At the height of the economic crisis, private schools in Greece that employed TEFL teacher were forced to tighten their budgets or close altogether. The private teaching sector suffered, and the number of TEFL jobs in Greece shrank dramatically. These days, it’s still tricky to find a job, especially in certain areas. TEFL teachers are likely to find work in the more affluent areas and cities, such as Athens, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, and Crete. However, the cost of living in the idyllic Greek islands and the big cities is much higher than rural countryside locations, so if you can find work in a smaller area, you might find it easier to save money. Smaller areas to investigate are Edessa, Larissa, and Preveza.
While some schools have stayed open, competition is rife – with so many school closures, there are a number of experienced TEFL teachers in Greece who are looking for work, making it tough for those who are new to the country or inexperienced. Many out-of-work teachers take up private tutoring, dropping their prices so low that parents consider it better value to hire a private language teacher for their child than to send them to a language school.
The tricky work situation in Greece can make it an uncomfortable place for foreigners – with so many locals (especially younger people) out of work in Greece, there can be animosity towards foreigners that are able to acquire work in their country. Also bear in mind that the government enforces a ratio of 1 foreigner per 10 Greek employees within a company, so smaller businesses are just not permitted to hire non-locals. Full-time positions will be around 25 – 30 hours per week, but many schools have reduced to around 12 – 18 hours per week (and lower wages), so freelance work will likely be required to boost your income.