Germany is a country starved for TEFL certified English trainers. So there is a great demand for English teachers here. With a little advance planning, teachers can expect to begin work within a week or two of arrival in Germany.

Some American citizens who had been to Germany for temporary residence and experienced themselves as English teachers, used to sent in average 30 letters from the U.S. to schools around Germany. Some teachers receive from 8 to 4 real job offers even without in person interview.

Experienced teachers can demand up to DM60 or even higher, per hour, but the average is DM40 (approximately $20). There is a practice in some schools to provide teachers with so called “travel money”, a compensating for time and costs to get to the place of teaching. It is important to shop around and know what you are being offered before accepting a job.

 And before pulling up roots and flying off to Germany, prepare yourself for a shock. In Germany taxes can be very high. From an income of DM 3,000 per month the German government takes DM500 in taxes (17 percent). Moreover, freelancers are now required to pay taxes as well. They have to contribute 20% of earned money to the funds.

After factoring in health insurance and rent, there might not be much left over. Some teachers, however, can qualify for minimum taxes and exemption to pension contributions. In addition, private insurance companies offer cheap, comprehensive health insurance to foreigners who plan to live in Germany for no more than five years.

Another strategy is to find a company that hires teachers on a full-time basis. 25 working hours per week for a teacher is a norm, but the health insurance assignments are reduced, you have 4 weeks paid vocation, and diminished pension payments. As teachers and schools become aware of the difficulties the new pension law imposes, wages will go up and demand for teachers will continue to rise.

The process of getting legal job in Germany is quite simple. To get a residency permit you need to provide proof of work, proof of health insurance, and proof that you have made arrangements for paying into the pension fund. Moreover, you have to give your German address. 

The best approach is to go to the local registration office as soon as you have written proof of a job offer. There you will get information about additional steps you need to take and you will be granted with 3 month visa if you suit the requirements. For detailed, step-by-step instructions go to www.expatica.com/germanymain.asp and look under "Essentials." If you want to be prepared beforehand, http://www.germany-info.org/ will tell you where your nearest German consulate can be found.

Germany's central location makes it a great place from which to explore Europe, and its high living standard and friendly population make it a great country to live in.