TESOL Jobs Tunisia

General Information

Long are the days of Tunisia being soley a Francophone country. As English is required for entrance to universities as well as providing access the better jobs, Tunisians view studying English as a way to improve their lives. All this adds up to a considerable demand for native English speakers.

Teaching English

Quite unlike Europe, for those wishing to teach in a state or private school, there is not the requirement for a PGCE. You will need a TESOL qualification and you will need to check with the individual school whether they require an undergraduate degree and any teaching experience.

The major city is Tunis, where there are a considerable number of private language institutes which are worth checking out. Obviously, the biggest demand for English will be in the larger cities or in this case city. Tunisia is a small country. however, it is possible to find work in the smaller coastal towns such as Hammamet and Sousse as they draw a big tourist turnout. In the public sector one can expect large classes, with students of a varying degrees of ability within the same class.


Visas and Regulations

The Tunisian Ministry of Labour stipulates that the maximum number of foreign staff in any organisation cannot exceed fifty percent. It also insists that all foreign teachers have obtained an undergraduate degree before they can be eligible for a work permit but again you should check with the individual school. Work permits are obtained after arrival by applying for authorization. You will need copies of your diplomas, birth certificate, etc.

With all this said, once one is off the beaten track, it is not the case that visa regulations are strictly enforced. One should be mindful of what one’s tourist visa entitlements are, and consider how practical it is to renew one’s visa through cross-border trips.

Getting a Job

Before starting out, be sure to obtain a TEFL/TESOL Certificate which is required for securing a job. Visit our site for more information on certification. Once you've successfully completed your certification, finding well-paid work should not be difficult in Tunis, Hammamet and Sousse. However, it is strongly suggested that you come to Tunisia to find the right job for you. Often by email, we, ESL teachers, are given great promises before we come only to find upon arrival that they are far from true. Doing your job search on site helps distinguish fact from fiction as well as getting a feel for the country and the culture.

To start, you can locate schools in a given city, by looking at the on-line yellow pages or esl job search engines. Amideast and British Council are too good places to start. You can either send a resume and cover letter beforehand to arrange interviews or show up, visit schools and arrange interviews then. What's most important is do not accept any post without visiting the school first and talking to at least one or two of the teachers who work there.

One of the best and most realistic propositions is to build a working life based around constructing a portfolio a few hours here and a few hours there, bearing mind that revenue from ‘one to one lessons’ can double a teacher’s income, one should always be on the lookout for one to one students, whatever one’s employment or visa status. The market for those wanting private tuition or conversation practice is huge, and potentially very lucrative, therefore, not be neglected. Give yourself time to build a portfolio of work. This is best safeguard to both your income, and employment status.

For more information about getting TESOL certified, visit us here!