Georgia

Nestled at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia lies Georgia, a former Soviet republic brimming with fascinating culture and no shortage of vibrant history and traditions. Geographically, the country is renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity: The Black Sea laps against Georgia’s west coast, creating a haven for travelers looking to explore sleepy beach towns and swanky seaside resorts. History Georgia is also home to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, making it the perfect destination for backpackers, skiers, and mountaineers seeking unbeatable alpine adventures amidst shimmering, snowy slopes. Urbanites will quickly fall in love with Georgia’s captivating capital Tbilisi, a cosmopolitan city replete with charm and character that’s also the perfect starting point to scout out the rest of the country’s picturesque towns and villages. Regardless of where you are in Georgia, the country will leave you immersed in distinct traditions, fascinating customs, and rich culture formed by centuries of history spanning from the early Georgian kingdoms of antiquity to more modern Soviet rule in the 20th century. Today, Georgia, or Saqartvelo as locals know it, is a semi-presidential republic with a population of just over four million people. The country came to fruition as a unified kingdom at the start of the 11th century, but before that, the region was inhabited by the ancient states of Colchis and Iberia. Contemporary Georgian history is largely dominated…

Each country has its own requirements and qualifications when it comes to teaching. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in Georgia. Education You will need to possess a bachelor’s degree in any subject in order to teach in Georgia. Citizenship There are no specific citizenship requirements to teach English in Georgia, though schools tend to prefer to hire teachers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. English Fluency In order to qualify for the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program, you will need to be a native speaker of English, French, German, or Italian (depending on the language you plan to teach). Background Check Teachers planning on applying to TLG will need to have a 100% clean criminal record check from a police department or government office/bureau. Criminal record checks issued through third party providers won’t be accepted by the program. Some international schools might also ask teachers to undergo a background check during the application process, but most private language schools in Georgia will not require it. Medical Check A medical check is a requirement to teach with TLG, and program applicants will nee…

Historically, Georgia has struggled with educational underfunding and a high dropout rate across its secondary schools. In the past decade, however, the country has instituted a number of reforms to improve students’ educational outcomes, revitalize Georgia’s public school curriculum, and create opportunities for teacher development and training. Foreign TEFL-certified instructors looking to teach in Georgia will be especially pleased to note one exciting initiative in particular: Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG), a program launched by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science in 2010 that brings native English, French, Italian, and German language speakers into Georgian public schools across the country. Today, TLG remains the most common job route for foreign English teachers in Georgia, though it’s also possible to find work at private language schools, privately teaching or tutoring students, and, with the proper qualifications, at international schools. Each of these job types come with their own specific set of advantages, so you’ll want to understand the basic differences between them before you begin applying. Public Schools – Teach and Learn with Georgia Program (TLG) If you decide to teach with TLG, you’ll work at a Georgian public primary school instructing learners in grades one through six. While you’ll be allowed to list your location preferences when applying to TLG, you’ll ultimately be placed wherever the need for English instruction is highest. Re…

Now that you’ve explored the job types available to you, it’s time to begin the application process! There are several steps to take to find a job teaching English in Georgia, and we have them all outlined below. Heads up! Depending on your nationality , you might be able to live in Georgia legally without a visa for up to a year. However, if you do need to apply for a visa in order to relocate to Georgia, the timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa will likely overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our Teaching in Georgia Timeline , as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on track with your documents while applying for teaching positions. *ITA does not review applications for the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program. Please refer to the program’s Facebook page for program application details and deadlines. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are the keys to a successful application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. To take a deeper dive into international resumes and cover letters, visit the Prepare section! Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recommended international standards, submit your drafts to your Student Affa…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position from a school in Georgia and you’ve followed our previous advice, you’re already off to a great start. But what’s next? Determining whether or not the offer is right for you. To help make this decision, follow the recommendations below by reviewing the basics. Whether you have one offer or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days, housing, airfare, insurance, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect with each of these elements. Review the Basics Salary & Severance Pay Participants of the Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program will earn a monthly salary of 750 GEL . After taxes, the net amount directly deposited into teachers’ bank accounts is 600 GEL. Teachers living with a TLG host family will then have to pay an additional 200 GEL to cover food and utilities costs. On the other hand, full-time private language school and international school teachers typically earn a monthly salary of around 3,750 GEL to 7,830 GEL per month in Georgia. Anything significantly lower or higher should make you ask a few questions. If the reason for the pay difference is obvious, like you’ll be in a rural location with a low cost of living or working longer than average hours, you may find that you’re okay with it. But don’t accept a contract that is paying you less for doing the same amount of work the average English teacher does, or one t…

Unlike some other European countries, Georgia is home to a relatively liberal visa policy. Citizens of 98 different countries are able to enter, work, and study in Georgia visa-free for a period of one full year. This means that if you are a teacher from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and any of the EU states, for instance, you won’t need to apply for a visa or residence permit in order to work with the popular Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) program. Learn more about Georgia’s visa policies here , and check to see whether this visa-free policy applies to you. If you do need to apply for a visa in order to live and work legally in Georgia, reach out to your local Georgian consulate or embassy for accurate, up-to-date visa application procedures and requirements. In general, you’ll first apply for your visa via Georgia’s e-application system, and then submit a hard copy of the completed application to your local Georgia embassy. Some embassies require you to make an appointment to submit your hard copy visa application, while others allow you to mail your documents directly to the embassy. Check with your local Georgian embassy to confirm which application methods are acceptable there. After you have successfully submitted your visa application to your relevant embassy, you’ll typically have to wait around 30 business days for the visa application to be processed. With your visa in hand, you may travel to Georgia. Visa …

In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your move abroad, it’s more important than ever to stay organized and ask yourself: What are the logistics I have to consider and the loose ends I have to tie up in order to thrive in my new home? Do I have to worry about taxes? What about health insurance? And what the heck do I do about a cell phone? Fear not, TEFL teacher. In this section, you’ll find the tips, resources, and wisdom to tackle these questions and more! Review the Basics Health Insurance Although in a perfect world an apple a day would keep the doctor away, in reality, even teachers get sick. Cue health insurance. Regardless of the country you end up in, you should always inquire about health insurance before accepting a position. If health insurance is indeed provided by your employer, it’s imperative that the relevant details are outlined clearly in any contract you sign. Participants of Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) will receive free basic health insurance through the program. If you want to supplement this health insurance plan with a more comprehensive private insurance option, or if you are teaching at a private language school or international school that does not offer health insurance as a benefit, you will need to do your own research in order to determine which plan might be the best fit for you, your health needs, and any dependents you might be bringing abroad with you. With so many insurance options to choose from, picking out a good provider …

You have finally made it to the end of the Georgia section, no small feat! Here is all of that wonderful information from the previous section laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for Georgia. This timeline is not only for the planners and checklist lovers (although you will love this too!). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to Georgia to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Finding a Job in Advance with Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) TLG applications are rolling and typically close in August before the program starts in September. However, we definitely don’t advise waiting until then to apply — the sooner you can send in your TLG application, the more likely you are to be accepted into the program as admission has become increasingly competitive in recent years. In order to use this timeline, take your desired start date and subtract from there. Most importantly, always verify this timeline and information with TLG’s official website. While it may be possible to move some parts of the process along quicker, follow this timeline as closely as possible. 3-11 months before departure (the earlier the better!): Begin your research and application process ___ List out your preferences and priorities. ___ Chat with ITA alumni about their experiences. __ Read through ITA’s resources and watch a Student Affairs webinar. ___ Ensure your passport will be valid at least 6 months pas…

I would definitely recommend teaching in Georgia but I would stress the need to be open minded. The country is still in the developmental stages and you will find yourself without many of the comforts of developed, Western countries. If you can look past this, however, and open yourself up to some new (and strange) experiences you will have a wonderful time. Gwen J. Georgia Be open-minded about experiencing a culture that can be very different from your own. Some things that you think are rude or weird might not be so abroad and vice versa. Sarah F. Georgia