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Teach English in Mauritania

Teach English in Mauritania

Perhaps uniquely challenging, in terms of the terrain and the job market, Mauritania offers something genuinely unique to TEFL teachers.

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With such a unique and diverse geography and culture, Mauritania offers exciting challenges to English teachers that are hard to find anywhere else. While English is taught in Mauritania’s educational system at primary, secondary and higher education levels, it’s certainly not the most spoken language, or even close.

Nestled in West Africa, with considerable desert land, Mauritania is home to schools that are either packed into metropolitan areas like Noukachott or spread out remotely, meaning there are huge discrepancies in literacy rates and access to education between rural and urban areas. Students in rural areas face extreme educational challenges, with poor infrastructure, limited resources and, as you might expect, not enough trained teachers. This is certainly true for English teachers, who aren’t heading out to Mauritania in droves as they might to more celebrated TEFL locations within Africa. 

Unlike a vast number of countries in Africa, where English is widely spoken, Mauritanians predominantly speak Arabic, French or one of three native languages: Pulaar, Soninke and Wolo. While there is an interest in English, a lot of students in Mauritania simply don't have access to the language in the way that many in different countries across Africa do. While bordering countries like Morocco and Senegal also predominantly speak French, these are nations with considerably better educational infrastructure, and so students living in those countries have far better access to English. Students in Mauritania, whether through economics or geographical factors, do not.

So, what can English teachers expect if they want to make Mauritania their new home? What are job opportunities like, what do they need to prosper there, and how realistic is it to live off a teaching salary? It’s time to take an in-depth look at Mauritania, a country that’s like very few - if any - others, especially when it comes to teaching English abroad.

Mauritania: an overview

Over recent decades, Mauritania has experienced a substantial surge in demand for English language lessons. There are several understandable reasons for this growing interest, which are common to many countries (not just across Africa): the increasing global importance of English as the lingua franca of business, employment opportunities and the development of Mauritania as a destination for tourists. This growth has seen the opening of more (albeit not many) private language schools across the country, more take-up of private English lessons, and more demand for better English teaching within the state education system. 

However, there are considerable challenges for English teachers in Mauritania despite this increased interest. It’s incredibly unsafe for LGBTQ+ people, literacy rates sit comfortably under 80%, and there are still instances of slavery. With tensions on the border with Mali, there are parts of Mauritania where it’s unsafe to live.

Throw in an unstandardised English teaching curriculum, and it’s clear to see where the challenges are, but there are also opportunities to be had within teaching jobs in Mauritania. Teachers can make a sizeable impact in Mauritania through cultural sensitivity, engaging lessons for students and a strong understanding of the country's challenges.

Requirements

What qualifications or experience do you need on your CV to land English jobs in Mauritania? What are employers looking for from applicants keen to teach English abroad? It’s time for a closer look at the requirements for finding employment as an English teacher in Mauritania.

TEFL certification

Schools in Mauritania - and across Africa - will require a TEFL certificate. A TEFL certificate is required for any type of English teaching in Mauritania, with a 120-hour TEFL course serving as the industry standard.

Additionally, the more advanced TEFL certificates you have on your CV, the more success you’re likely to have finding work and reaching students. Advanced TEFL certificates can provide a competitive advantage, specifically if you’re seeking opportunities for teaching young learners or with Business English students. This is especially true in urban centres such as Nouakchott, where the demand for specialised English skills is higher, and in turn, competition for jobs can be a little more intense.

Degree/no degree

Usually, a degree is required to teach English abroad in Mauritania, as schools typically list it as an essential criterion for jobs. This is especially true in elite institutions like international schools. A bachelor's or above is often required for specific TEFL jobs. Fee-paying schools - even for kindergarten jobs - usually prefer at least a master’s, specifically in English, education or a similar degree choice. If you want to teach English abroad without a degree in Africa, and Mauritania appeals, you’re best placed to find a volunteering role.

Experience 

In Mauritania, teaching jobs typically require experienced candidates. This is especially true if you apply for a job at an international school or a private school, even if it's for students at kindergarten age. Several employers in Mauritania ask for between two to six years of classroom teaching experience, preferably in Western education. That said, if you've taught in different countries across Africa, that experience is useful, too.

Can you teach English abroad in Mauritania without experience? Yes, but usually through volunteering programmes or lower-salaried positions in language schools. Volunteering is often a fantastic way to start a TEFL career, as a way to gain valuable classroom experience, boost your CV, and improve your chances of securing full-time TEFL work in Mauritania and further afield.

Native/non-native speakers

Can you teach English in Mauritania as a non-native speaker? Technically speaking, yes, though it can be much more difficult to find work. If you have extensive qualifications and experience as an English teacher, you should be able to find teaching opportunities. However, if you’re a non-native English speaker looking to build experience and teach abroad for the first time, it can be prohibitively difficult for non-native speakers of English. Job adverts at fee-paying institutions, like an international school, will typically ask for native English speakers.

Visa

As of January 2025, obtaining a visa on arrival in Mauritania is no longer possible. Before you travel, you must apply for an e-visa online via the website of the Mauritanian National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Titles (Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés).

A word of warning: it can take a while. You’re best placed to apply for your e-visa well before your arrival. In terms of documentation, you’ll need:

  • A passport that is valid for at least six months
  • 4x recent passport photos
  • Two visa application forms, completed and signed
  • A business cover letter from your prospective employer
  • A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever
  • Proof of your accommodation arrangements in Mauritania
  • Evidence of travel arrangements
  • Visa fee payment

Download our teaching English in Middle East & Africa guide

Salary, benefits and cost of living 

What salary can teachers earn while living and working in Mauritania, a mysterious and alluring part of Africa? Let’s examine earnings, benefits and the cost of living in this often-overlooked outpost for TEFL teaching.

Salary

English teaching jobs in Mauritanian schools usually earn between MRU 15,775 and 24,500 (£304-£473/$399-$619) per month. However, salaries for English teachers in Mauritania can vary widely, and finding reliable salary information across different educational institutions can be challenging. 

There are some excellent salaries on offer if you're looking for jobs in elite educational institutions. For example, though teaching opportunities in Mauritanian international schools are scarce, they pay incredibly well by national standards, at around £30,000/$39,237 per year before tax. 

Benefits

Mauritanian English teaching jobs may offer limited benefits packages. Only international schools offer much in the way of incentives: airfare reimbursement, accommodation assistance, and signing bonuses are typical benefits used to lure TEFL talent from across the world. Outside of elite institutions, you're unlikely to be offered much in the way of added incentives to teach students in Mauritania.

Cost of living

We have an idea of the kind of teaching salary you can earn in Mauritania. So, what’s the cost of living like in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania? Unless you’re given free accommodation, the most important thing to consider is the cost of monthly rent. Typically, a one-bedroom apartment in central Nouakchott will cost about £181/$225 per month, but if you’re willing to rent outside the city centre, it should cost about £130/$161. Utilities cost around £117/$145 per month, while internet access costs around £47/$59 per month - worth considering if you’re keen to teach English online.

Are you keen to try Mauritanian food? A solo meal in a cafe usually costs around £4/$5, while a three-course meal for two in a mid-priced restaurant usually costs around £20/$25.

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Mauritania 15,775 - 24,500 MRU
£304-£473 GBP
$399-$619 USD 		Preferred None

Jobs

Where are all the opportunities for keen TEFL teachers to meet eager English students across Mauritania? Here are where the Mauritania teaching jobs are and what you’ll need on your CV.

Public schools

It can be extremely difficult to find full-time teaching work in Mauritania’s state schools, largely because it’s more economically prudent for Mauritanian schools to hire teachers from within the country. Throw in an English curriculum that isn’t standardised, and the challenges are obvious. However, this isn’t to say it can’t be done at all. You’ll need a teaching certificate, a TEFL certificate, and a degree to be considered, with no qualms about teaching either kindergarten students or high schoolers.

More on teaching English in Mauritania

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. Which country is in high demand for English teachers?

    The highest demand for English teachers, and where the most students are, is in China. The TEFL industry in China is huge, with hundreds of millions of English learners. However, there are vast parts of the world where English teachers are keenly sought out. This includes several countries in Africa where students are keen to boost their proficiency in English.

  • Q. What country is easiest to teach English in?

    This is subjective, of course, but in terms of finding opportunities, it’s “easiest” for TEFL teachers with high-quality TEFL certificates to find work in countries like China, Spain, Cambodia and Vietnam, where there’s extremely high demand for teachers.

  • Q. What are the top 3 languages spoken in Mauritania?

    The top languages spoken in Mauritania are Arabic, three national languages called Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof, and French, which acts as an official language.

  • Q. What is Mauritania best known for?

    Mauritania, a country in northwest Africa, is perhaps best known for its bountiful natural resources and as a site of enormous historical and cultural significance.