Are you bored with Britain? Is the American Dream becoming a bit of a nightmare? Does The Emerald Isle seem to be turning dull and grey? If you are a native English speaker with a recognised teaching qualification, maybe it is time for something new, perhaps a winter job abroad? Instead of going to work in the rain and teaching the same indifferent students every day, you could be embarking on a new adventure. Imagine teaching English in Austria while snowflakes gently fall outside your classroom window. When the teaching is over, the mountains await. You could learn to snowboard or just enjoy the après-ski. Perhaps you would prefer to listen to Mozart at the world-famous opera house in Vienna… Whatever your tastes, you’ll soon find yourself immersed not only in EFL teaching but also in a fascinating European culture.
TEFL and ESOL in Austria
When it comes to TEFL or ESOL jobs, Austria stands out as an enticing destination. It boasts a vibrant culture, breathtaking scenery, and a strong demand for English language teachers. Teaching English in Austria during January and February can banish those winter blues. For English Teachers seeking short-term TEFL jobs, Austria fits the bill perfectly. The variety of teaching jobs appeals to teachers with varied preferences, whether you prefer the bustling city life or the serene countryside.
For those who take their teaching abilities as seriously as their passion for travel, TEFL jobs in Austria allow educators to put their teaching skills into action. Moreover, EFL teaching in Austria during the winter season offers a unique chance to teach English in a particularly enchanting setting.
Winter With English In Action
English In Action is the foremost provider of full immersion, week-long, English Projects in state schools throughout Austria and the rest of Europe. If you are a qualified Teacher Of English and committed to making sure your learners gain the maximum from a short immersion course, EiA could be your gateway to new experiences and new friends in a country that is easy to fall in love with. The immersive environment ensures that your students learn English in a practical, real-world context. The number of weeks you sign up for depends on your availability and the number of teachers required. Let’s imagine you have agreed to a three-week contract…
A Three-Week TEFL Experience with English In Action
Week One: Vienna
You arrive at Vienna airport and transfer by some of the most modern and comfortable trains in the world to Austria’s capital city. With a rich history, captivating architecture, and a thriving arts scene, Vienna is routinely voted the most liveable city in the world. It also has one of the best suburban transport networks in Europe, so nowhere is ever far away. Schools generally finish before 2 p.m. in Vienna, so you have the afternoons free to explore the city.
The centre of the city, known as the ‘First District’, can easily be explored on foot. The whole area is surrounded by a tree-lined circular boulevard known as ‘The Ring’. In the very centre of the First District, you will find the spectacular St Stephen’s Cathedral, famed for its majestic towers that have dominated the Viennese skyline for centuries. Directly across the street from the Cathedral is the Haas-Haus, a contemporary building with a rooftop restaurant whose mirror-lined walls reflect St Stephans. It is symbolic of the way Vienna tastefully combines ancient and modern. From there, it is just a short walk to the Imperial Palace complex known as The Hofburg, famed for its stunning architecture. And you are still only in the First District, it is going to take several more afternoons to do justice to all the sights Vienna has to offer, such as The Rathaus and The Museums Quarter!
Vienna is also famous for its diverse nightlife. Whether you are into jazz, rock or the alternative scene, there will always be somewhere to go in the evenings. But Vienna is perhaps best known as the epicentre of classical music. Even if you are not a big fan of classical music, it is worth queuing up for cheap tickets on Thursday evening for a night at the ‘Stadt Oper’, just to soak up the ambience inside one of the most respected opera houses in Europe.
Whether it is a lunchtime snack or a more substantial evening meal, you should never go hungry in Vienna. For a treat, visit the Hotel Sacher for a taste of their rich, chocolate ‘Sachertorte’, together with your afternoon coffee. But be sure to spend some time during the week sampling some of Vienna’s other famous coffee houses where you might bump into local celebrities while perusing the menu of twenty types of coffee and even more cakes. There is normally a wide selection of newspapers to read on specially designed wicker reading racks, and it is quite acceptable to sit reading for more than an hour with just one cup of coffee. The waiters can be a bit surly, but that is just part of the charm of such establishments! In the evening, why not visit The Siebenstern Brau and tuck into a hearty Wiener Schnitzel washed down with multi-flavoured beers from their brewery or locally produced wine? A week in Vienna is never enough, and you will probably email the EiA office to ask when the next TEFL/ESOL contract in Austria’s capital is likely to be!
Week Two. Bregenz
The train journey from Vienna to Bregenz is one of the most spectacular you can ever take, passing the lakes and hills of ‘Salzburgerland’, the valleys and snow-covered mountains of the Tyrolian Alps and finally down to the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee, in German).
Despite climate change, there is likely to be snow on the ground as you make your way to work in the still morning air of Bregenz. After school, the mountains are less than twenty minutes away. Even if you are not interested in skiing or other winter sports, it is worth taking a cable car to the top of the mountain where you can enjoy amazing views looking down to the lake or across the snowcapped local mountain peaks.
Bregenz is nestled in the far western corner of Austria, close to the borders of Germany and Switzerland. Within ten minutes, express trains can take you to the picturesque German city of Lindau, situated on an island in the middle of the lake. (If you are fit and healthy you can walk or cycle there in about an hour or less). Alternatively, Switzerland is also only ten minutes away by train. You might want to organise an afternoon excursion to the famed, fairytale Swiss city of St Gallen where you can wander through narrow cobbled streets that open into squares surrounded by Baroque architecture. If you still have time at the end of the week you might want to make a trip to the landlocked principality of Lichtenstein, if only to get a unique stamp in your passport!
Week Three. Peilstein im Muhlviertel
Austria has several world-famous cities like Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg. It has dozens of renowned and picturesque ski resorts such as Kitzbuhel, Schladming and Mayrhofen. But it also has hundreds of smaller towns and villages that are unknown to tourists, where travelling teachers of English can really soak up the genuine culture and hospitality of local Austrians. Peilstein is one such place.
Peilstein im Muhlviertel is a very small village, located in Upper Austria. It is not a tourist destination at all but may be familiar to walkers and hikers who enjoy roaming the region’s rolling green hills. In winter the green hills are usually covered in a blanket of snow like a scene from a Christmas card. There is very little in the village of Peilstein other than the school you are likely to work in, and the comfortable guesthouse where you are most likely to stay. However, for the EFL Teachers of English in Action, Peilstein has become a popular contract. The reason is the hospitality of the local teachers who go out of their way to welcome and entertain their visitors.
Afternoons in Peilstein are often busy with visits to local teachers’ houses to sample home cooking, local wine and home-brewed ‘Schnapps’. These cosy visits are the best way to get a glimpse into the real life and culture of the people who live in rural Austria. Trips are often organised by car to visit some of the larger nearby towns, places of interest and unexpected delights such as the Museum of Perception in Rohrbach where art and technology combine to give visitors a unique sensory experience.
A highlight at the end of a contract in Peilstein is a visit to a local brewery and restaurant attached to a monastery in which you can dine inside huge beer barrels. By tradition some of the local teachers bring their guitars and songbooks along and an impromptu sing-along ensues!
Teach English While Travelling
TEFL jobs in Austria offer an exciting way to combine TEFL expertise with a love for travel and exploration. Whether you find yourself in Vienna or a quaint Austrian village, your teaching journey during the winter season will be filled with adventure, culture, and the chance to make a positive and lasting impact on your students through English education.
Winter is coming!
If you are ready to embark on your TEFL adventure in Austria and experience the magic of teaching in the heart of Europe during the enchanting winter months, follow the links below to apply for a TEFL job with English in Action.
- Visit our Jobs page
- Apply online now using our quick and easy application form