A Guide to Teaching English in Ukraine

Ukraine is a great place to be an English teacher. There’s a low cost of living compared to salaries so in Ukraine TESOL teachers to live well, the Ukraine CELTA course is one of the cheapest in the world, it’s a country where you can teach English without a degree and as it’s not in the EU, teachers from all over the world can work there. Teaching is a great job in Ukraine for English speakers, both native and non-native.

We spent two years teaching English in Ukraine for London School of English in Odessa, and now teach English for London School of English in Kyiv. Here’s our guide to working as an English teacher in Ukraine.

Teaching English in Ukraine is a great option for TEFL teachers, because of the high professional schools, low cost of living and cheap CELTA courses. #TEFL #Teachingenglish #Ukraine
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We aren’t in Ukraine anymore for obvious reasons. Read this post about the fantastic Ukrainian teachers doing their best to teach their students through the current war with Russia.

Why you should teach English in Ukraine

English Teachers in Ukraine are in Demand

There is a huge need to learn English at the moment and students are generally keen. The country is leaning towards the EU and this means improving their communication in English. Academic staff in universities all need to achieve a B2 (upper intermediate) level of English and school leavers need to achieve at least a B1 (intermediate).

Ukraine is a hub for IT and there are so many IT companies in Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and other cities outsourcing skills to America, Canada, the UK and European countries. IT specialists here need to be able to effectively communicate in English and IT companies have in-house English teachers or use English language schools to provide lessons to their staff. All of this means that there are lots of jobs in Ukraine for English speakers.

There are some excellent schools

The better schools have excellent conditions and a professional teaching environment. There is professional development in terms of lesson observations and teacher training. The decent schools are well-equipped with teaching materials.

Local Ukrainian teachers are serious about their profession. There is an IATEFL, TESOL Ukraine conference every year and the organisation Teachers for Teachers brings guest speakers to run workshops regularly. In the last year, Hugh Dellar, Tom Godfrey and JJ Wilson have given presentations and workshops here.

The cost of living in Ukraine is low

The cost of living in Ukraine is low compared to the wages and you can have a good standard of living and still save money. You can buy a beer for around dollar, and eat out for less than $5. It costs 8 grivna to take the metro anywhere in Kyiv (about 30 cents). Salaries for English teachers in Ukraine may seem low, especially compared to jobs in some Asian countries, but packages often include accommodation, paid holiday and a flight allowance.

Find out more about the cost of living in Odessa in our blog.

Non-EU citizens can teach English in Ukraine

While this may change with Brexit, at the moment, it’s difficult for non-EU citizens to teach English in EU countries. Since Ukraine is not in the EU, all expats need a labour permit to work there. Whether you are from the UK, South Africa, Australia, Brazil or another country, you can teach in Ukraine.

Read our post to find out about other countries where non-EU citizens can teach in Europe.

Terms

Language school work tends to follow the school terms. Courses start in September and run until June or July. Most are closed for a few weeks in the summer, although many run summer courses or summer camps for children.

Salary for English teachers in Ukraine

English teaching jobs in Ukraine can be either hourly paid or salaried. Hourly pay starts at about 200 grivna per hour, while salaried work starts at about 15,000 grivna per month, after tax. Salaried jobs often also include either accommodation or an accommodation allowance, as well as paid holiday and sick pay. Some schools will cover the cost of your labour permit and residency and pay for it. Other benefits to look for are flights home and sponsorship towards further qualifications like the DELTA or DipTESOL.

Like we said, these salaries may look low, but for living in Ukraine, they are very comfortable and will allow you extra to save, if you are careful with money. Teachers can afford to go out at weekends, to eat out often and to travel internationally during holidays.

Requirements for teaching English in Ukraine

What you need to teach in Ukraine depends on where you want to work. Smaller, hourly paid schools will give English speakers jobs running conversation clubs and helping students with their speaking skills. They don’t always ask for any kind of qualification for this. However, they also don’t offer visas or residency permits.

The schools that will organise and pay for your visa and residency are generally those who ask for full TEFL certificates. This means a course that includes assessed teaching practice of real students, not an online course. There are several schools where you can take the CELTA in Ukraine, mentioned below, but schools will also accept Trinity certTESOL in Ukraine.

If you are not sure what all these acronyms mean, we wrote a blog to help you: What’s with all the acronyms in teaching English?

Where to teach English in Ukraine

Teaching English in Kyiv

Kiev, or Kyiv as it is actually spelled, is a beautiful city full of stunning architecture, history and culture. There is an art scene now and some wonderful street art. It has proper seasons, with cold, snowy winters with access to skiing and other winter sports, and hot and sunny summers when the city is full of outdoor bars and restaurants.

Street art in Kyiv is one of the cool things to see as an English teacher in Ukraine

The majority of jobs for English speakers are in Kyiv and this is where most English language schools that employ expat teachers are. While there may be some part-time work in universities most English teaching work in Ukraine is in language centres.

Language school work involves classes of both adults and children who come after school and work to improve their language level. This may be in group classes or 1:1. Teachers also go out to businesses to teach English to employees.

The big schools are the London School of English, Kiev, where we work, the British Council, International House, Kiev, ILC, Grade, Study UA and the newly opened British Study Centres. See below for more information about these schools.

As we said, there are a lot of IT companies in Ukraine and some employ in-house English language teachers to provide lessons for their staff.

Teaching English in Odessa

Odessa is on the Black Sea. In the summer, it’s hot and sunny and you are walking distance from the beach. It’s famous for its nightlife, and in summer the superclubs at Arkadia are full of beautiful people having all-night parties.

If you like craft beers, read our post on craft beer bars in Odessa.

There are fewer language schools in Odessa that employ expat teachers, although teaching English is still a popular job in Odessa. Our school, the London School of English, has two centres there, including one on the main street of Deribasavskaya. The American Language Centre is there as well. Along with these, several smaller schools employ expat teachers on an hourly basis, such as SpeakUp, and Bridge.

Find out more about living in Odessa in our blog  What we liked about Odessa

Odessa opera house is somewhere you can see cheap ballet and opera while teaching English in Ukraine
Odessa opera house

Teaching English in Kharkiv

There are a lot of English language centres in Kharkiv, although not many will employ full-time expat teachers. International House has a school there, as does the American English Centre.

Find out more about Kharkiv in our post on Unusual things to do in Kharkiv

Teaching English in other Ukrainian cities

There are English language schools in cities such as Lviv, Poltava and Dnipro that employ expat teachers, such as International House and American English Centre. If you go around the English language centres, you will find some that will give you an hourly rate for some classes there.

Lviv Teaching English in Lviv
Lviv is a really stunning city in Ukraine, although there are not yet that many English language schools there

English Language Schools in Ukraine

London School of English

London School of English in Kiev and Odessa prefer teachers with CELTA or Trinity TESOL, but will accept teachers with other qualifications. They tend to be wary of teachers who got certified in Asia though. Again, they don’t accept online certificates.

Salaries start at 22,000 grivna a month and increase with experience and qualifications. They also give teachers there own fully furnished apartment, holiday pay, flights home and cover all visa and work permit costs.

The British Council

The British Council only accepts teachers with a degree and a CELTA or Trinity TESOL Certificate, or a DELTA or Trinity Diploma, or Masters’ degree in TESOL or Linguistics with teaching practice. You won’t get a job there with an online TEFL.

Jobs at the British Council offer a range from 19,000 to 25,000 and above. Again, you get an accommodation allowance on top of that, and paid holiday.

International House

The huge language school chain International House has a school in Kyiv offered courses to children, adults and businesses. At the moment, expat teachers generally do a lot of business classes. Salaries are around 20,000 grivna a month and upwards and include an accommodation allowance.

International House, London, created the original CELTA course, and thus, they expect their teachers to have either the CELTA or the Trinity certTESOL.

Fellow blogger Amy taught English at International House in Kyiv. You can read more about it in our New Teacher Tales interview.

ILC

ILC used to be part of International House before there was a split. It offers a range of courses and the CELTA in Ukraine. Their centre is near KPI metro, near London School of English, Kyiv and International House, Kyiv.

Grade

Grade has a school in Kyiv that offers a lot of exam classes, especially for Cambridge exams. They do not expect their native speaking teachers to have a CELTA or Trinity certTESOL, although they prefer it. Many of their positions are hourly paid.

DEC

DEC School in Kyiv has several schools around the city and employs expat teachers as well as Ukrainians. They ask for a teaching qualification, but it doesn’t have to be CELTA or Trinity.

American English Centre

American English Centre only employs Americans and Canadians but they do not require teachers to have a CELTA or Trinity certificate. In their schools, local teachers teach the grammar and vocabulary, while the native teachers help students to practice speaking skills. American English Center put their teachers through an in-house training course before they start teaching

Summer Schools and summer camps in Ukraine

A shorter term option for working as an English teacher in Ukraine is to do a summer camp. Study.UA and DEC both run summer camps in Ukraine every year and recruit teachers to work on it.

If you want to find out whether you will like teaching English in Ukraine, you can also volunteer at a summer camp. You won’t get paid, but you get accommodation and food. Check out GoCamps and ESS. A friend of ours has volunteered with Go Camps and recommends it.

If you are looking for summer work, we wrote a post on the various short term jobs teaching English around the world.

St Michael's cathedral in Kyiv, one of the cities with a lot of jobs for English speakers in Ukraine
CELTA in Ukraine

Ukraine is one of the cheapest places in the world to do the CELTA, and you can take the CELTA course for less than $1000. It is offered in several schools in Kyiv, as well as in Odessa, Kharkiv and Lviv.

The full-time course is four weeks long and includes assessed teaching practice on groups of Ukrainian students. It can also be taken part time, with sessions in the evenings or at weekends.

For CELTA courses in Kyiv, the British Council, International Language Centre and Grade Education Centre, offer the course both full-time and part-time throughout the year. You can find dates and prices on their websites.

The London School of English run the CELTA in Odessa twice a year, in May and June.

 The beach in Odessa in winter, although it's better in summer when you can take the CELTA in Odessa
The beach in Odessa is interesting in winter as well as summer

Paperwork to be an English teacher in Ukraine

To teach legally in Ukraine you need a work visa and a work permit, and then apply for temporary residency, which comes in the form of a blue passport-like book called a Posvitka.

The work visa is a ‘D’ visa and it is got from a Ukrainian Embassy outside the country. Teachers either get it in their home country, or come in on a tourist visa or 90-day exemption, which their school then converts into the work visa. This often involves a trip over the border to the nearest Ukrainian Embassy in Moldova. With the D visa, you can get the Posvitka.

The legalisation process is quite complicated. The professional schools will arrange this for you, and pay for it. However, these schools are also the ones that require specific qualifications to work there. Smaller schools are less likely to be able to employ you legally. In the past, teachers have stayed for their 90 day entry, then simply crossed the border to renew their stay. However, now the regulations state that you can only stay in the country for 90 days in every 180, so this is not possible.

How to find a job as an English teacher in Ukraine

London School of English in Kyiv and Odessa recruit teachers through its website and on TEFL.com. Other schools also advertise there. International House recruits through its IH Jobs World site.

Other schools have job information on their specific websites. You can also look at the Ukrainian jobs sites rabota.ua and work.ua. Search for English teacher or something similar and the post in English will come up.

Another option if you want to teach English in Kyiv or Odessa is to fly to Ukraine and visit schools looking for work. You can usually get 90 days visa-free entry to come and look for work. Be aware, though, that after 90 days you need to leave and can’t come back for another 90 days, so this isn’t an option for long-term work. You need to convert your visa to a work visa within the 90 days.

International Schools in Ukraine

If you are a qualified teacher in your home country and you want to teach in Ukraine, you should look at International Schools. These are schools that follow the UK, US or Australian curriculum and their students are usually expats or rich locals. This means that you would teach whatever your specialist subject is. The packages for International Schools in Ukraine are much better than for language schools. If you think you are qualified for this, look at the British International School, Perchersk School International and Kiev International School.

If you want any more information about teaching English in Ukraine, get in touch with us either by leaving a comment or sending a message to our Facebook page.

Read our interview with teacher Anna about her experiences teaching English in Ukraine. New Teacher Tales blog.

Thinking of teaching English in Ukraine? Pin this article for later.

A guide to teaching English in Ukraine including salaries for English teachers in Ukraine, where to teach English in Ukraine, English language schools in Ukraine and other tips #TEFL #Ukraine #TESOL #teachingenglish

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79 Responses

  1. Kurush says:

    Hello Kate and Kris
    Thank you for the interesting information you shared bhere about teaching English in Ukraine. I’m a non_native English teacher . I have an M.A in TESL and right now I’m teaching in a university in Istanbul , however I am planing to leave Turkey and looking for a job in another country and Ukraine as you described may be a good destination to me . Will you please kindly provide me with some more tips and details? Thank you again and wish you great moments .
    Best wishes,
    Kurush.

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Kurush,
      What else would you like to know? You can also contact us through our Facebook page which is at the top of this blog, or through the ‘Contact us’ form.

  2. Korinna says:

    This is so interesting. Unfortunately I’m not so good in English to get any certificate, but I would like to live in the Ukraine for some time. Any other jobs you encountered for travellers?

  3. Katherine says:

    Privet Kate and Kris! This is a great guide! Thanks for putting it all together. 🙂 I used to teach in Kharkiv, so reading your article brought back good memories. Anna’s interview was also a really good read!

    • KateandKris says:

      Spacibo! You have the blog ‘8 months in Ukraine’! I’ve been checking that out. It’s great. I’ve just noticed that you’ve got a learning Russian blog too. I’ll have to check that out as I’m trying to remember my Russian…..

      • Katherine says:

        Thank you! 🙂

        Yes, blogging about learning Russian is my (somewhat) newest love. How far did you get with the language? It would be interesting if you made a post on your struggles / successes with it!

  4. Usman says:

    Hi, Kate and Kris for the useful information you shared about teaching English in Ukraine. I have a question pertaining to this article. I’m from Pakistan and i have done English Literature here in my native country. Am i likely to get a suitable job at any reputable school or college in Ukraine? Your reply will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, you could get a job at a language centre in Ukraine, if you have a proof of your language level (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL or something similar). You’ll probably need to be in the country to visit schools. Good luck and send us a message on Facebook if you have further questions.

  5. Andi says:

    Hi Kate & Kris,

    very interesting read. I have just completed TEFL course and off doing summer camp to gain experience in UK in a couple of weeks. I too love Odessa and been numerous times, in fact I am there again for 5 days from 29th June to 4th July – can you help advise of the smaller schools who accept TEFL because I need experience first before doing further CELTA courses etc… I would like to see them and what they offer. I am looking for part time work and short term contracts – do you think this is possible?

    Many thanks

    Andi

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, Sure, there is Speak Up, Odessa Language Cultural Centre, and Bridge as well as American Language Centre. There are probably a few more now. You’re more likely to get part-time work with them anyway. Just check what the visa/work permit situation is with whoever you choose, as you don’t want to get deported!

  6. Francine Gold says:

    Thank you Kate and Kris. I am an American and I teach high school here in the states. I have a Masters Degree in Education and am a certified English teacher as well as a certification in ESL (English as a Second Language). Do you think I would be accepted as a teacher in Odessa in the summer?

    • KateandKris says:

      You would be accepted to teach in Odessa, yes. I’m not sure about summer work though. Most language schools close down in August. You could get summer camp work, although I don’t know if much of that is in Odessa. It tends to be in the Carpathians. Are you planning to teach in Ukraine for long?

  7. Maryam says:

    Thank you Kate and Kris ,
    I am Iranian and I have MA in TESOL. I would like to come to Kiev and teach there .Do you think I would be accepted?
    Waiting your reply

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Maryam, I’m sure it is possible since there are a lot of schools. You may need to come to Ukraine and look for work though. I don’t know if you would get hired from abroad. Send us a message on Facebook if you want more information.

  8. Hi Kate and Kris, I’m 63, divorced from a lady from Kharkov. I have never been a teacher but I have done a lot of different things in my life including becoming an officer in the US Marines. I want to move to Ukraine and live there and have thought perhaps I could teach English there. I would like to immigrate to Ukraine and live there for some time. Is it possible for me to get work there? I do not have a college degree, ended up in the Marines after a couple years of college and never looked back. I have good people skills, have been in sales for many years. I would have money to live there at least a couple years and then my social security would kick in if I choose. Any advice for me or is it hopeless?

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi David, As far as I know, it’s not possible to get a work visa to teach English in Ukraine without a degree. People used to work here without a work visa, but recently they have tightened the laws and you can only stay 90 days in any 180 day period, so basically, you can come for 90 days and then you have to leave again for 90 days. You’d have to try a different field I think. Good luck!

  9. W. L. says:

    Hi, Kate and Kris!

    I’m a retirement-age American. I was preparing last summer to go into the Peace Corps to teach English in Ukraine. But, paperwork issues arose that could not be resolved before departure.

    After months studying the country and learning basic Ukrainian I still want to go. But, it could be as long as two years before I could get to Ukraine with the Peace Corps. And no guarantee I’ll get in.

    I visited Ukraine in early October to get an idea of what it’s like. I spent a week in Kyiv and another in Dnipro (formerly Dnipropetrovsk). Kyiv was exciting. Dnipro was rough around the edges, which I expected, but I grew to like it.

    Now, I’m taking classes to get a TEFL certificate in August 2018. I’m hoping it is a way to get work in Ukraine (or some other country) on my own.

    If I understand your blog entry, that certificate may not be such a big help. I also have a college degree – a BFA – but no post-grad degrees.

    British Council, you say, requires CELTA or a Trinity TESOL certificate, etc. And if your LSE prefers similar credentials, so, that’s probably a long shot.

    American English Centre, Grade Education Center might be my best bets, though from your description my TEFL certificate may not count for much.

    Or smaller schools, which you say are happy to get who they can.

    Do schools require teaching experience? And if so, how much? I’m anxious to get to Ukraine, but I’m afraid I’ll need a year or two of teaching in the US before I can go.

    Thanks!

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi
      So if I understand right, you have a Bachelor’s degree and you are doing a TEFL certificate? That will be fine to get a job at schools like Grade, Speakup and American English centre and the many other schools here. Someone told me last week that there are 310 English language schools in the city! Some schools, like ours, will ask for a CELTA or Trinity or at least a certificate that includes assessed teaching practice with real students. However, many won’t and the certificate will be useful in helping you understand how to actually teach effectively. Send us a message via Facebook if you want more information. Good luck

  10. Maria says:

    Hi! My name is Maria and I am an American with a bachelors Degree in Supply Chain Management. I have never taught, but my husband is I will be moving to Ukraine next fall for my husbands med school program and I am looking at the possibilities of finding a teaching job in Kharkov. What do you think the chances are of me getting a teaching job teaching English in Kharkov?

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, English teaching is huge in Kharkiv and there aren’t many native speaking teachers there, so I think you will be in with a good chance. To get a decent job, I’d recommend taking either a CELTA or CertTESOL before you go. They are courses in how to teach English with teaching practice where you are observed and given feedback so it really helps you. Send us a message on Facebook if you need any more information.

  11. Gennady Dekhtyar says:

    Hello KateandKris,

    I was born in Kiev and Immigrated with my parents when I was a little boy to the U.S. I speak English fluently and have a College Degree in Psychology. I am interested to possibly teach English in my home town one day as a means of giving back to the country that I was born in. I am a U.S. Citizen, I can speak Russian and read it at a very basic 1st grade level and only know a few words in Ukrainian but can understand most of it. I remember when I went back to visit in 2001, I did need a VISA just to go there and visit. I still have family that lives there, but I am wondering how hard would it be if I went there and tried to find a English teaching job as a former local? Would you recommend to go through a U.S. based agency or try to get a job my own way through family or people who knew me as a kid from my town? Im not really doing it for financial gains (more of a fulfillment) but obviously cash and housing would be welcome. Thank you for your time.

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, Thanks for you message. I don’t think you’ll have a problem at all finding a job in Ukraine. For a start, there are far more local teachers than expat teachers, and you are basically American anyway. In terms of how to get a job, do you have the right to live and work here? If not, you will be better off looking at the bigger schools who can organise a work permit and visa for you. If you don’t need a work visa, then looking at small local schools will be ok, as long as you bear in mind that salary in those places will be local. Also, in smaller cities, the inability to communicate may hamper you.
      I’d strongly suggest you do a course to learn how to teach English. A CELTA or a Trinity CertTESOL will give you the most possibilities for employment in a decent school. You can take these either in the USA or in Ukraine. The CELTA is cheaper in Ukraine. You can take it at LSE, Grade and ILC.
      Another option is look at starting out on a summer camp programme like Go Camp or Peace Corps.
      Send us a message on Facebook if you have more questions.

  12. John says:

    Hi. Thank you for the great information. Do you know anything about university teaching opportunities in Ukraine?
    John

  13. Joe says:

    Hi, I’m a 19-year-old student from Australia who is currently in my second year of university. the only real experience I have in regards to teaching languages is that I myself have studied Japanese for 3 years. I have no teaching experience or certifications but am interested in teaching English in Kyiv. Is it possible to get a job with no experience/certification? would I have a greater chance with a TEFL certification? I am also interested in volunteering to teach English could this also be a possibility?

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Joe, without a TEFL certificate, it is highly unlikely you will get a paid job with a work permit. Jobs that can provide a paid work permit generally ask for a CELTA or Trinity certificate or equivelent (e.g. not online). However, you could volunteer. Have you thought about camp? Since you are a student, that might work for you. You could look at Go Camps which a friend did and recommends (there is a post coming soon about it) or DEC Camp.

  14. Volga says:

    Hi.Thanks for the in-depth information. I worked as an instructor at 3 different universities in Turkey for 18 years. I am planning to work in Ukraine. Any comments or suggestions on my chances there? Thanks in advance.

  15. Subir Banerjee says:

    Thank you Kate and Kris

    Along with all other those who take part in this discussion. I have an idea from this discussion that we can do many thing even as a travelers !! Here I got I idea to teach English there in Ukraine while I shall be there as a tourists !! I can help students to improve their communication skill and at the same time I may
    learn Russian/Ukrainian from them !! While I was learning Japanese I was looking for Japanese Tourists those who are here in our city of joy Kolkata so as to improve my vocabulary and communication skill !! I stood first three times in the Japanese Language Speech contest held in our city !! I helped Japanese Tourists as an interpreter cum tour guide and even I arrange their transport – food at my own cost and in this way I have managed to improve my Japanese studies. Sometime I also show them my written script and they help me to get the correct answer !! Learning any foreign language is very costly in any country/city but for me it is very interesting, even as a gift I also got Dictionary, Grammar books etc. from them. Sometime I also arrange their stay in my own home along with food and never ask them to pay. I also arrange my own car with driver and oil so that they can travel around our city !! Now even after 15 years we are still good friends > I live here in Kolkata the city of joy and the cultural capital of India. I was working as a Official in our National Bank. Yes I was a good paid staff along with many facilities and learning foreign language and traveling is my hobby !! I request all of you to think my idea so as to build up world wide friendship by promoting tourism !! I also arrange tour at the choice and budget of the tourists !! Thanking you so much for taking the trouble of reading up to this.
    Subir Banerjee
    email: travelwithme@writeme.com

  16. Roger says:

    I spent three summers working in Crimea in the mid-1990s (Ukraine used Coupons for money and one needed 255,000 to make a dollar. I lived and worked in Sevastopol and found the people and culture very much to my liking. I have a few bachelors degrees and masters degrees but none in teaching English (history, anthropology, geography) and I was a credentialed public school teacher, taught classes in my subject materials at the 2 and 4 year college levels. I’ve been writing technical monographs for 40 years, served as a general and technical editor, and always found teaching to be relaxing after working in the private sector. Curious but how long would it take for someone with a comparable background to get the proper certificate(s)? If I had even a poor reason I’d go to Ukraine without much thought. Odessa was incredible in 1994-96 and I almost fear what it might have become in the 20 subsequent years. still, the Battleship Potemkin Steps are something that must be visited to comprehend their enormity and the U.A.S. Museum has an incomparable gold collection dating to the Iron Age steppe. Kyiv too is an amazing city, and yes, the architecture is outstanding. Naturally, it’s foolish to judge a people and a culture but in 21 weeks in the country I met no one who wasn’t pleasant. Some of my post visit memories I’ve posted on my family web site. I would caution Americans that Ukrainians can seriously party and they will swill 100 proof vodka as if it were water: It takes some time to acclimate.

  17. Gene Cutler says:

    Hi Kate and Kris. I am currently trying to get a temporary residence visa for the Ukraine. One of the routes I have chosen to obtain this is by doing voluntary work. I was thinking about teaching English voluntarily although I have no teaching experience. I currently have a friend in the Ukraine who I live with when I am there however I can only at present stay for 90 days in 180. Where could you suggest that I went to , to do voluntary work in this capacity
    Thank you very much

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Gene, I really don’t know I’m afraid. You’ll have to find an organisation that is able to sponsor your volunteer visa. I don’t know of any, I only know language schools where teachers work. Good luck.

  18. Joe says:

    Hello, I want to understand the work visa requirement correctly, you can NOT get a work Visa to teach English without College degree ? I have a couple certificate from community college in USA and speak English Natively because I moved to USA as a young teenage, I worked as translator for 7 years with US army as well. so, I am very much into linguistic and philology and have a deep interest and understanding of Indo-European language in general.

    Any chance of getting a teaching job in Ukraine other than summer camp? Thanks

    • KateandKris says:

      No, you don’t need a degree, but you do need a teaching certificate, ideally a CELTA or Trinity cert or equivalent.

  19. Thanks for the detailed post! I did a TEFL in Prague 10 years ago but haven’t been teaching English for the last few years. Am considering checking out Ukraine next, to do a CELTA first. Why did you leave Odessa for Kyiv?

    • KateandKris says:

      We didn’t actually! We left Odessa to go to Thailand, and then we got invited back to Kyiv and accepted. It’s all the same company.

  20. Josh says:

    I’m a 19 year old high school graduate that is fluent in Russian and English. I also hold citizenship in USA and Ukraine. Do you think there would be teaching opportunities for me?

  21. Sakit says:

    Hi guys,

    Thanks for the nice blog.

    We are couple currently teach in Vietnam (more than a year) We both have experience (3+ years international): with kids (from 4y.o) to Adults and some special communication/business/medical English etc. But we have Online 120 hours TEFL from the UK. Is that possible to be hired by international schools or well-reputed companies?

    Thanks in advance,

    • KateandKris says:

      For one of the International Schools here, you’ll need to be a certified teacher in your home country. For a well-reputed language centre, you’ll need a certificate that includes assessed teaching practice with real students. As a non-native speaker, for one of these jobs, you’ll also need certified C2 levels of English.

  22. ali says:

    Hello Kate and Kris
    Thank you for the interesting information you shared here about teaching English in Ukraine. I’m a non_native English teacher . I have an M.A in TEFL and right now I’m teaching in PTE academic in Turkey , however I am planing to leave Turkey and looking for a teaching job in Ukraine as you described may be a good destination to me . Will you please give me with some tips and details? Thank you and wish you great moments .
    Best wishes,
    Ali.

  23. Alina Kratsberg says:

    Hello Kate and Kris,

    I am residing in Winnipeg, Canada and have a bachelor of social work. I am interested to teach english in Kiev. I wanted to ask the process and what courses should I complete before applying. I am currently working as a family servises social worker. Could you please send me an email with some more details.

    Thank you,

    Alina Kratsberg

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Alina, are you from Ukraine? Just wondering because of your name. Anyway, a good start would be taking a CELTA or Trinity certTESOL course. Feel free to send us a message on Facebook if you want specific advice.

  24. Dylan says:

    Hello Kate&Kris, i am a british man, my gilfriend is from Odessa and i am planning to move there and work as english teacher. I have no degrees, but i got TEFL certificate online (one month ago). Do you think it would be enough to find a job as english teacher in Ukraine?

    Thanks in advance,
    Dylan

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, if you want to get some work as a conversation teacher, running some clubs and/or teaching in some businesses, you’ll probably be ok. If you want to work longer term in better schools I’d suggest doing a course with assessed teaching practice.

  25. Riccardo says:

    Hello
    I am an Italian MD of 30, I speak B1 level Russian and C2 level English (although I am not a native speaker, of course).
    I would like to change field entirely and was thinking about taking up teaching abroad.
    You say a degree is needed. Do you mean ANY degree whatsoever (like mine, which is a Master’s but in a completely unrelated field) or just and education/teaching degree? In the former case, would I still need a specific teaching certificate like the ones you named in the post to get started? I’ve heard of people who’ve taught without any of those.
    What about non-native English speakers who nonetheless possess decent English speaking and writing skills? In this case too, I’ve heard of many non-native speakers teaching English as a second language.

    Thanks a lot for your time and attention

    Cheers

    Riccardo

    • KateandKris says:

      Dear Riccado, a degree in anything is fine, but you also need a CELTA or Trinity certTESOL and for non-native speakers, a CPE or IELTS certificate will help you.

  26. Jo says:

    Hello,
    I have secondary teacher’s license from the US and seven years of experience teaching high school English. If I strike out with the American English Center, is there any hiring preference for British over American teachers at other schools, or if I get the CELTA, does that level out? Also, do you know anything about companies hiring English teachers directly?

    Thanks

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, with a teachers’ license, you should look at International school jobs at BIS, KIS and PIS as the packages will be better. There isn’t a preference for nationality anywhere really. English is English! If you do decide to go the TEFL route, a CELTA will make you employable to the schools that can get you a work permit and residency.

  27. mike says:

    Hello, I will be retiring from my government job in March. I managed a prison drug counseling program. I am 51 years old. I visited Ukraine several years ago and know a little Russian. How is the employment situation for someone my age and how competitive is finding a job if I got a CELTA? I wonder, too, if there are any opportunities in social services or NGO’s with my kind of background? Thanks. Mike

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi Mike, with a CELTA you would be able to get a job quite easily I think. I’m not sure about NGOS,but you could look at one of the Kyiv Expat groups on Facebook and ask there.

  28. Olfa says:

    Hello ! I am from Tunisia. I am licensed in English language, literature and civilization. My level in English is advanced therby i want to improve my knoweldge and skills by teaching. How can i.post to teach in your school ,please ? Thanks.

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, to work at the London School of English, you need a CELTA or Trinity certTESOL or the equivalent and a certified C2 level of English, which means either IELTS 8.0 or CPE.

  29. James says:

    Hi Kate and Kris,

    Thanks very much for the informative blog post, this is just what I was looking for! 🙂

    I wonder if you could answer my question regarding working hours. From your own experience and those you may speak with, what seems to be the average number of hours one can expect to work in Ukraine in a week? I imagine this could vary dramatically depending on the school, but perhaps at the larger, established schools there is less variation.

    Thanks 🙂

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, generally teachers work 20-30 teaching hours per week.

      • Deborah says:

        Hello you two,
        I’m not sure if you’re still answering any queries, but if so I have one.
        I was really happy to see your blog because a few days ago I saw a job advertised on TEFL.com and it got me thinking about Ukraine. The school is the one you work for, so obviously reading how good it can be made me even more positive.
        I’m a young spirited 50 year old who worked in restaurants until 4 years ago. I decided to shake it all up and came to International Hpuse in Rome to take my Celta certificate.
        I’ve been teaching here ever since, but want to go elsewhere.
        My question (I have 100’s but I can’t do that to you) is ……
        The school advertises in Kyiv, Odessa and Lviv.
        I’ve googled like mad but I don’t know which city is most appealing or realistic or even if I would get a choice.
        I love photography, architecture, chatting, art and going out to restaurants and cafes.
        I adore second hand shops and it seems Ukraine is a master of this.
        Any feedback if you have time would be really appreciated.

        • KateandKris says:

          Hi, yes, we still answer queries! The three cities are very different. Odessa is on the beach, so that’s lovely in summer, it’s more relaxed but it’s smaller. The Lviv school is not open yet, but when it is, Lviv is a cool city rather like Prague, full of funky restaurants. Kyiv is the capital and there is more to do there, but it’s bigger. Does that answer your question? Feel free to message us on Facebook via our page.

  30. Peter Beckwith says:

    Hello you two.
    Do you have a list of schools that help towards visa applications? I have lived in Kyiv for three years, being married to a local lady. Now getting divorced my visa is of no use now and on my final 90 days, but I would like to remain in Ukraine.
    I would like to teach as I have an Honours Degree, Post Graduate Certificate and adult teaching certificate, but not a CELTA or IELTS.

    • KateandKris says:

      The ones I know of are the British Council, International House, LSE, British Study Centres, Dec, Grade and ILC. However, you will need a CELTA for those.

  31. Ilona says:

    Hello Kate and Kris! What do you think about organising a meeting in Kyiv? I would definitely like to meet with you both ))

  32. Daniel says:

    Do you think that schools will hire teachers who only plan to work from around January to summer? I am planning on getting my TESOL certificate, and want to teach English for one semester after college.

    • KateandKris says:

      Schools will hire you, but they are unlikely to legalise you.You can probably get a 90 day visa entry and teach for that long.

      • Mark says:

        Hi Kate+Kris, great blog! As a teacher entering middle age could you tell me if language schools prefer teachers of a certain age or is it not an issue in Ukraine? Thanks!

  33. Bamgbose John says:

    Hello, my name Is John. I have my B.A in English Language with a TESOL certificate. Is it possible to get hired in Ukraine here. I have been here since February and yet to get a job

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi John, generally yes, but since all schools are closed or teaching online due to Coronavirus, I don’t know if there is much demand for teachers right now.

  34. Raymond Lau says:

    I noticed that you do not mention English speakers from the USA. Why is that? Is there discimination against Americans from USA teaching English as a second language. We are the largest English speaking country in the world.

    • KateandKris says:

      I mention Americans specifically in the section on the American English Centre. There isn’t any discrimination here.

      • Yulia says:

        Hi thank you such an excellent article! I wanted to ask how the school situation is now with corona, are any opening up and looking for teachers or am I best to wait longer before coming and trying to get work ? Thank you! Yulia

        • KateandKris says:

          Schools are face to face and those that are open are open. I’m not sure how many are looking for teachers right now as the academic year ends in June. I’ve seen adverts for summer camps if that interests, or recruitment will begin in around April for the September semester.

  35. G. Sneha Latha says:

    please let me know ,how to apply for this post.

    • KateandKris says:

      Hi, it isn’t a specific post. If you read the blog, you will see information on what is required and how to apply.

  36. alexander shekhtman says:

    I guess due to the war, teaching jobs in Ukraine are no longer possible for years to come

  1. June 3, 2017

    […] Ukraine. Due to the political upheaval, the currency plummeted when we lived there, which made it very cheap to live. A beer cost about 50p and a night out, including dinner for two, was about $25. We also got a free apartment, which helped. Even though the salaries look low in Ukraine, your cost of living is really low too. You can read more about teaching English in Ukraine in our blog. […]

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