past, and participate in an emerging TEFL market.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the Teach and Learn with Georgia program, including things like salaries, benefits, and the requirements you need to meet.

Teach and Learn Georgia: an overview

Georgia is at an interesting point in its history. Formerly Communist and isolated from the West, it has only recently become a bigger international presence. Linguistically, Georgia’s Soviet past has a huge influence. Georgian, Azerbaijani, and Russian have long been the main languages in the country, but English is making inroads, and the overall proficiency levels are booming.

Government programs have been at the core of that improvement in English. Launched in 2010 by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science, the Teach and Learn with Georgia program has brought scores of English teachers to the country. More and more, Georgians have become aware of the educational and economic benefits of learning English.

The program has welcomed students worldwide, with English, French and German speakers making an impact. Students from English-speaking countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa have taken part, allowing Georgian students to learn about various cultures while boosting their English skills.

Who is the TLG Program for?

TLG is an exciting opportunity for English teachers who want to make a clear difference and explore an underrepresented culture. If you’re any of the following, keep reading!

Career changers: People looking to move into a new career phase can try taking their first steps in TEFL through the TLG program.
Gap-year travellers: Between school and university? The TLG is a fantastic prospect for anyone seeking career experience and travel.
Native English speakers: The TLG program wants native English speakers who can tell students about different cultures and boost their confidence in speaking the language.
Recent graduates: If you’re fresh out of college or university, exploring Georgia through the TLG can set you up for a rewarding career.
Teachers interested in post-Soviet countries: While many post-Soviet countries, such as Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Serbia welcome English teachers, Georgia’s TLG is a direct route to work. It's also an ideal way to experience Georgian culture while providing English education.
Teachers open to rural living: If you crave a life outside the city, or you’re used to the countryside, TLG could be perfect for you.

If you can relate to any of the above, the Teach and Learn with Georgia program could be for you!

For prospective teachers

What do prospective participants of this exciting program need to know? Here, we’ll discuss the requirements, application process, responsibilities, and benefits offered to TLG volunteers.

Eligibility requirements
When to apply
Application process
Teaching responsibilities
Outside the classroom

Eligibility requirements

What do you need to be eligible for the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program? You must be:

A native English speaker
A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or a final year bachelor’s student of education, didactics, linguistics, teaching in a foreign language, or a related field
Able to pass a Criminal Record Check and medical test

The TLG programme also asks candidates to “adapt to unfamiliar customs and family norms” while keeping an open mind and being motivated to “make a difference.”

You don't need a TEFL certificate to join the TLG team. However, a TEFL certificate is the ideal training for teaching English anywhere, including Georgia. A high-quality TEFL certificate of 120 hours or more will help you build confidence in the classroom, learn how to design lesson plans, and understand the foundational skills of English teaching.

When to apply

The best time to apply for the TLG program is in the Spring. If your application is successful, your 5 or 10-month contract will begin in September, with a week of orientation in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital city.

Application process

Applying for the TLG program is a straightforward process, with steps that are easy to understand. Here’s how to apply:

Step one

The first step is to fill out the online application form, which will ask for your personal details, including your name, address, contact information, and emergency contact.

You’ll also need to provide a Motivation Letter, similar to a cover letter for a TEFL job. It should include:

Personal information: The TLG program wants to know about your background, both professional, academic, and individual. What about you and your qualifications make you a good candidate?
Any “cross-cultural”/volunteering experience: Have you lived abroad or volunteered anywhere? This kind of experience shows you can adapt to new surroundings and situations.
Teaching experience: While teaching experience isn’t essential, it’ll help you stand out. Describe any previous teaching experience or how your career/personal experience makes you a suitable candidate.
Additional information: If you have any particular qualities, connections to Georgia, or helpful details about yourself, include them!

In addition to your Motivation Letter and application form, you should include:

Your CV/Resume
A copy of your passport (in colour)
Two reference letters from someone you know in a professional or educational environment. They can send their reference letters directly to the programm, or you can attach them to your application
Scanned copies of your qualifications (TEFL certificate/degree/professional certificates)
Two passport photographs

Step two

The second step of the process is a video call with a program administrator. This will be a relatively short and informal chat covering your submitted information, reasons for applying, and experience.

Step three

Before you're officially given a place, you’ll be asked to provide a medical assessment form. A working GP must complete this, and you also need to provide a completed medical self-assessment and a criminal record check.

Teaching responsibilities

As a successful TLG applicant, you have responsibilities inside and outside the classroom. Teachers are signed up to volunteer and co-teach for at least 25 hours per week. You’ll be working alongside at least three local foreign language teachers, and your weekly hours include any time you need to plan lessons.

Schools get one volunteer each, and each teacher is expected to work with different groups of pupils of different ages and abilities. Teachers are expected to help plan engaging and English lessons, helping kids build confidence and conversational skills.

Along with your main teaching responsibilities, you’ll be expected to arrange extracurricular activities and, where possible, helping your school with administrative tasks.

Outside the classroom

One of the best parts of volunteering with TLG is being placed with a Georgian host family. You’ll get to teach your host family English for three hours a week, and participate in a cultural exchange – teaching them about your home country and learning about Georgian culture.

Benefits and support

Though TLG teachers are called volunteers, the program offers a stipend, excellent benefits and great support.

Salary

There isn’t a lot of money on offer for TLG volunteers, but with your accommodation and other costs covered, the stipend goes further than you might expect.

After taxes and payments for your host family, teachers receive around 500 GEL (£136 / $183) per month. While it’s far from a full-time teacher’s salary, it’s enough to cover some social and travel opportunities while you’re teaching in Georgia.

Benefits

You won’t become a millionaire from teaching English through TLG, but many great benefits will take your earnings much further. These include:

Accommodation with a host family
Free travel to and from Georgia
Medical coverage
A Georgian SIM card
Orientation and training
Airport travel
Paid holidays during winter

Once you’ve completed your TLG experience, the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science will provide a signed letter of recommendation. The program director also signs this, so it’s a fantastic resource for any teaching CV!

Support

TLG offers several resources to help its volunteer teachers. The program offers 24/7 support online and by phone if you have any concerns or questions. There are plenty of training opportunities, with orientation and basic training provided when you arrive, but also at mid-term.

Between your host family and the TLG program, you should feel supported to make the most of teaching English in Georgia’s public schools.

Teach and Learn With Georgia Program: Key takeaways

Today’s Georgia is an exciting destination for English teachers. English proficiency levels are high, and interest in the language is thriving.

Here are our key takeaways about the TLG program:

Requirements: You must be either a graduate or in the last year of your bachelor’s degree. You must also pass a medical and criminal background check and speak fluent English. A TEFL certificate isn’t essential, but it will help!
Salary and benefits: English teachers on the TLG program are referred to as “volunteers,” but they receive a small stipend equivalent to about £136 / $183 per month. Your accommodation, travel, and medical costs are all covered.
Application process: The first step is filling out the application form, writing a Motivation Letter, and providing references from two academic/professional contacts. Then, it’s a video call with a program administrator. After this, you’ll be asked to send the rest of your documents.
Ideal candidates: The TLG program is an outstanding opportunity for career changers, newer teachers, native English speakers, people interested in Soviet history and teachers who enjoy rural living.
When to apply: Start your application in the Spring, for a September start!

The TLG program empowers teachers and creates learning opportunities for young Georgians, and it’s a really exciting opportunity for new English language teachers. You can start a promising TEFL career in Georgia's public schools with simple requirements, excellent training, and comprehensive support. Good luck!

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Teach and Learn with Georgia program is a fantastic opportunity for teachers interested in Georgian culture and getting their start in English education. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the program.

Q. Who can apply to become a TLG teacher?

The Teach and Learn With Georgia program, created by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science, has very straightforward requirements. You need to be a fluent English speaker with a degree, or a student in the final year of a degree. You have to pass a medical and criminal background check. While you don't need a TEFL certificate to apply, it can help significantly.

Q. What support will I receive during the program?

Alongside benefits like health insurance, travel coverage and training, the TLG program provides round-the-clock phone and email support, peer support from your fellow volunteers, and a host family who can help you adjust to life in Georgia.

Q. How long is the program?

Contracts on the TLG program last 5 or 10 months.

Q. What subjects will I be teaching?

Your job will be to assist in English teaching in Georgian public schools. You must also teach English to your host family for at least three hours per week.