Quick answer: Yes, you can build a life teaching English in Florence – American teacher Chris Herring has done it for over two decades, working in private language schools, public institutions and privately. You’ll need an accredited TESOL certificate, patience with Italian bureaucracy (non-EU citizens need work papers – and post-Brexit that includes Brits), and ideally some Italian and local history under your belt.
Do you ever dream of living in Florence, enjoying the cuisine, sights and sounds of Italy? This week it’s been a real pleasure to chat with Chris Herring, an American English language teacher living and working there.
Chris describes herself interestingly as starting out as an “English facilitator”, and has worked in a range of different educational settings, which makes her a fount of useful information and knowledge on all things Italy. She speaks about her morning bike ride right by the Duomo or Piazza Signoria. We started by asking her a few questions about her life in Florence. Read on for some fascinating stories...
How did Chris become an English teacher in Florence?
Hi Chris, how did you come to be an English teaching in Florence?
I moved to Florence, Italy to be with my fiancé and have been living here ever since. I started 'facilitating' English in the Spring of 2001. My job is helping Italians, primarily adults, acquire English as a second language, through private profit-based schools, some public institutions, and eventually privately. Of late I do a lot of English certificate coaching.
What made you decide to become an English teacher in Italy?
The idea of teaching English came to me all very casually, from an ex-pat friend who was working for this company that was looking for English language facilitators and suggested I give it a shot. Truthfully, the idea of being a teacher wasn't appealing, I didn't feel I knew enough about the structure of English to teach and I naively and perhaps haughtily thought teaching was somewhat déclassé. I came to Florence after living in New York City, and after all, in the 'go-go eighties' jobs were supposed to be high-octane.
Tell us about your first teaching role - how did you get it?
My first position was with a for-profit private language school that had its own method of ESL. No chalk and talk classroom setting but informal around the table. The nuts and bolts of the language were done off a programmed computer and student workbooks. Students met with native speakers once a month to practice what they had studied on their own. We had a new group of students every hour. It was a fantastic introduction to learning to work with a wide variety of language learners of all ages, levels and attitudes. The boss of the place interviewed me and the only thing he cared about was if I was a native speaker and if I am attractive enough in a sexist way I had never encountered before. He strongly believed that was the key to attracting clients ergo boosting profits. It worked for him but it worked for me, too because had I had to rely on my teaching abilities I wouldn't be where I am today!
Oh my word, that’s an incredibly outdated idea of an interview technique in the 2020’s. Still, I am glad it worked out for you and you took the best from it. (Ed)
What was the most helpful thing from the Global English TESOL course?
Just about everything taught was valuable to me as I moved away from being a facilitator to becoming a teacher. After several years the school I worked at was bought by a larger company and the new owners required a teaching certificate. Another teacher told me about Global English TESOL. The fact it was online was the thing that was most appealing for I could work on it while taking care of my school-age kids and continue working. The two most important things out of the Global course were probably lesson planning and classroom management. One visual I got from the course was from a recorded class. I remember the instructor held up two open fingers to illustrate two the two words can and not. She then pressed those fingers together to demonstrate the contraction can't. Simple, effective and I use it to this day.
What is it like living and teaching in Florence?
What is it about teaching in Florence that you enjoy?
An American friend of mine teaches in Roma which is my favourite city in this country. I love big cities. But it is hectic, chaotic and for that being in Firenze is a dream. The city is very manageable and sophisticated. I can use my bicycle to get to most places. I consider it a privilege to be able to bike right by the Duomo or Piazza Signoria and look back 500 years to the spectacular art and architectural achievements made by man. The location, midway between Roma and Milan, makes moving around the country easy. Then there is the food. It is a very safe city, too. No worries about being downtown after hours. Whereas the cuisine is somewhat plain, the quality of the ingredients makes the simplest dish of beans and greens sublime.
What are some of the challenges, either about teaching or living in Italy?
The bureaucracy is very hard to navigate. Before Brexit, English citizens could breeze on down and get a teaching job. Meanwhile, we non-European citizens had more than a few hoops to jump thru, work papers, resident cards and on and on. Consequently, there were far more British teachers working here. Now, poor things, have to go through the hoops too.
Living here, well, Florentines are very, very, really, extremely proud of their illustrative past, rightfully so. However, this tends to make them cool to strangers. Florence is not warm and welcoming as Rome, Naples or Palermo. I never really cared to assimilate until I started to teach. They are very respectful of teachers here and that is when I got to know Florentines. Their snootiness is a façade.
Do you speak Italian?
Mi arrangio (I manage) but given the 35 years I've been here and the wife of an Italian philologist my students are shocked I'm not better than I am. But I am a better language teacher for this. I rarely fall into using Italian to explain grammar points and they know they really have to do their best to converse in English with me.
Any advice for others about starting out as an English teacher in Italy?
Well, certainly the standard stuff like have your papers in order, and learn some of the languages, maybe get in touch with people already living here so you can start establishing a network. Regarding learning the language, study how to pronounce it. The grammar is harder, I think, passato remoto, congintivo etc. but compared to English the pronunciation is very simple. English has 17 or more vowel sounds with its vowels, whereas Italian has 7 and what you read is what you say. Also, get some background, and learn a little of the history. History has shaped the Italian character and probably influences how they learn.
One last thing, don't come here leaving a love one back home, falling in love with an Italian is an occupational hazard.
A dopo,
Chris
Thanks for sharing that amazing insight into life in Florence Chris.
For now, arrivederci!
What do you need to teach English in Florence?
Pulling together Chris’s experience and what our Italy-based graduates report, here is the practical checklist:
- An accredited TESOL certificate. Chris’s school made a teaching certificate a condition of employment once new owners took over – that is now the norm in Italian language schools. We recommend the 150-hour TESOL Advanced course for Italy, or the 120-hour TESOL Premier course as the popular starting point.
- Work papers if you are non-EU. As Chris says, Americans have always had hoops to jump through – work papers, resident cards “and on and on” – and since Brexit, British teachers go through them too. Check current entry and visa requirements on the UK government’s foreign travel advice for Italy and with the Italian consulate for your nationality.
- Some Italian and some history. You can teach in English – Chris rarely uses Italian in class – but pronunciation-level Italian and a little background history go a long way with students and neighbours alike.
- A network. Get in touch with people already there. Our teaching English in Italy guide and the graduate comments page are good places to start.
Florence, Rome or Milan: where should you teach in Italy?
Our graduates are working across Italy, and each city has its own flavour:
| City | What teachers say | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Florence | Manageable, sophisticated and safe; bike everywhere, midway between Rome and Milan; locals warm up once you teach | Chris’s story (this post) |
| Milan | Italy’s business capital, with strong demand for adult and business English | Australian Alison David in Milan |
| Rome | Big, hectic and chaotic – Chris’s favourite city – with a large market for certificate coaching and business English | Natalie’s business English story |
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do I need to teach English in Italy?
Italian language schools now routinely require an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate – Chris’s own school made it compulsory when new owners arrived. A 120-hour certificate is the baseline; we recommend the 150-hour TESOL Advanced course for Europe, and a business English specialisation helps in cities like Milan and Rome.
How much can I earn teaching English in Italy?
Earnings vary widely between private language schools, public institutions and private one-to-one work – Chris has done all three, moving into higher-value certificate coaching over time. Compare Italian cities’ living costs on Numbeo and see our top 5 best-paying TESOL destinations for international context.
Do I need a degree to teach English in Italy?
Language schools are generally more interested in an accredited teaching certificate and native-level English than in your degree subject. However, non-EU citizens – now including British teachers post-Brexit – need work papers, and a degree can strengthen a visa application. Check requirements with the Italian consulate for your nationality.
Do I need to speak Italian to teach English in Florence?
No – Chris manages with modest Italian after decades in Florence and rarely uses it in class, which pushes her students to converse in English. That said, learning Italian pronunciation is easy compared with English, and a little of the language and history earns real goodwill.
Where next?
Try these:
- a link to the course that we recommend for teaching English in Italy
- Australian Alison David teaching English in Milan
- Natalie Vassilaka teaching business English in Rome
- our full country guide to teaching English in Italy, plus finding work, general advice & comments from Global English graduates in Italy
- current vacancies on our TEFL jobs board and how Italy compares in our top 5 best-paying TESOL destinations
Got a question about teaching in Italy or TESOL course training options?
Email GE Director of Studies William