2022 Italian language graduate Tom teaches English in the south of Italy. Keep reading to see why he decided to work abroad, the problems he’s faced, and what he might do next with his modern language degree.
Deciding to work abroad
My name is Tom and I graduated from Bristol in 2022. I currently work as an English Language Teacher in southern Italy. I’m still not 100% decided on what specific area I want to start my career in. My plan is to spend the next few years trying different things and seeing what works for me. I’ve studied Italian for almost 10 years now, so my heart was always set on living in Italy for some of this time.
I massively enjoyed teaching English in an Italian middle school during my year abroad. I could have spent this year abroad studying, but I wanted to distance myself from university students in big cities and do something a bit more niche. I knew I was good at teaching this low-level English, but I wanted to test myself and teach those with a higher proficiency. With this in mind, I completed a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) course, alongside my final year of university, which qualified me to teach these higher levels. If you’re interested in teaching English as a second language, TEFL is a great company to look at as they have a vast catalogue of job opportunities from around the world.
Teaching in Italy
I found my current teaching job through TEFL. I love the actual time in the classroom. It’s improved my explanation skills, confidence in talking to crowds, and interpersonal skills like with listening to and supporting students with problems at home. Saying this though, the lesson preparation is intense because you have so much to do. It’s not been a great work-life balance so far.
With relocating abroad, I always knew that there would be initial obstacles, but I was a little naïve to the impact of Brexit. I knew there would be dotted lines to sign on and emails to send, but the number of hoops I have had to jump through have made the transition period more difficult than I expected.
“check your employer is well-versed in the changes Brexit has brought to your sector of work”
Between getting multiple permits and appointments across both countries and governments, getting my visa sorted took a lot more time and money than I was expecting. Employers often have teams of people to go through this process for you, but I essentially had to do it by myself. If you’re looking to work in the EU, check your employer is well-versed in the changes Brexit has brought to your sector of work, as the rules differ depending on the type of work. These are the early years of Brexit’s impact, so it’s naturally going to take time to optimize all the administration that comes with it.
On a more personal level, I would urge anyone who has the opportunity to work abroad not to shy away from it, because once you clear all the hurdles, you may just find yourself living the dream! I’ve travelled all over Italy on my days off and I’ve met some amazing people. Plus, there’s nothing like finishing work and coming back to your little Italian apartment to make a huge bowl of pasta.
Plans for the future
While living abroad is amazing, right now I want to be back in the UK. I’m sure I’ll be interested in working abroad again, once the legislation around Brexit becomes more efficiently managed, although not necessarily permanently relocating. My current career goal is to use my language skills in a role that simultaneously improves a brand-new skill. I’m generally quite open to what sector this might be in, although at the minute I’m looking to explore how languages can be used in business and technology. Employers love when you’ve worked abroad and the intercultural skills that this gives you, so these big companies are often prepared to pay higher salaries for it.
Considering working abroad? Read our guide to working abroad or search for work outside of the UK on mycareer. Read our blog post to find out how you can use global experience to your advantage in the application process.